Mines at #7 CSU-Pueblo, Saturday, 6 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Results]
 

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THIS WEEK
After a grueling four-meet stretch last weekend saw Mines go 3-1, the Orediggers stay on the road with a return to RMAC action as they visit #7 CSU-Pueblo Saturday night. The dual will be streamed live on the RMAC Network starting at 6 p.m.

CHASING HISTORY
Since 1923, Mines Wrestling has had a decorated history, with seven national champions, five national top-10 team finishes, and 50 all-Americans. But there's one thing that Mines has never won: an RMAC title. That could change this weekend as the only two unbeaten teams in the conference - Mines (5-0) and CSU-Pueblo (3-0) - square off. For the first season since the 1990s, the RMAC championship will be determined by regular-season dual results instead of a tournament. The team with the highest winning percentage at the end of the season in RMAC duals will be declared champion; a Mines win on Saturday would assure them of, at worst, a 6-1 record pending their final match at Colorado Mesa. Mines could also claim a share of the title with a win in either of its final two duals, and a CSU-Pueblo loss in any of its other remaining duals against Adams State, Colorado Mesa, or Western Colorado.

LAST TIME OUT
Mines went 3-1 in a swing through Kansas and Nebraska last weekend, beating three top-25 teams in the process. Mines started out with a 16-15 win at #12 Fort Hays State on Thursday, with Robert Gambrell's major decision over #9 Marty Verhaeghe at 174 pounds the difference in a very tight meet. On Saturday at the Midwest Duals, Mines beat #23 Newman handily, 31-8, before topping #18 Central Oklahoma 22-21 on tiebreaker criteria after Jake Woods and Skyler Lykins scored pins and Gambrell, Lukas Erickson, and Matt Lavengood had decisions. Mines' only setback was against #6 Lindenwood, 32-6.

GOING FOR MORE
At 10-2, Mines has matched its record from a year ago that represents its best dual dating of the NCAA era dating back to 1992. The Orediggers have a chance to set a new program record for wins with two duals remaining this season.

GIANT KILLERS
Mines has won seven of its last nine duals over nationally-ranked teams dating back to last year, including wins over #13 Chadron State, #9 Western Colorado, #12 Fort Hays State, #18 Central Oklahoma, and #23 Newman this season.

LAST YEAR
Bonus-point wins by Taylor Gambill, Connor Ventura, and Anthony Spallino keyed Colorado School of Mines in an upset of #5 CSU-Pueblo is last year's meeting in Golden. Mines jumped out to a 9-3 lead on wins by Noah Au-Yeung and Gambill by pin, and later had three straight victories from TJ Shelton, Ventura, and Spallino.

LEADING THE WAY
Robert Gambrell has been Mines' on-mat leader this season, sporting the team's best overall record (13-2 / 10-1 duals) and most dual points (44) at 174 pounds; Keenan Willits is next with 10 wins at 10-6 (8-4 duals) and 36 dual points, while Skyler Lykins has also been racking up points with 35 thanks to an 8-5 record. Both Lykins and Brandon Saunders have a team-best four falls, while Willits leads the team with three tech falls and Gambrell has five major decisions.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will take a week off before returning home to host Colorado Mesa Feb. 6 and the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Open on Feb. 10.
 

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PROJECTED MATCHES – MINES at #7 CSU-PUEBLO
125 - Matt Lavengood (8-7) vs. Josiah Seaton (13-10)
133 - Jake Woods (7-5) vs. #2 D'Andre Brumfield (14-4)
141 - Lukas Erickson (8-7) vs. PT Garcia (13-6)
149 - Noah Ottum (8-7) vs. Jasiah Williams (4-2) or Oscar Diaz (6-8)
157 - Skyler Lykins (8-5) vs. Isaiah Diggs (4-4)
165 - Keenan Willits (10-6) vs. Gavin Melendez (13-9) or Zan Zeman (5-2)
174 - Robert Gambrell (13-2) vs. Preston Lauterbach (6-0)
184 - Connor Ventura (8-4) vs. #7 Tarrence Williams (3-0)
197 - Jake Feldman (8-6) vs. #7 Haszell West (14-0)
285 - Weston Hunt (7-4) vs. #4 Gavin Nye (17-6)