LAS VEGAS, N.M. - #16 Colorado School of Mines generated three pins among five bonus-point victories to get by New Mexico Highlands, 37-9, and finish a 2-0 weekend road trip.

The Orediggers (11-2, 5-0 RMAC) continue to control their own destiny for the RMAC title with two duals left, and the wins sets up a battle at home Friday night with unbeaten Colorado Mesa (4-0 RMAC) with at least a share of the conference crown on the line.

As was the case Saturday in their win at Adams State, the Orediggers fell behind through the early bouts but quickly caught up and ran away from the Cowboys thanks to the strength of their upperweights, including consecutive pins by Garrett Bakarich, Ethan Kremer, and Jeffery Morosini at 174 through 197 pounds.

The Cowboys led 9-3 after 141 pounds after Naythan Galbiso pinned Marco Romero at 125 and Joseph Misitano beat Cole O'Brien 12-7 at 141 sandwiched around Xander Sweeney's 7-6 victory over Sam Eveland at 133.

Things quickly turned around for Mines, however, as Ben Fanelli worked a masterful 12-0 major decision against John Baker in his collegiate debut at 149, Jaron Mahler beat Deklyn Miller 7-2 at 157, and Jakob Smith topped Ivan Smith Jr. 8-4 at 165. That put Mines ahead 13-9, and from there the Orediggers would need less than five minutes to wrap up the final four weight classes as Bakarich pinned his opponent Angelo Maechtlen in 1:32, Kremer stuck Michael Santos in 1:21, and Morosini needed only 1:39 against Saul de Leon. Cade Whish won by forfeit at heavyweight.

NOTABLES
- Bakarich's pin was the 25th of his career, tying him with teammate Grayston DiBlasi for fifth on the Mines all-time list. 
- Kremer earned the first pin of his career as he made his debut down a weight class at 184 pounds. 
- Both Romero and Fanelli were making their collegiate debuts as true freshmen.
- Mines beat NMHU for the seventh straight meeting and holds an 18-7 all-time series lead.
- Mines finishes 3-0 in road duals this season, the first time doing that since the 2019-20 season.

NEXT UP
Mines hosts #25 Colorado Mesa Friday at 6 p.m. with an Oredigger win clinching at least a share of the RMAC title. 
 

---

#16 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES 37, NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS 9 [Scoring]
125: Naythan Galbiso (NMH) over Marco Romero (MINES) (Fall 2:23) 
133: Xander Sweeney (MINES) over Samuel Eveland (NMH) (Dec 7-6) 
141: Joseph Misitano (NMH) over Cole O'Brien (MINES) (Dec 12-7) 
149: Ben Fanelli (MINES) over John Baker (NMH) (MD 12-0) 
157: Jaron Mahler (MINES) over Deklyn Miller (NMH) (Dec 7-2) 
165: Jakob Smith (MINES) over Ivan Smith Jr. (NMH) (Dec 8-4) 
174: Garrett Bakarich (MINES) over Angelo Maechtlen (NMH) (Fall 1:32) 
184: Ethan Kremer (MINES) over Michael Santos (NMH) (Fall 1:21) 
197: Jeffery Morosini (MINES) over Saul De Leon (NMH) (Fall 1:39) 
285: Cade Whish (MINES) by forfeit