PUEBLO, Colo. (January 26, 2024) - The Colorado State University Pueblo wrestling team hosted their first home dual of the regular season on Friday, falling 26-22 to Western Colorado University inside Massari Arena.

In the dual, CSU Pueblo took home five individual wins including a win by pin from Josiah Aldinger (Fr., Falcon, Colo.), who made quick work of WCU's Tommy Tatham in just 42 seconds.

Aldinger, along with Brandon Bigler (So., Pacifica, Calif.), Michael Atencio (R-So., Rye, Colo.), Cyruss Meeks (Jr., Casper, Wyo.) and Ben Gould (Sr., Canyon Country, Calif.) all scored wins for the ThunderWolves.

The dual began at the 125 pound bout and the Pack's Decker Milender (Fr., Superior, Mont.) lost by tech fall (18-0) against Roberto Estrada. 

In the next match-up at 133, Bigler won by forfeit, giving six team points to the Pack. At 141 pounds, Atencio built an 8-2 lead after a high scoring first period over Noah Kasprowicz and the two would not score another point in the last two periods, giving Atencio the decision win.

At 149, Anthony Nichols (R-Sr., Grand Coulee, Wash.) faced a tall task in No. 3 Dean Noble, falling by tech fall against the nationally ranked wrestler.

In arguably the match of the night at 157 between Meeks and WCU' s Tannen Kennedy, the bout went scoreless through two periods before Kennedy began the third period on bottom and earned an escape point before Meeks earned a take down late in the period to go ahead by two points and with Kennedy earning a bonus point for riding time, Meeks came away victorious with a 3-2 decision.

At 165, Elijah Valdez (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) was pinned (1:11) by Walker Heckendorf in the first period.

In the 174 bout, Tytus Coombs (R-So., Meeker, Colo.) was overpowered in a 19-3 tech fall loss against No. 3 Cole Hernandez.

Donn Greer (So., Soledad, Calif.) suffered an 18-1 tech fall defeat against Cole Gray.

At 197, Gould executed a perfect game plan against Sage Harrison and earned a hard-fought 11-0 shutout win to give the Pack five more team points.

Aldinger finished off the dual with his impressive pin and the dual finished with Western ahead by four points.

The night ended following an exhibition match between Richard Palomar (R-So., Pueblo, Colo.) and Ryan Wilson from Western.

CSU Pueblo will have no time to rest before the next dual on Saturday against No. 1 Central Oklahoma. The dual will get underway at 6PM inside Massari Arena.