PUEBLO, Colo. (Jan. 29, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo wrestling team opens the home dual season with a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests against ranked opponents. The ThunderWolves welcome No. T-13Adams State University Thursday and No. 12 San Francisco State University Saturday at Massari Arena. Both contests are slated to begin at 6 p.m.
 
Thursday is a RED OUT, as fans are encouraged to wear red to support the Pack. Saturday is Youth Night, as all youth (17 and under) get in free. 
 
THE MATCHUPS
 
The ThunderWolves are 2-4 overall and 1-1 in RMAC duals after falling to No. 25 Colorado Mesa University, Friday in Grand Junction. The Pack led 22-17 heading to the final bout, but unfortunately, had to forfeit the match to lose 23-22.
 
CSU-Pueblo has two wrestlers ranked in the Jan. 22 edition of the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll. A national qualifier last year, senior D'Andre Brumfield (Dallas, Texas) is ranked No. 11 at 133. After losing his first bout of the season, he has won four straight to own a 4-1 record. Sophomore heavyweight Gavin Nye (Gerber, Calif.) sits at No. 12 and is 2-0 in RMAC. He has a 10-6 record with four falls.  
 
The Grizzlies are 3-2 overall and 2-1 in RMAC duals this season. ASU is coming off a 36-9 home victory against New Mexico Highlands University. Adams State has three nationally ranked wrestlers, all in lower weight classes. Jonathan Andretta is No. 5 at 133, Noah Hermosillo sits at No. 4 at 141 and Josiah Rider ranks No. 9 at 149. 
 
CSU-Pueblo had a five-match win streak against the Grizzlies snapped last season in Alamosa, 22-15. In 2018, the Pack used three pins to secure a 22-21 victory at Massari Arena. 
 
The Gators own a 7-5 dual record, but have lost three straight matchups. They are 1-3 in RMAC duals and will battle Western Colorado University and Colorado Mesa Thursday before making the trip to Pueblo. SFSU has three wrestlers ranked in the top six nationally. Mason Boutain is No. 6 at 149, Maxamillion Scheider ranks No. 4 at 157 and Justin Pichedwatana holds down the No. 3 spot at 184.
 
Since the return of the program in 2008, the Pack and Gators have done battle just three times with the ThunderWolves owning a 1-2 record. All three bouts were at neutral sites. CSU-Pueblo won last year 37-12. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The ThunderWolves won five bouts in an RMAC battle at No. 25 Colorado Mesa Friday, but fell in the end by the score of 23-22. 
 
The ThunderWolves  led through six matches, but the Mavericks scored points in three of the final four bouts to take the narrow victory. 
 
D'Andre Brumfield (R-Sr., Dallas, Texas) got things started at 133 with his second RMAC win, as he posted a 10-6 decision. He used three first period takedowns to take a lead he wouldn't relinquish. 
 
CSU-Pueblo went up 7-6 after Gavin Melendez (Los Banos, Calif.) used a furious third period run to post a 13-5 major decision victory. He totaled seven points in the third and added another point for ride time. 
 
At 157, Ruben Garcia (Jr., Selma, Calif.) battled in the first period, which saw both wrestlers secure six points early in the bout. The score was 10-10 in the third period when Garcia recorded a takedown and would earn a pin at 5:56 to score six big points for the Pack. The effort handed the road team a 13-6 lead through four bouts. 
 
Brendon Kelley (Jr., Evansville, Ind.) grabbed a win at 174 by a narrow 6-4 decision. A first period takedown and a two-point near-fall for Kelley proved to be good enough, as a third-period takedown secured the win. 
 
Kelley's win moved the Pack lead to 16-9, but losses at the next two weight classes moved the score to 17-16 in favor of the Mavericks. 
 
At heavyweight, Gavin Nye (R-So., Gerber, Calif.) made quick work of his opponent with a first-period pin at 1:36. 
 
Unfortunately, the ThunderWolves had to forfeit at 125, which gave Colorado Mesa six points and the dual victory, 23-22.  
 
PROBABLE PACK LINEUP
 
125     Parker McBride (7-4, 2 pins)          
133     D'Andre Brumfield (4-1)
141     Dino Cancellieri (0-1)
149     Gavin Melendez (14-8, 1 pin)
OR
149     Jasiah Williams (0-1)
157     Isaiah Diggs (2-2)
165     Ruben Garcia(13-8, 5 pins)                        
174     Brendon Kelley (12-12, 6 pins)
184     Theodore Csenar (5-9, 2 pins)
OR
184     Jayson Davis (1-5)
197     Ben Gould (14-8, 3 pins)
HWT   Gavin Nye (10-6, 3 pins)
 
NEXT UP
 
CSU-Pueblo closes the home dual season Feb. 8 when it welcomes Western Colorado University for a 6 p.m. battle at Massari Arena. The match is Senior Day for the ThunderWolves. 

– 30 –

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