PUEBLO, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2020) – The Colorado State University Pueblo wrestling team will begin the 2021 season Saturday at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Midwest Duals at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska. Also, the first regular season National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division II National Rankings were released Friday.
 
The ThunderWolves will have three duals, starting with No. 18 Fort Hays State University at 8 a.m. MT. The Tigers are 1-3 in duals this season and have two wrestlers ranked nationally, which includes the No. 2 wrestler at 125. CSU Pueblo last battled FHSU on Jan. 19, 2019 at the Midwest Duals and won 19-15 when the Tigers were ranked No. T-12. 
 
Next up, the Pack will battle No. 23 Newman University at 9:30 a.m. MT. The Jets are 1-3 in duals and have the two wrestlers ranked, which includes the No. 3 wrestler at 165. The ThunderWolves also wrestled NU at the 2019 Midwest Duals and earned a 24-16 victory against the then-No. 23 Jets.
 
CSU Pueblo finishes with host and No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney with a dual at 11 a.m. MT. The Lopers are 4-3 in dual competition this season and have seven wrestlers ranked in the top 12, which includes the top wrestler at 125 and the No. 2 wrestler at 133 and 165. The last time The ThunderWolves and Lopers met was Dec. 15, 2018 where the Pack produced a 31-12 upset of then-No. 2 UNK in a home dual at Massari Arena. 
 
Capacity for fans will be capped at 75 percent and fans are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing. TICKETS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE ONLINE - THERE WILL BE NO TICKET SALES AT THE DOOR. Tickets can be purchased at www.lopertickets.com.  Cost is $10 (Adults) and $5 (students ages 11-18) with those 10 & under free.
 
Live video and results will be available via FloWrestling.
 
The Pack gathered 21 points for fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Gavin Melendez (Sr., 149, Los Banos, Calif.) and Gavin Nye (Jr., HWT, Gerber, Calif.) were named RMAC Preseason Wrestlers to Watch. In the NWCA national rankings, the ThunderWolves received votes in the team poll, while Nye was ranked No. 8 at heavyweight and Melendez was No. 11 at 149. 
  
Last season, CSU Pueblo went 4-7 in dual competition and 3-4 in RMAC duals to finish fifth in the league standings. Three members of the Pack qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships, but weren't able to compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the championships. The ThunderWolves were sixth at the region championships. 
 
The Pack return five wrestlers that were on the regional championship roster last year, which includes Melendez and Nye, who both finished third at the regional tournament to advance to nationals.
 
PROBABLE LINEUP
 
125 – Parker McBride
133 – Devin Lueck or Dimitri Villanueva
141 – Andrew Sansburn
149 – #11 Gavin Melendez
157 – Ruben Garcia or Jasiah Williams
165 – Elijah Valdez or Justin Davis
174 – Aaron Benton or Jair Flores
184 – Dominic Robles
197 – Ben Gould
285 – #8 Gavin Nye or Dominick Fini
 
-- PACK --