Western Hits the Road to Face #15 Tigers
2/4/2010 2:06:07 PM
GUNNISON, Colo. - No. 12 Western State wrestling faces it's second nationally-ranked opponent in the last three duals when the Mountaineers (6-3, 3-1 RMAC) travel to No. 15 Fort Hays State (6-3, 4-0 RMAC) Friday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Action begins at 6 p.m. MST.
Western State has won its last four duals dating back to Jan. 23, but has struggled away from Paul Wright Gym this season in duals with its only win coming at Colorado School of Mines Jan. 7. Fort Hays State is hosting only its third home dual of the season and is 1-1 in those duals.
Donovan McMahill improved to No. 4 in the 197-pound weight class and is expected to wrestle against Steven Kyler. McMahill has won his last four matches and 15 of his last 16 to lead the RMAC with a 22-4 record. Kyler is 11-15 as a freshman.
The Tigers feature four nationally-ranked wrestlers in the lower six classes, led by second-ranked Andre Harrison at 141 pounds. Harrison is 18-4 and is tentative to compete Friday night along with Aldon Isenberg. Hollan Gravley will be the Mountaineers' wrestler at 141 pounds with a 17-14 record and four pins this season.
Tommy Edgmon dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 at 125 pounds after falling to Aresenia Barksdale of Adams State last week. It'll be Kyle O'Brien's second match against a top-eight opponent in RMAC action after falling to Barksdale last week.
Kyle Francis is 17-11 with two falls at 157 pounds and is expected to face fourth-ranked Danny Grater tomorrow night. Francis has won seven of his last eight matches, with all but one of those wins being for bonus points. Grater is 13-6 fourth in the RMAC with a 13-6 record this season.
Freshman Cody Frankum is 7-2 in duals this season with a pin at 165 pounds and will likely face the seventh-ranked Blake Malloy. Frankum has won his last four matches and is fifth in the RMAC with a 16-9 overall record. Malloy is 21-5 and second in the conference win standings.
The Mountaineers are 22-7 all-time against the Tigers and have won the last three duals since the 2006-07 season.