Mesa
State 27, CSU-Pueblo 12
PUEBLO, Colo. - The first wrestling match at CSU-Pueblo since
2001 ended with a fizzle Wednesday night, as visiting Mesa State,
led by coach and former CSU-Pueblo three-time national champion,
Chuck Pipher, upended the ThunderWolves 27-12 in front of 2,012
fans at Massari Arena.
After 149-pounder Louie DeSantis
(Jr., Escondido, Calif.) earned the win in the opening
match of the night with a 9-4 decision over Keith Johnson,
claiming his team-leading 17th win of the season, Pack wrestlers
lost four straight matches, including a first period fall by
184-pounder Kellen Desmond to Andrew Laiminger.
A rousing win by Pueblo native Tony Chavarria
(Fr., Pueblo West, Colo.) at 197 pounds over James Breidel
by a 13-8 decision gave the Pack life, trimming the deficit to
17-6, but a pin in the heavyweight class of Frank Sandoval by
Trevor Stapp doomed the Pack's realistic chances of victory.
The night did end on a high note for the ThunderWolves, winning
two of the final three matches, including another Pueblo native
getting a win, 141-pounder Markus Portillos
(Fr., Pueblo, Colo.), holding on for a slim 10-8 decision
over Jason Wenger.
Despite the success of the local boys, the ThunderWolves' loss
marks only their third loss to Mesa State in school history, out of
eight total meetings. Mesa State's win marks their first RMAC
dual win since 2006-07 after going winless in RMAC duals last
season.
The ThunderWolves' home stand doesn't getting any easier as
sixth-ranked Adams State comes to town Thursday night at 7 p.m.
