#16 Colorado School of Mines at NCAA Division II Super Region VI Championships, Sunday, 12 p.m. [Live Video and Results] 
 

---

THE POSTSEASON BEGINS
The Orediggers hope to continue their 2020-21 season as they head to Colorado Mesa University for the 2021 NCAA Division II Super Region VI Championships on Sunday. The one-day tournament will produce qualifiers for the NCAA national championships in March. Live video (via pay-per-view) and live results will be available via Trackwrestling.com.

HIGH STAKES
With the national championship meet limiting qualifying slots this year, every match at regionals is critical as only the 10 champions are guaranteed a spot in St. Louis. Each runner-up and/or true second-place match winner will be ranked immediately following the tournament by coaches to determine who moves on, as each of the six super regions will receive either 17 or 18 qualifiers for the national meet.

There are also bragging rights on the line – since not enough duals were wrestled to determine the RMAC champion this season, the top-finishing RMAC team at the regional meet will be crowned the conference champion.
 
NCAA ANNOUNCES SPECTATOR POLICY
The NCAA and Colorado Mesa will allow a limited number of fans for the tournament, but it is not open to the general public. Each student-athlete will be allowed two tickets for family, and all spectators will have to provide a recent negative COVID-19 test or have been vaccinated.
 
IN THE POLLS
Mines is #16 in the most recent NWCA Division II poll, down two spots from #14 in the previous ranking. Individually, none of Mines' three ranked individual changed spots with Ryan Fidel #11 at 174 pounds, Anderson Salisbury #5 at 184, and Weston Hunt is #4 at 285. There are four ranked teams in Super Region VI, with #1 Nebraska-Kearney, #9 Adams State, and the hosts #18 Colorado Mesa along with the Orediggers.
 
LOOKING FOR A RETURN TRIP
Fully half of Mines' veteran-laden regionals line-up has qualified for the NCAA Championships in the past as they look for return trips. Noah Ottum (2019), Skyler Lykins (2019), Anderson Salisbury (2020), Nolan Funk (2020), and Weston Hunt (2019, 2020) have all made it out of the regional meet in their careers.

LAST YEAR
Regional champion Robert Gambrell led four national qualifiers for Mines as the Orediggers placed fourth at last year's NCAA Super Region VI Championships. The Orediggers compiled 84.5 team points to finish fourth, a spot better than they did in 2019.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE
When Mines hits the mat on Sunday it will be their first competition since Jan. 23. The Orediggers – along with the rest of the RMAC – shut down their dual schedule after facing Colorado Mesa on that date in order to prevent COVID-19 exposure heading up to regionals and nationals. As a result, Mines has wrestled competitively just twice this season, beating #12 Fort Hays State 31-6 on Jan. 14, and #21 Colorado Mesa 24-18 on Jan. 23, both at home.

RACKING UP THE WINS
Skyler Lykins is the Orediggers' active career leader in wins with 57, and he is also the Orediggers' active leader in career falls at 22; he ranks sixth all-time in program history and his next one would tie him for fifth with former teammate Jake Woods. Weston Hunt, at 49-19 in his career, is approaching the 50-win milestone, and his 17 career falls are tenth all-time at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Qualifiers from the regional tournament will head to the NCAA Division II Championships in St. Louis on March 12-13.
 

---

#16 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES PROBABLE LINE-UP
125 - Christian Lopez (2-0)
Fr. … True freshman has impressed with a 2-0 record to earn the 125 spot
133 - Gabe Martinez (0-2)
R-Fr. … Started both duals at 133 and has wrestled tough including an overtime loss to a ranked Mason Turner of Fort Hays State
141 - Wes Rayburn (1-1)
R-So. … Has 17 wins over the past two seasons ... Is making a second straight NCAA regionals appearance
149 - Noah Ottum (2-0)
R-Sr. … Team captain ... 2019 NCAA qualifier at 149 … Has 47 career wins … Is a two-time Academic All-American … Making fourth career regionals appearance with a top finish of third in 2019
157 - Carter Noehre (1-0)
R-So. … Making regionals debut … Has eight wins over the last two seasons … Only action this season was a 2-0 win over FHSU's Anthony Scantlin
165 - Skyler Lykins (1-1)
R-Sr. … Team captain ... Mines' active career leader in wins with 57 … 2019 NCAA qualifier after finishing second at 165 … Was sixth at Regionals last year.
174 - #11 Ryan Fidel (2-0)
R-Jr. … Has excelled at 174 after bumping up from 157 … Is making second straight Regionals appearance … Wins this year over 2020 NCAA qualifiers Seth Latham of CMU and Marty Verhaeghe of FHSU.
184 - #5 Anderson Salisbury (2-0)
R-Jr. … Was a 2020 NCAA qualifier at 184 … Was the 2020 regional runner-up … Has 36 career wins … Signature win of 2021 was a 12-4 MD over Colorado Mesa's Nolan Krone (currently ranked #6)
197 - Nolan Funk (1-1)
R-Jr. … Was a 2020 NCAA qualifier at 197 … Finished third at NCAA Regionals a year ago … Has 23 wins over the past three seasons.
285 - #4 Weston Hunt (2-0)
Sr. … 2020 NWCA All-American … Two-time NCAA qualifier (2019, 2020) was the 2019 regional champion and 2020 runner-up at 285 … Ranked #4 by the NWCA matching his career high … Has 49 career wins.