KEARNEY, Neb. (Jan. 23, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo wrestling team produced two victories against top 25 opponents Saturday at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Midwest Duals. The ThunderWolves went 2-1 in their first competitions of the new season. 
 
CSU Pueblo (2-1) started the day with a 26-21 victory against No. 18 Fort Hays State University behind five bout wins. Next, the ThunderWolves defeated No. 23 Newman University 23-20 with four march wins. Finally, CSU Pueblo went up against No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney and lost, 41-6. 
 
Two Pack wrestlers recorded multiple wins and totaled 10-plus team points. At 157, Ruben Garcia (Sr., Selma, Calif.) led the ThunderWolves with 15 points, as he went 3-0 with two first period pins. Ranked No. 11 at 149 in the first regular season poll, Gavin Melendez (R-Sr., Los Banos, Calif.) went 2-1 with two technical falls and a decision loss to a higher ranked opponent. 
 
VERSUS FORT HAYS STATE
 
Devin Lueck (R-So., Fountain, Colo.) got the scoring started for the ThunderWolves with a 14-7 decision victory at 133. A forfeit at 141 and Melendez's 17-2 technical fall at 149 halfway through the second period (3:58) had the Pack up 14-6. At 157, Garcia used a sudden victory takedown to record a 10-8 decision win, then an Elijah Valdez (R-So., 165) first period pin (2:05) at 165 pushed the CSU Pueblo lead to 23-6. Jair Flores (R-Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) won at 184 by a 6-2 decision to secure the bout victory for the ThunderWolves. 
 
VERSUS NEWMAN
 
Parker McBride (Sr., Duvall, Wash.) scored a 5-3 victory at 125 to start things off, then six forfeited points at 133 had the Pack ahead 9-0 early. Melendez increased the team lead, as he recorded an identical 17-2 technical fall win, this time in the third period (7:00). At 157, Garcia scored a fall at 2:04 and midway through the bout the ThunderWolves were ahead 20-6. Newman countered and rattled off four straight wins to tie the match 20-20 and leave the bout up to the heavyweights. Ranked No. 8 nationally in the first regular season poll, Gavin Nye (R-Jr., Gerber, Calif.) closed the door on the Jets and scored a 9-2 decision victory to lift the Pack to a second win against a ranked opponent. 
 
VERSUS NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
 
UNK wrestled six nationally ranked student-athletes in the bout with the ThunderWolves, as the hosts won 41-6. The lone victory for the Pack came when Garcia pinned his opponent at 157 in 2:57. 
 
NEXT UP
 
CSU Pueblo is scheduled to open the home and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule Jan. 28 against No. T-25 Chadron State College. The match is slated to begin at 6 p.m.

-- PACK --