Mines at #12 Fort Hays State, Thursday, 7 p.m. CT [Live Results]
Mines at the Midwest Duals, Kearney, Neb.
   vs. #23 Newman, Saturday, 9 a.m. CT [Live Results]
   vs. #18 Central Oklahoma, Saturday, 10:30 a.m. CT [Live Results]
   vs. #6 Lindenwood, Saturday, 12 p.m. CT [Live Results]
 

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THIS WEEK
Colorado School of Mines will run the gauntlet against four top-25 teams this weekend, making a trip to #12 Fort Hays State for a dual on Thursday before taking part in the Midwest Duals at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. In the latter meet, Mines will face off against #23 Newman, #18 Central Oklahoma, and #6 Lindenwood.

LAST TIME OUT
Mines hung tough, but a pair of late wins secured the dual for #1 Nebraska-Kearney as they won 24-14 last Friday in Steinhauer Fieldhouse. The Orediggers (7-1) suffered their first defeat of the season, but gave a great account of themselves winning four matches and staying competitive in several more against the nation's then-#1-ranked team. The loss snapped an outstanding 10-match win streak for Mines that dated back to last season; the Orediggers matched their best start in program history this year at 7-0. Lukas Erickson and Noah Ottum picked up decisions at 141 and 149, respectively, while Keenan Willits earned a 19-2 tech fall at 195 and Connor Ventura won 11-7 at 184.

GIANT KILLERS
Mines has won four of their last five duals over nationally-ranked teams dating back to last year, knocking off #21 Adams State and #5 CSU-Pueblo in the 2017-18 season, and #13 Chadron State and #9 Western Colorado this season. Only last week's bout against #1 Nebraska-Kearney snapped that streak.

LAST YEAR
Mines defeated then-#13 Fort Hays State, 22-16, last season with five wins and four with bonus points. That included a major for Noah Au-Yeung over Dy'Juan Carney at 133, Noah Ottum's 8-0 shutout of Brody Lewis at 149, and a pin by TJ Shelton over Dylan Wiesner at 174. Keenan Willits was also victorious at 165.
Mines was 3-0 at last year's Midwest Duals, beating Newman 19-18, San Francisco State 25-13, and Central Missouri 24-15. Only Newman reappears on this year's schedule; in last year's dual, the Orediggers used four bonus-point wins to build an early lead and then hang on despite the Jets winning the final three weights. Keenan Willits' pin and a tech fall by Lukas Erickson keyed the victory.

LEADING THE WAY
Robert Gambrell has been Mines' on-mat leader this season, sporting the team's best overall record (10-2) and most dual points (34) at 174 pounds; Anderson Salisbury is next with nine wins (9-4) while Keenan Willits is 8-4 with 30 dual points and Drew Hinkle is also at the eight-win mark (8-5). In duals, Gambrell (7-1) and Skyler Lykins (6-1) have led the way. Brandon Saunders is Mines' pins leader with four. One Oredigger who has really come on is Connor Ventura at 184 pounds filling for TJ Shelton; Ventura has won a team-best four straight dual bouts at 184, and is 7-2 overall and 4-1 in duals this season.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will return to RMAC action Jan. 26 at CSU-Pueblo.

PROJECTED LINEUPS – MINES at FORT HAYS STATE
125- Matt Lavengood (5-7)
133- Jake Woods (5-4)
141- Lukas Erickson (6-5)
149- Noah Ottum (7-4)
157- Skyler Lykins (7-3)
165- Keenan Willits (8-4)
174- Robert Gambrell (10-2)
184- Connor Ventura (7-2)
197- Jake Feldman (6-5)
285- Weston Hunt (6-2)

PROJECTED LINEUP – MINES at MIDWEST DUALS
125- Matt Lavengood (5-7) or Jake Stogdill
133- Jake Woods (5-4) or Noah Au-Yeung (7-7)
141- Lukas Erickson (6-5)
149- Noah Ottum (7-4)
157- Skyler Lykins (7-3) or Ryan Fidel (7-3)
165- Keenan Willits (8-4)
174- Robert Gambrell (10-2) or Drew Hinkle (8-5)
184- Connor Ventura (7-2) or Anderson Salisbury (9-4)
197- Jake Feldman (6-5) or Anthony Spallino (2-3)
285- Weston Hunt (6-2) or Brandon Saunders (5-3)