#18 Mines vs. New Mexico Highlands, Thursday 7 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Results]

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OREDIGGERS OPEN DUAL AND RMAC SCHEDULE AT HOME
Mines opens its dual and RMAC schedule at home on Thursday, hosting New Mexico Highlands at Volk Gym at 7 p.m. For the first time since Feb. 14, 2020, fans will be welcomed back to Volk, and the dual will also stream live on the RMAC Network.

MASKS REQUIRED FOR FANS AT VOLK GYM
Consistent with the Jefferson County Public Health indoor masking order effective Wednesday, Nov. 24, masks will be mandatory for all spectators attending Colorado School of Mines home wrestling, basketball, swimming, and indoor track & field events until further notice. 

IN THE POLLS
Mines was voted #18 in the NWCA preseason top-25 poll, with four ranked individuals. Returning national runner-up Weston Hunt is #3 at 285 pounds, Anderson Salisbury is #7 at 184, Ryan Fidel is #12 at 174, and Carter Noehre is #12 at 157. 

In the RMAC coaches' poll, Mines was voted first as four teams - the Orediggers, Adams State, Colorado, and Western Colorado - split first-place votes.

BRINGING IT BACK
The Orediggers are technically still the two-time defending RMAC champs as a team champion was not crowned in last year's pandemic-limited season that saw Mines wrestle only two duals. Mines returns four nationally-ranked individuals including #3 Weston Hunt at 285 pounds and #7 Anderson Salisbury at 184 - both returning all-Americans - along with #12 Ryan Fidel at 174 and #12 Carter Noehre at 157. Head coach Austin DeVoe has additional returning experience in Thursday's lineup including Wes Rayburn at 141 and Zach Krause at 149, who split duals with Noehre at 157 last year.

LEADING THE WAY 
This year's team will be led by KJ Kearns, Zach Krause, and Anderson Salisbury, who were voted captains in the preseason. Kearns is a returning captain as a junior, while Krause is a first-time captain in his second season as a graduate transfer after arriving from Brown before the 2019-20 season. Salisbury is also a first-time captain in his redshirt senior season.

UNK OPEN ROUNDUP
Mines had a terrific day at the UNK Open on Nov. 20, winning three weight classes and placing nine overall at the nationally-competitive tournament. Anderson Salisbury and Weston Hunt won at Elite 184 and 285, respectively, while Ryan Cody broke out to capture the Amateur 197 class. Grayston DiBlasi was runner-up at Amateur 141 and Anthony Atria third at Amateur 285 to highlight the placewinners. 

MINES VS. NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
Mines leads the all-time dual series 14-7, including three consecutive victories dating back to 2018. They last met in the 2019-20 season when Mines won 31-16 in Golden; among current Orediggers, Ryan Fidel won by fall and Anderson Salisbury was a 3-0 winner, while Jack Damenti won a post-dual exhibition 18-8. Mines and NMHU first met in 1977. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will close the fall semester at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis on Dec. 18-19. 
 

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#18 Mines vs. New Mexico Highlands Projected Bouts

125 - Christian Lopez (3-3) vs. Naythan Galbiso
133 - Tyler Krause (0-2) vs. Xaydrian Perry
141 - Wes Rayburn (0-0) vs. John Baker or Gabe Rivera
149 - Zach Krause (0-0) vs. John Baker or Gabe Rivera
157 - #12 Carter Noehre (3-2) vs. Andres Grano
165 - Jack Damenti (2-2) vs. Thomas Tolbert
174 - #12 Ryan Fidel (4-2) vs. Allen Michel
184 - #7 Anderson Salisbury (4-0) vs. Lance Killgore
197 - Perry Rodenbeck (2-2) vs. Luke Allan
285 - #3 Weston Hunt (5-0) vs. Jayden Johnson