ALAMOSA, Colo. – A perfect 8-0 dual record is on the line for the No. 8 ranked Adams State University Grizzly wrestling team on Thursday and Friday night. The Grizzlies are set to take on No. 12 Colorado Mesa University at Brownson Arena on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. before heading closer to home to take on No. 23 Western Colorado at 6:00 p.m. in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) action.
The three teams are the top three in the RMAC standings as ASU is a perfect 3-0, Western Colorado is 2-0 and Colorado Mesa is 1-0.
Adams State ran its dual record to 8-0 on the season with three victories at the Midwest Duals, where the Grizzlies defeated Central Missouri, Newman and No. 3 ranked Nebraska-Kearney. It's a vast improvement over Adams State's 5-5 dual meet record last season.
In a recent article on FloWrestling JHead oach
Jason Ramstetter attributes the Grizzlies' dual success to a team-oriented atmosphere where each wrestler plays a role in the team's success.
"We've got a really good group of guys that rely on each other they hold each other accountable," he said.
"In the past, we've had some good individuals, but (on this team) I feel like everyone is looking out for each other, the whole way down the lineup from starters to backup."
That depth has contributed to a solid dual team that will be tested in the coming weeks as the Grizzlies take on Colorado Mesa and No. 1 Central Oklahoma.
One wrestler that has made an impact for Adams State is the 125-pound Wyoming transfer
Brendon Garcia, who's up to No. 3 in the national rankings. Garcia has taken the weight class by storm, defeating a number of ranked wrestlers including No. 11 Christian Mejia (McKendree) and No. 9 Studd Morris (Central Oklahoma).
"We picked him up as a transfer, and he was honestly already pretty good," Ramstetter said. "I think he is just enjoying the atmosphere and enjoying practice."
Garcia is one of three ranked wrestlers for Adams State, joining returning national champions
Josiah Rider and
Noah Hermosillo.
The Grizzlies turn their attention to take on No. 12 Colorado Mesa tonight. The Mavericks sport this week's RMAC Wrestler of the Week in redshirt Dawson Collins who went went 4-0 that included an overtime win over No. 5 Jaxson Rohman of Augustana and reigning two-time national champion and No. 1 ranked Cole Laya of West Liberty 3-1 in overtime at 125 pounds at the NWCA National Duals.
CMU has five wrestlers ranked in the latest polls including Collin Metzgar remains at No. 9 at 133 pounds and Ryan Wheeler is down a spot to No. 6 at 157 as both have been in the rankings all season.
Alex Holguin is down a spot to No. 8 at 174 pounds while Dawson Collins is No. 9 at 133 pounds while Collins is No. 6
Making his debut in the rankings at 165 pounds is redshirt freshman Gus Dalton. The Emery, Utah native is 7-2 on the season that includes a win over then-No. 4 Hunter Mullin of Western Colorado and a seventh-place finish at the Midwest Classic.
The Mountaineers are fresh off an upset of No. 17 Fort Hays State (Kan.) at the UNK Midwest Duals, downing the Tigers 33-15. Earlier in the day Western suffered defeats against No. 1 Central Oklahoma (35-10) and No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney (27-16).
Cole Hernandez, No. 9 at 174 ranking.
