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GUNNISON, Colo. – It’s a top-15 showdown tonight when the No. 14 Adams State Grizzlies (6-4, 3-2 RMAC) travel to Paul Wright Gym to take on the No. 13 Western State Mountaineers (4-3, 1-1 RMAC). It’s Operation Red, meaning all fans are encouraged to wear red in support of the Mountaineers.
Both teams feature three nationally-ranked wrestlers on their probable lineups tonight, but the only match that will feature the nationally-ranked athletes is at 197 pounds. Fifth-ranked Donovan McMahill, who is 7-0 in duals this season with a pair of falls, will go against fourth-ranked Kyle Sand, who is 9-1 in dual competition with four falls.
Charlie Alexander, Division II’s fourth-ranked wrestler at heavyweight, will make his return after having to drop out of the Mile High Collegiate Championships Jan. 17. Alexander is 19-4 overall this season and has the best winning percentage of conference wrestlers this season. He will be facing either Jeff Schossow or Taylor Stam to close out the dual tonight.
Charlie Pipher made his return to the mat last Saturday in dramatic fashion, claiming a fall against Air Force’s James Ciccone in five minutes and 12 seconds. Pipher, the No. 2 wrestler at 184 pounds in the nation, was sidelined for more than a month with a left knee injury. He’s likely to face Torben Walters, who is 8-2 in duals this season with four falls.
Hollan Gravley will have a tall task at 141 pounds against top-ranked Josh Hensley. Gravley is 16-13 overall this season and has won his last two dual matches from Grand Canyon Jan. 23 and Central Missouri Jan. 9. Hensely is undefeated in duals at 10-0 with half of his wins coming in falls.
Kyle Francis posted a technical fall and fall at least weekend’s Tracy Borah Duals and will face fourth-ranked Joey Deaguero at 157 pounds. Fracis leads the Mountaineers with four technical falls this season as Deaguero enters with a 5-1 record in dual matches.
The Mountaineers lead the overall series 38-33-1 and won last season’s meeting 25-18 in Alamosa. Western State has won 12 of the last 15 meetings dating back to the 1995-96 season.