#20 Mines vs. Northeastern JC, Thursday, 7 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Results]
#20 Mines at Colorado Mesa Open, Saturday, 9 a.m. [Live Results]
 

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THE WEEKEND
#20 Colorado School of Mines opens its dual schedule at home on Thursday, hosting Northeastern JC at 7 p.m., then heads across the Rockies for the Colorado Mesa Open on Saturday. Thursday's dual will also be senior night for the Orediggers, honoring Matt Lavengood, Jake Woods, Logan Pleninger, Robert Gambrell, Drew Hinkle, Connor Ventura, Jake Feldman, and Anthony Spallino.

THE CHAMPS ARE HERE
Mines enters the 2019-20 season in an unfamiliar position: as defending champs. The Orediggers won their first RMAC title in the 96-year history of the program last year, going a best-ever 11-3 overall in duals and 6-1 in the RMAC.

MINES OPENS THE SEASON AT WYOMING
Three placewinners ledMines as they opened their season at the Cowboy Open at the University of Wyoming on Nov. 2. Anderson Salisbury was the runner-up at 184 pounsd, Nolan Funk took third at 197, and Wes Rayburn was fourth at 141 to lead a contingent of 11 Orediggers in the tournament. Other attached competitors for Mines included Aidan Funk (1-2 at 165), Anthony Spallino (0-2 at 197), Jack Damenti (0-2 at 157), Keegan Bean (2-2 at 197), Logan Pleninger (2-2 at 157), Michael True (4-2 at 285), Ryan Fidel (5-2 at 157), and Dilbeck (2-2 at 141).

IN THE POLLS
Mines is ranked #20 in the preseason NWCA Division II poll, with four individuals appearing in their weight classes' top 12. All four of Mines' returning NCAA qualifiers are ranked in preseason led by #6 Robert Gambrell at 174 pounds and Weston Hunt, the defending Super Region VI champion, at #7 at heavyweight. Skyler Lykins is #11 up a weight class at 165, and Noah Ottum is the #12-ranked 149-pounder.

In the RMAC preseason coaches' poll, the Orediggers were picked second behind Adams State. Returning NCAA qualifiers Weston Hunt and Robert Gambrell were named Preseason Wrestlers to Watch by the conference.

WHO'S BACK
Mines has a deep and veteran group in 2019-20 hoping to make some noise on the national stage after a breakout 2018-19 season. The Orediggers have starting experience at eight weight classes and return all four of their 2019 NCAA qualifiers in Weston Hunt (285, 13-6), Robert Gambrell (174, 19-5), Noah Ottum (149, 13-10) and Skyler Lykins (157, 12-9). They also have veterans with starting experience last year in Matt Lavengood (125, 11-10), Jake Woods (133, 9-10), Connor Ventura (184, 10-8), TJ Shelton (184, 3-0), Jake Feldman (197, 10-11), and Anthony Spallino (197, 2-4).

WINNING IN THE CLASSROOM
After the end of last season, Mines picked up a series of impressive academic accolades. As a team, the Orediggers turned in the #3 GPA in all of NCAA Division II at 3.428, which later netted them their third straight RMAC Brechler Award for the top team GPA in the conference. Numerous individuals earned RMAC and NWCA All-Academic status, led by Noah Ottum, who was in June named a CoSIDA Third-Team Academic All-American, the program's first since 2013.

LAST YEAR VS. NORTHEASTERN JC
Falls by Keenan Willits and TJ Shelton and a couple of last-second wins helped Colorado School of Mines defeat Northeastern JC 32-6 last season. The Orediggers won eight of the 10 bouts, including four with bonus points. In addition to Willits' and Shelton's pins, Noah Ottum and Robert Gambrell picked up major decisions, and Noah Au-Yeung, Skyler Lykins, Jake Feldman, and Weston Hunt won by decision.

MINES VS. NORTHEASTERN JC PROJECTED BOUTS
125- Jake Stogdill vs. Devon Shoenberger
133- Jake Woods vs. Dessmund Prospero
141- Wesley Rayburn vs. Trey Arellano
149- Noah Ottum vs. Ariel Rodriguez
157- Ryan Fidel vs. Sebatian Robles
165- Skyler Lykins vs. Davonn Keyes
174- Robert Gambrell vs. Braeson Lewis
184- Connor Ventura vs. Hayden Wempen
197- Nolan Funk vs. Austin Kelchen
285- Weston Hunt vs. Santana Solano

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will head to the UNK Open on Nov. 23 and the Midwest Classic on Dec. 14-15 in Indianapolis to round out the fall semester.