Mines vs. New Mexico Highlands [RMAC Network] [Live Results]
Friday - 6 p.m. - Volk Gymnasium

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OREDIGGERS BEGIN DEFENSE OF RMAC TITLE
Colorado School of Mines starts its defense of its 2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship on Friday night, hosting New Mexico Highlands in the first conference dual of the season. The meet will be held at Volk Gymnasium starting at 6 p.m.

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
In honor of Veteran's Day this week, Mines Wrestling welcomes retired and active duty military members with free admission for Friday's dual. The dual is sponsored by the Colorado School of Mines ROTC, who will present the colors during the national anthem. Chick Fil A will also be on hand with free food for the first 50 Mines students in attendance. 

FAN INFO & LIVE COVERAGE
Tickets for home duals are available online at tickets.minesathletics.com, with Mines students and employees eligible for free tickets by logging in with their Mines SSO. 

Friday's dual will stream live on the RMAC Network. Beginning this fall the RMAC Network is moving to a pay-per-view model for all events. Fans can purchase monthly and annual subscriptions that will provide them access to all regular-season, championship, and archived broadcasts on the RMAC Network. A monthly subscription costs $25, and an annual subscription costs $130. Single-event are available for $10, which grants access to a single event for 24 hours. For technical support questions, fans can contact Hudl Support or email the RMAC directly (rmac@rmacsports.org). For further support, fans can visit the RMAC Network Help page.

LAST WEEK REWIND
Mines started the new season last Friday with a commanding 52-0 win over Snow, earning bonus points in nine weight classes including falls from Jake Goodin (125), Izaiah Padilla (133), Jaron Mahler (157), and Jakob Smith (165). Sunday's Mines Rookie Open saw two Orediggers win their brackets as Brandon Cody went 5-0 to capture the 157-pound competition and Kaleb Valdez-Lemos was also 5-0 in winning at 165. 

HISTORY VS. THE COWBOYS
Mines and New Mexico Highlands are meeting for the 26th time in a dual, with the Orediggers holding an 18-7 series lead dating back to 1977. Mines has won seven in a row dating back to 2018, including a 37-9 win in Las Vegas last year that saw the Orediggers win eight of 10 bouts including Jakob Smith's 8-4 win over eventual NCAA qualifier Ivan Smith Jr. and Jeffery Morosini's first-period pin at 197. 

IN THE RANKINGS
Cody Thompson and Laith Ibrahim appeared in the NWCA preseason rankings as both wrestlers come off season-ending injuries in the 2024-25 campaign. Thompson, the 2024 NCAA Division II finalist at 149 pounds, debuted at #3, while Ibrahim, who was 10-3 before his 2025 season ended, is ranked #10 at heavyweight. This week's OpenMat rankings have Thompson #2 and Ibrahim #11 while also including Jakob Smith at #13 at 165 and Wyatt Reisz at #14 at 174.

Mines was selected third in the preseason RMAC coaches' poll on Oct. 15, trailing Colorado Mesa and Adams State in a tight top three spots. Jakob Smith and Wyatt Reisz - both all-RMAC selections a year ago - were recognized as Preseason All-RMAC picks.

THE CHAMPS ARE HERE
The Orediggers won the outright RMAC championship in 2024-25 with a perfect 7-0 RMAC dual schedule. It marks the third title for the Orediggers, all coming since 2019 under RMAC Coach of the Year Austin DeVoe. Mines was well-rewarded for their title win in the RMAC's postseason honors, as Jakob Smith earned First-Team All-RMAC honors at 165 pounds while four Orediggers took Second-Team All-RMAC accolades: Christian Lopez (125 lbs.), Grayston DiBlasi (141 lbs.), Wyatt Reisz (174 lbs.), and Ryan Cody (197 lbs.) in addition to DeVoe's major award.

LEADING THE WAY
Cody Thompson enters the weekend as Mines' active leader in career wins, capturing the 50th of his career last Friday to stand at 50-17. Wyatt Reisz, who ended his sophomore year in his first NCAA Championships appearance, is 44-14. Cade Whish is Mines' active pins leader with 11 among his 28 career victories at 285 pounds.

AT THE HELM
Head Coach Austin DeVoe is in his 12th season in charge of the Mines Wrestling program, having rebuilt the Orediggers into a national contender with three RMAC titles, eight all-Americans, and eight Academic All-Americans in his tenure. With 90 dual wins under his belt, Mines has had seven consecutive winning dual seasons including the only three double-digit win seasons in program history, including tying the program wins record in 2022-23 with an 11-2 record and surpassing it with 13 in 2024-25. On the national stage, Mines has had team success as well including an 11th-place finish in 2022 which was the program's best finish since the 1990s. 

NCAA ADDS NEW FRESHMAN RULE
Starting this season, NCAA Division II wrestling programs (and all D-II sports) will be able to have their true freshmen compete in up to 30 percent of their contests without losing a season of eligibility. Previously, only football had that option at the Division II level. The rule change opens up exciting opportunities for young wrestlers, and Mines has already made good use of it as first-year freshmen Ryan Espiritu, Nico Farinola, Jake Goodin, Gunner Samora, Hunter Samora, Coen Schmidt, and Cain Tigges competed last weekend.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers head to Nebraska for the Younes Hospitality Open in Kearney on Saturday, Nov. 22. 
 

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PROJECTED BOUTS - MINES vs. NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
125 - Jake Goodin (2-0) vs. Noah Gurule (0-1) or Diego Camarillo (5-3) 
133 - Izaiah Padilla (1-0) vs. James Montoya (0-2) 
141 - Ryan Espiritu (2-0) vs. Terrell Kinlicheenie (2-0) 
149 - #10 Cody Thompson (1-0) vs. Sebastian Freeman (1-0) 
157 - Marcus Caro (2-2) vs. Reed McCarty (1-1) 
165 - Jakob Smith (1-0) vs. #7 Ivan Smith (2-0) 
174 - Wyatt Reisz (1-0) vs. Cash Bachicha (2-0) 
184 - Mason Diel (1-0) vs. Rylan Taylor (0-2) 
197 - Jeffery Morosini (0-0) vs. Devin Kinlicheenie (1-0) 
285 - #10 Laith Ibrahim (1-0) vs. Phil Chobot (1-1)

Exhibition bouts TBA