By: Tim Flynn
GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines wrestling looks to the future as it announces four transfers and seven freshmen to join the program in fall 2023.
Head Coach
Austin DeVoe signed four Coloradans and drew from eight states overall to build his 2023 recruiting class, which will immediately add depth back to a program that graduated 11 seniors this past season.
Among the transfers are Colorado natives coming back home in
Caleb Cox (Brush, Colo./Lander Univ.) and
Jaron Mahler (Parker, Colo./Loras College), another staying in-state in
Valor Buck (Air Force), and a former Wisconsin state champion in
Mason Diel (Arkansas-Little Rock). Freshmen signing from in-state include three-time Colorado heavyweight champion
Laith Ibrahim from Wiggins and three-time state placer
Izaiah Padilla from Pueblo; Mines also signs
Trebor Moreno (El Paso, Texas),
Timber Parlin (Jefferson, Maine),
Wyatt Reisz (Logan, Iowa),
Xander Sweeney (Mesa, Ariz.), and
Trevor Thorn (Kansas City, Mo.).
Read about each new Oredigger below:
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VALOR BUCK / 165 pounds / Fullerton, Calif. / Servite / Air Force Academy
2021-22 (at Air Force): Did not compete.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time state placer for Servite HS (Calif.) ... Southern Section Masters champion and outstanding wrestler ... Two-time CIF champion ... Two-time First-Team All-County ... USA Today LA Sports Award finalist ... Interested in majoring in computer science.
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CALEB COX / 149 pounds / Brush, Colo. / Brush HS / Lander University
2022-23 (at Lander): 2023 NWCA Scholar All-American ... Went 5-5 overall ... Went 2-1 in duals ... Went 1-0 in the SACC ... Won four matched by decision and one by pin ... Helped Lander to the SACC championship, Super Region 3 title, and NCAA Division II team runner-up finish.
2021-22 (at Lander): Went 3-3 overall as a redshirt freshman ... Helped Lander to the SACC championship. Â
2020-21 (at Lander): Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at Brush HS ... Had a career wrestling record of 115-42 ... Two-time 3A state finalist and three-time 3A state placer ... Two-time regional champion ... Three-time all-conference ... All-Colorado wrestler ... Also an all-conference baseball and football player for the Beetdiggers ... Father, Chad Cox, was a 1989 All-American for Mines Wrestling and is a Mines graduate ... Interested in majoring in civil engineering.
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MASON DIEL / 184 pounds / Hartland, Wisc. / Arrowhead Union HS / University of Arkansas-Little Rock
2022-23 (at Little Rock): Went 7-18 as the starter at 184 pounds for the Trojans ... Placed sixth at the Pac-12 Championships.
2021-22 (at Little Rock): Redshirted ... Went 2-3 as an unattached competitor ... Wrestled at the Little Rock Open and the Southern Scuffle.Â
HIGH SCHOOL: State champion for Arrowhead Union High School ... Wisconsin freestyle state champ ... Competed at Super 32, Fargo, and UWW Juniors for the Askren Wrestling Academy ... Interested in majoring in mechanical engineering.Â
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LAITH IBRAHIM / 285 pounds / Wiggins, Colo. / Wiggins HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Colorado state champion at Wiggins HS ... Captured three consecutive Colorado 2A heavyweight titles ... Went 146-14 in his career ... Four-time all-conference honoree ... Also an all-Colorado lineman in football ... National Honor Society member ... Gold Honor Roll student ... Academic All-Colorado ... Interested in majoring in Business Engineering & Management Science.
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JARON MAHLER / 165 pounds / Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa HS / Loras College
2021-22 (at Loras): Did not compete.
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout wrestler at Ponderosa HS ... Two-time Colorado 5A state runner-up in 2020 and 2021 ... Three-time 5A regional champion ... Went 117-25 overall in his prep career moving up the scale from 106 to 145 ... Interested in majoring in mechanical engineering.
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TREBOR MORENO / 141 pounds / El Paso, Texas / Eastwood HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time state champion at Eastwood HS (Texas) ... Three-time state placer ... Won Texas 6A state titles in 2022 and 2023 at 132 and 144 pounds ... Two-time preseason national all-American ... State freestyle and Greco champion ... Texas National Team member ... Had a 97-8 high school record ... Four-year letterwinner ... Honor roll student ... National Hispanic Recognition award ... Interested in majoring in civil engineering.
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IZAIAH PADILLA / 133 pounds / Pueblo, Colo. / Pueblo County
HIGH SCHOOL: One of Colorado's top lightweights out of Pueblo County HS ... Three-time state placer including an appearance in 2023 Colorado 4A 132-pound state final ... Placed third in 2021 and fourth in 2022 ... Went 124-28 in his career with 71 falls ... Honorable Mention All-State ... 2023 Pueblo County Outstanding Wrestler ... National Honor Society member ... Three-year Academic All-Colorado ... Principal's Honor Roll student ... Interested in majoring in electrical engineering.
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TIMBER PARLIN / 184 pounds / Jefferson, Maine / Erskine Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at Erskine Academy (Maine) ... Two-time KVAC champion ... Earned more than 100 career wins ... 2023 state and all-state runner-up ... 2023 regional champion ... All-KVAC in 2023 ... Also lettered in soccer and lacrosse ... High Honors student.
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WYATT REISZ / 174 pounds / Logan, Iowa / Logan-Magnolia HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time state champion at Logan-Magnolia HS (Iowa) ... Won Iowa state titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and was fifth as a freshman in 2020 ... Went 203-9 as a high schooler ... 2021 KMA Lander Wrestler of the Year ... 2022 and 2023 Dan Gable Wrestler of the Year Top 7 ... 2023 All-Iowa Elite team member ... 2022 Team Iowa Freestyle Champions member ... Class valedictorian ... Four-year golden honor roll student ... National Honor Society member ... 2022 College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award recipient ... Interested in majoring in mechanical engineering.
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XANDER SWEENEY / 125 pounds / Mesa, Ariz. / Desert Ridge HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout lightweight at Desert Ridge HS (Ariz.) ... Two-time Arizona state runner-up and three-time placer ... Two-time section champion ... Team MVP and Most Outstanding Wrestler ... Four-time Scholar-Athlete ... Two-time recipient of team's highest GPA award ... Four-year Golden Scholar ... Interested in majoring in mechanical engineering.
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TREVOR THORN / 197 pounds / Kansas City, Mo. / Liberty North HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time state placer at Liberty North (Mo.) ... Three-time Missouri state qualifier ... Placed fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2022 ... Two-time Academic All-State ... Three-time All-Suburban Gold Conference ... 2023 District 4 Class 4 champion, 2022 finalist, and 2021 third-placer ... Four-year letterwinner ... Interested in majoring in mechanical engineering.
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