INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 13, 2019) – The No. 21 Colorado State University-Pueblo wrestling team is tied for 17th after day one of the 41st Annual Midwest Classic in Indianapolis. Four of the ThunderWolves' seven wrestlers are advancing to Sunday. 
 
The Pack collected 29.5 points to sit tied for 17th of 37 NCAA Division II teams. Four wrestlers have advanced to day two with one still remaining on the championship side of the bracket. Wrestling from Nicoson Hall is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. MT. 
 
Junior Brendon Kelley (Evansville, Ind.) was 3-0 at 174 on day one to reach the semifinal round. In his opening round he secured a 23-8 technical fall victory in the third period. He used a 9-6 decision to advance to the quarters and then took down No. 9 Nate Vandermeer of Findlay University with a first period fall at 1:03. He will wrestle Bret Romanzak of Ashland University in the semifinal final Sunday.
 
Junior Ruben Garcia (Selma, Calif.) started 3-1 at 157. He won his opening bout by a 9-7 decision, but was relegated to the consolation bracket with a 10-8 decision loss in round two. Garcia pinned his next opponent in the first period at 1:51 and then defeated a member of Western Colorado University by an 11-5 decision to move on in the tournament. He will wrestle Tanner Sparks of Maryville University Sunday in the consolation bracket.
 
Sophomore Elijah Valdez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) went 4-1 on day one in the 165 bracket. He won by medical forfeit in the preliminary round, then fell in round one of the championship bracket by a 6-3 decision. Valdez battled back with three straight victories. He won 4-2 in sudden victory 2 to keep his tournament alive and then dispatched his next opponent in just 50 seconds with a pin. Valdez took down No. 10 Christian Price of Ashland by an 8-4 decision to advance to Sunday. He will wrestle Dante Springsteen of University of Mary to start the day. 
 
Heavyweight Gavin Nye (R-So., Gerber, Calif.) was 2-1 on day one. He won by fall in his first bout late in the first period at 2:41 to advance to the second round. He won by a 6-3 decision to move on to the quarterfinal, but lost 3-1 in sudden victory 1 to No. 3 Courvosier Morrow of Lindenwood University. He starts his Sunday with Caleb Gossett of McKendree University
 
At 149, Gavin Melendez (R-Jr., Los Banos, Calif.) went 1-2. He had to wrestle in the preliminaries to get into the champion bracket and won by an 11-7 decision. He fell in his next two bouts by major decision and a 6-4 decision.
 
Freshman Jayson Davis (Pueblo, Colo.) went 1-2 at 184. He lost his first match by a 6-4 decision, but rebounded with a third period fall at 5:45. He lost by pin in the next round to end his tournament.
 
Freshman Ben Gould (Canyon Country, Calif.) posted a 1-2 record at 197 with the second loss due to medical forfeit. He won is first match 6-4 in sudden victory 1. In his next match he was injured and couldn't continue against the No. 2 wrestler in the nation. His day ended in the next round with the forfeit. 

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics