Mines at the Western Colorado Open, Friday, noon [Live Results]
Mines at the Tracy Borah Duals, Saturday  [Live Results]
   vs. Findlay, 1 p.m. / vs. Simon Fraser, 2:30 p.m.

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OREDIGGERS BEGIN 2023 IN GUNNISON
Colorado School of Mines will head to Gunnison this weekend for two days of wrestling, starting the new year at Friday's Western Colorado Open before competing in two matches at the Tracy Borah Duals on Saturday. Friday's open will have 11 attached Orediggers in action at the large combined high school and college event, while Saturday's duals tournament sees the Orediggers take on Findlay at 1 p.m. and Simon Fraser at 2:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The Orediggers wrapped up 2022 in Indianapolis at the 43rd Midwest Classic, taking 11th place overall for a five-spot improvement from 2021. In probably the best field assembled every season outside of the national tournament, Anderson Salisbury finished fourth at 197, Weston DiBlasi was seventh at 125, Grayston DiBlasi seventh at 141, and Carter Noehre eighth at 157. 

HISTORY
Despite being relatively local, this will be Mines' first appearance at the Tracy Borah Duals, which is now in its 32nd season, since the 2006-07 season. The Orediggers will be taking on a pair of relatively unfamiliar opponents as well, wrestling Findlay for the first time in program history and facing Simon Fraser - a fellow member of NCAA Super Region 6 - for just the fourth time and first since 2017. 

IN THE POLLS
Mines is receiving votes in the second regular-season NWCA coaches' poll, with both Grayston DiBlasi (returning at #11 at 141) and Anderson Salisbury (up one spot to #5 at 197) in the individual rankings. In the latest Open Mat rankings out on Wednesday, Mines remains #25 in the dual team rankings and has four wrestlers in the individual top-20:  Weston DiBlasi (#11 at 125, up six spots from December), Grayston DiBlasi (staying put at #12 at 141), Carter Noehre (#18 at 157, up one spot), and Salisbury (steady at #5 at 197).

LEADING THE WAY
The Orediggers have selected four captains for the 2022-23 season: Jack Damenti, KJ Kearns, Tyler Krause, and Anderson Salisbury. Both Kearns and Salisbury are returning captains from the 2021-22 season. 

MOVING ON UP
Anderson Salisbury continues to rack up wins in his career, and the two-time all-American recently joined an elite club with his 70th career win. At 73-24 all-time in his career, Salisbury is one of only 18 Oredigger wrestlers to reach 70 wins, a mark most recently achieved by former teammates Weston Hunt (78) and Robert Gambrell (73); Salisbury is tied with Gambrell and Nate Peterson for 13th all-time in wins. Meanwhile, another Oredigger is shooting up the records in just his second season as Grayston DiBlasi continues his winning ways. The sophomore is already an eye-popping 41-11, and his 17 falls already has him ranked 12th all-time at Mines in just a season and a half of action. He is Mines' active leader in pins with Salisbury second at 13. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will visit Adams State and New Mexico Highlands in a pair of RMAC duals on Jan. 14 and 15. 
 

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Mines Entrants - Western Colorado Open 
133 - Davion Chavez (2-4)
141 - Will Loecke (7-3)
149 - Carson Dulitz (7-4) and Niko Mayo (4-4)
165 - Grant Crownhart (3-4) and Tristin David (6-3)
174 - Levi Farris (0-0) and Avery Krippner (6-3)
184 - Garrett Bakarich (3-3)
285 - Anthony Atria (2-2) and Charlie Holub (2-4)

Mines Probables - Tracy Borah Duals
125 - Weston DiBlasi (9-5) or Christian Lopez (8-4)
133 - Tyler Krause (3-4) or Davion Chavez (2-4)
141 - Grayston DiBlasi (15-4) or Will Loecke (7-3)
149 - Teague Dilbeck (5-5) or Carson Dulitz (7-4) 
157 - Daniel Caddy (5-4)
165 - Jack Damenti (7-4) or Tristan David (6-3)
174 - Avery Krippner (6-3) or Levi Farris (0-0)
184 - Ryan Cody (11-5) or Garrett Bakarich (3-3)
197 - Anderson Salisbury (10-4)
285 - Anthony Atria (2-2) or Deandre Rucker (8-5)