Golden, Colo. – The Adams State men's wrestling team kicked off its 2025-26 season at the Mines Rookie Open, showcasing a strong start from its young lineup. The Grizzlies saw two wrestlers earn third-place finishes, along with one fourth-place and one fifth-place performance, setting a solid tone to begin the new campaign.

Competing in the 141-pound weight class, Nick Dardanes led the way for the Grizzlies with an impressive third-place finish. He opened the tournament with a gritty 2-1 decision before dominating his second match with a lightning-fast fall in just 45 seconds. Dardanes continued his strong performance with a 5-3 decision to advance to the semifinals, where he came up short by tech fall. He went on to secure third place after a medical forfeit from a Colorado Mesa opponent, capping off a solid start to his college career.

Also earning a third-place finish for the Grizzlies was Jaylen Ignacio in the 285-pound weight class. Ignacio powered through his opening matches, recording back-to-back falls to advance to the semifinals before falling short in his next bout. He bounced back in the third-place match with a clutch performance, securing a hard-fought decision in sudden-victory overtime to close out a strong day on the mat.

Malachi Rider picked up the lone fourth-place finish for the Grizzlies in the 165-pound weight class. After earning a first-round bye, Rider battled his way through the next two rounds with back-to-back decision victories. He ultimately dropped his final two matches of the day, both by decision, to finish fourth in a competitive bracket and add to Adams State's strong overall showing.

Breck Williams rounded out the podium finishes for the Grizzlies with an impressive fifth-place showing in a tough 174-pound bracket. After earning a first-round bye, Williams dropped a narrow 4-2 decision in round two but responded with determination on the consolation side. He stormed back with five straight victories, including one fall, two tech falls and two major decisions, to battle his way back to a well-earned fifth-place finish.

The Grizzlies will look to build on their early-season success as they continue to develop their young roster. Adams State returns to action November, 22, when they travel to Kearney, Nebraska, to compete in the UNK Open.