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Purchase Photos Online (Nathan Bilow Photography)
GUNNISON, Colo. - No. 5 Donovan McMahill's takedown with 10 seconds left in the third period at 197 pounds provided the Mountaineers their first lead of the dual as No. 13 Western State (5-3, 2-1 RMAC) defeated RMAC rival No. 14 Adams State (6-5, 3-3 RMAC) tonight in Paul Wright Gym by a 24-15 margin.
Western State won the final five matches and six overall and had to fight back from a 15-3 deficit after the 157-pound match.
Daren Hockett brought the Mountaineers within a point at 133 pounds with a 6-2 decision against A.J. Alexander. Western State fell behind early on a major decision loss at 125 pounds and then suffered three straight losses off a technical fall and two decisions.
Cody Frankum won his match by fall during the dual season and the fourth overall by pinning Adams State's Brandon Johnson in five minutes and 57 seconds. With the match closed to six points at 15-9 in favor of the Grizzlies, Zach Frazier halved the gap again with a 8-3 decision at 174 pounds against Anthony Gomez.
No. 2 Charlie Pipher scored the go-ahead takedown with 1:17 remaining in his 184-pound match against Torben Walters and allowed only a late escape for a 6-5 victory to even the score at 15.
McMahill entered tonight 0-2 against Kyle Sand, the defending national champion at 197 pounds, and never led through the first two periods. McMahill narrowed the match to one point with an escape at 1:40 left in the third period and took his first lead with 10 seconds remaining en route to the 4-3 victory.
Charlie Alexander made his first appearance in nearly two weeks at heavyweight and quickly earned a takedown before eventually pinning Taylor Stam. Alexander's fourth pin of the season capped a 21-point rally by the Mountaineers to close out the match.
Western State has won two straight duals against Adams and 13 of the last 16 dating back to the 1995-96 season. The Mountaineers hold a 39-33-1 edge in the overall series.
Up Next: The Mountaineers close out a four-dual homestand with Chadron State at 7 p.m. Friday. Western State will start the day with a 4 p.m. dual between No. 8 Gunnison High School and No. 2 Olathe High School for Community Schools Night, presented by J&W Catering and 5B's BBQ.