GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines clawed and fought for every team point as it outlasted New Mexico Highlands 20-14 in their RMAC opener.

The Orediggers (2-0, 1-0 RMAC) opened the defense of their 2025 conference title with a tight win over the Cowboys (2-1, 0-1 RMAC) sparked by Wyatt Reisz's major decision at 174, Mason Diel's win at 184, and Laith Ibrahim's winner-take-all major to end the meet at 285 pounds.

None of the first six bouts were won by more than three points as the two found themselves knotted 9-9 after 165 pounds. NMHU ran off two wins to start as Diego Camarillo's takedown was the difference in a 5-2 win over Jake Goodin, and James Montoya stunned Izaiah Padilla at 133 pounds with a takedown into a nearfall to close the third period, flipping a 7-2 deficit into a 9-8 win. 

Mines bounced back with wins at 141 through 157, first in a gritty 4-2 Ryan Espiritu victory over Terrell Kinlicheenie before Sebastian Freeman tested #3 Cody Thompson in a 4-3 Oredigger victory. Marcus Caro built up an early lead to stop Reed McCarty, 8-6, at 157. At 165, neither man scored an offensive point as #7 Ivan Smith edged Jakob Smith 2-1 to make it a 9-9 dual.

Things turned back the Orediggers' way at 174 pounds when Reisz cruised to a 14-2 major decision against Cash Bachicha, and Diel did not give up a takedown in beating Rylan Taylor 4-2 to give Mines a 16-9 lead. The Cowboys gained hope with Devin Kinlicheenie's 18-3 technical fall victory over Jeffery Morosini at 197, but Ibrahim shut the door at heavyweight, scoring at will with four takedowns to major Phil Chobot 14-5. 

The Orediggers have now won 12 consecutive RMAC duals dating back to the 2023-24 season. 

Mines heads to Nebraska next weekend to take part in UNK's Younes Hospitality Open.
 

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Colorado School of Mines 20, New Mexico Highlands 14 [Scoring]
125: Diego Camarillo (NMH) over Jake Goodin (MINES) (Dec 5-2)
133: James Romero-Montoya (NMH) over Izaiah Padilla (MINES) (Dec 9-8)
141: Ryan Espiritu (MINES) over Terrell Kinlicheenie (NMH) (Dec 4-2)
149: #3 Cody Thompson (MINES) over Sebastian Freeman (NMH) (Dec 4-3)
157: Marcus Caro (MINES) over Reed McCarty (NMH) (Dec 8-6)
165: #7 Ivan Smith Jr. (NMH) over Jakob Smith (MINES) (Dec 2-1)
174: Wyatt Reisz (MINES) over Cash Bachicha (NMH) (MD 14-2)
184: Mason Diel (MINES) over Rylan Taylor (NMH) (Dec 4-2)
197: Devin Kinlicheenie (NMH) over Jeffery Morosini (MINES) (TF 18-3 7:00)
285: #10 Laith Ibrahim (MINES) over Phillip Chobot (NMH) (MD 14-5)
125 EXTRA: Noah Gurule (NMH) over Xander Sweeney (MINES) (Fall 6:14)
157 EXTRA: Jaron Mahler (MINES) over Naithan Gurule (NMH) (Dec 14-8)