GOLDEN, Colo. – On a festive senior night, the Colorado School of Mines (8-4) wrestling team used three pins to blow past Adams State (1-10) 37-13 in the regular season finale on Friday, February 12 in Volk Gymnasium.
In the final home match in the decorated career of senior Paul Wilson, Mines made sure Wilson would never forget the night as they rallied to beat the visiting Grizzlies.
After falling behind 5-0, Wilson got the Orediggers going with a near technical masterpiece at 197 pounds with an 11-1 major decision over Richard Bencomo. The Stillwater, Okla. native used three takedowns and a four-point near fall to move 20-2 on the season.
Mines then took the lead when sophomore Ian Cheatum shocked Volk Gymnasium with a fast 39-second pin fall of Tuli Laulu (19-8) at 285 pounds.
Adams State briefly retook the lead after the 125 and 133lb matches, 13-10, when Martin Ramirez was able to score a technical fall. That match ended up being the last bit of good news for ASU though as Mines closed out by winning the last five contests of the night.
Freshman Travis Torres started the rout when he pulled out a 5:37 pin of Joshua Salas followed by junior Jacob Gerken earning a first-period fall in 1:57. Torres' third-period fall came on a reversal after he chose bottom to start the period.
A 3-1 barnburner by redshirt-junior John Crowley at 165lbs was sandwiched around two forfeits by the Grizzles to conclude the dual.
Mines now turns its attention to the postseason as they head to Gunnison, Colo. on February 26-27 for the NCAA D-II West Super Regional.
Colorado School of Mines 37, Adams State 13
184: Joe Bencomo (ASU) tech. fall Ben Krantz (CSM), 16-0 (5:13).
197: #6 Paul Wilson (CSM) major dec. Richard Bencomo (ASU), 11-1.
285: Ian Cheatum (CSM) pins Tuli Laulu (ASU), 0:39.
125: Ian Wingstrom (ASU) dec. Matthew Lavengood (CSM), 5-0.
133: Martin Ramirez (ASU) tech. fall Caleb Micho (CSM), 15-0 (4:52).
141: Travis Torres (CSM) pins Joshua Salas (ASU), 5:37.
149: Jacob Gerken (CSM) pins Devin Vasquez (ASU), 1:57.
157: Ethan Ruby (CSM) wins by forfeit.
165: John Crowley (CSM) dec. Koery Windham (ASU), SV 3-1.
174: Keenan Willits (CSM) wins by forfeit.
