Mines vs. #1 Nebraska-Kearney, Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Results]
at Steinhauer Fieldhouse
 

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THIS WEEK
Colorado School of Mines, out to a 7-0 start in dual action, will face its toughest test of the season as it hosts #1 Nebraska-Kearney on Friday. Note that the dual will take place in Steinhauer Fieldhouse (home of Mines indoor track & field) instead of Volk Gym. It will be Camper Reunion Night with all Mines wrestling summer campers invited back to be introduced with the team before the meet.

LAST TIME OUT
Mines improved to 7-0 – matching its best start ever to a season – on Saturday with a 26-18 win at New Mexico Highlands. Mines earned bonus points thanks to pins by Skyler Lykins and Connor Ventura, and Keenan Willits' tech fall, while also picking up decisions from Lukas Erickson and a forfeit at 174. That came a day after Weston Hunt's win at 285 pounds made the difference in a 21-18 victory at Adams State; the Orediggers were down 18-9 after 165 pounds, but reeled off wins by Robert Gambrell, Ventura, Jake Feldman, and Hunt to complete the comeback.

Mines also had several wrestlers compete at the Hastings Cusatis Open on Saturday, with Anderson Salisbury and Nolan Funk each taking third in their weight classes. Anderson went 4-1 at 184, while Funk made his collegiate debut a good one with a 4-1 day at 197.

GIANT KILLERS
Mines has won four consecutive 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. Overall, Mines is on a 10-dual win streak dating back to the 2017-18 season.

LEADING THE WAY
Robert Gambrell has been Mines' on-mat leader this season, sporting the team's best overall record (10-1) and most dual points (34) at 174 pounds; impressively, all nine of of Gambrell's 10 wins have come with bonus points (4 majors, 1 tech, 3 falls, 1 forfeit). Anderson Salisbury (9-4) and Drew Hinkle (8-5) are next in wins, while Skyler Lykins is 7-2 overall and 6-0 in duals. Brandon Saunders is Mines' pins leader with four. Mines is unbeaten at two weights in duals this year – 157 with Lykins and Ryan Fidel, and 174 with Gambrell.

IN THE RANKINGS
Mines received votes in the most recent NWCA Top 25 team poll, with UNK earning the top spot with 95 points. Individual, Noah Au-Yeung dropped to #12 nationally at 133; UNK has five top-five-ranked wrestlers including #1 Matt Malcon at 157 and #1 Calvin Ochs at 165.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will wrestle four matches next week, visiting Fort Hays State on Jan. 17 before heading to UNK for the Midwest Duals, taking on Newman, Central Oklahoma, and Lindenwood on Jan. 19.
 

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PROJECTED LINEUPS – MINES VS. #1 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
125- Matt Lavengood (5-6) or Jake Stogdill (4-3) vs. #2 Josh Portillo (21-5)
133- #12 Noah Au-Yeung (7-6) or Jake Woods (5-4) vs. Wesley Dawkins (18-6)
141- Lukas Erickson (5-5) vs. #4 Jonathan Killingsworth (17-7)
149- Noah Ottum (6-4) vs. Nick Babcock (8-3)
157- Skyler Lykins (7-2) or Ryan Fidel (7-3) vs. #1 Matt Malcom (17-5)
165- Keenan Willits (7-4) vs. #1 Calvin Ochs (5-0) OR Talon Seitz (13-10)
174- Robert Gambrell (10-1) vs. #5 Zach Stodden (7-10)
184- Connor Ventura (6-2) vs. Isaac Deaton (4-5)
197- Jake Feldman (6-4) or Anthony Spallino (2-3) vs. Trey Schlender (2-3) OR Brady Radik (12-10)
285- Weston Hunt (6-3) or Brandon Saunders (5-2) vs. #5 Jarrod Hinrichs (22-6)