PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 13, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo wrestling team concludes the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual season Friday, Feb. 14 with a road trip to No. 9 Colorado School of Mines. The bout is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. from Golden. On Sunday, Feb. 16, the Pack will have a group of student-athletes competing at the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Open, hosted by Mines, beginning at 10 a.m.
 
THE MATCHUP
 
The ThunderWolves are 4-6 overall and 3-3 in RMAC duals after splitting last week at New Mexico Highlands University (W, 27-18) and at home against Western Colorado University (L, 23-18). 
 
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. He owns a 6-3 overall record. 
 
Redshirt-sophomore heavyweight Gavin Nye (Gerber, Calif.) sits at No. 12 and is 5-0 in RMAC. He has a 16-7 record with eight falls. Nye is the 10th most dominate wrestler (among all weight classes) in NCAA Division II according to rankings released by NCAA.com. The rankings are calculated by adding the total number of team points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled. He has won eight straight matches with five pins and two technical falls during that streak. 
 
Redshirt-freshman Elijah Valdez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) has returned from injury and won three straight bouts by pin fall at 165. He has a 15-8 record with 10 of those wins coming by fall. 
 
At 157, senior Isaiah Diggs (Federal Way, Wash.) is 5-2 overall and has a 3-1 RMAC record. He has won three straight and has three major decisions against conference foes.
 
The Orediggers are 8-2 overall and 6-0 in conference duals to secure at least a share of their second straight league title. Mines last defeated No. 13 Adams State University, 23-18 at home Feb. 7. The team's No. 9 ranking is the highest in program history. Mines has four wrestlers ranked nationally and all in the higher weight classes. In the top five, Robert Gambrell is No. 2 at 174 and Weston Hunt is No. 4 at heavyweight. At 165, Skyler Lykins is No. 6 and Anderson Salisbury sits at No. 12 at 184. 
 
Last year, the Pack got the best of the Orediggers at home by the score of 23-11. Returning from last year's win are Brumfield, who picked up a 14-3 major decision win at 133. Diggs grabbed a 6-5 decision win against Lykins at 157. Nye and Hunt battled at heavyweight with Hunt earning the narrow 3-2 victory. Earlier this season, Hunt also got the best of Nye by a 3-2 decision at the UNK Younes Hospitality Open. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
CSU-Pueblo lost to Western Colorado University Saturday by the score of 23-18 in a RMAC contest at Massari Arena that closed the home dual season for the ThunderWolves. 
 
Before the dual, the Pack celebrated their two seniors, D'Andre Brumfield (Dallas, Texas) and Isaiah Diggs(Federal Way, Wash.). 
 
With the loss, CSU-Pueblo fell to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in RMAC duals. The Mountaineers improved to 12-6 overall and 5-1 in RMAC duals. 
 
After forfeiting at 125 and losing at the next two weight classes, the Pack trailed 12-0. But the next three bouts got the ThunderWolves back in the match. 
 
At 149, Gavin Melendez (R-Jr., Los Banos, Calif.) battled for a 3-2 decision victory. He scored all three points in the third period, which included the only takedown of the match. 
 
Diggs earned a major decision victory at 157 by the score of 15-6. He recorded six takedowns in the bout, which included four in the first period. 
 
Following the match, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty point was assessed to CSU-Pueblo and the score was 12-6. 
 
Redshirt-freshman Elijah Valdez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded his third straight pin at 165 and knotted the score at 12-12. He made quick work of his opponent and only needed 1:15 to secure the victory. 
 
Unfortunately for the ThunderWolves, the Mountaineers won the next three bouts and led 23-12 heading to the heavyweight match. 
 
No. 12 Gavin Nye (R-So., Gerber, Calif.) needed only 1:33 to score his second straight pin fall victory and his eighth straight win (five by fall and two technical falls).
 
PROBABLE PACK LINEUP
 
125     Parker McBride (7-4, 2 pins)          
133     D'Andre Brumfield (6-3, 1 pin)
141     Dino Cancellieri (1-3)
149     Jasiah Williams (1-1)
157     Isaiah Diggs (5-2)
165     Elijah Valdez (15-8, 10 pins)                       
174     Brendon Kelley (14-14, 6 pins)
184     Theodore Csenar (5-12, 2 pins)
197     Ben Gould (16-8, 3 pins)
HWT   Gavin Nye (16-7, 8 pins)
 
NEXT UP
 
The ThunderWolves will head to the 2020 NCAA Division II Super Region VI Championships, set for Feb. 29 in Kearney, Nebraska. 

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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.