LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowboys were able to win three close matches, but a pair of overtime wins in the upper weights by #9 Western State (7-2, 4-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) propelled the Moutaineers past New Mexico Highlands (3-4, 1-4 RMAC) 24-9 in wrestling action Wednesday night (Jan. 29) at the John A. Wilson Complex.
With the match starting at the top, the Cowboys claimed exciting tight wins in the first and final matches of the night. Sophomore
Erick Rangel got the early takedown at 125 and added a third-period escape for the 3-1 win over Dammion Heard of Western State.
The match of the night may have been at heavyweight. Scoreless after one, Western State's Lane Stuht started down and reversed sophomore
Cody Marquez to take the 2-0. Stuht held on to a 2-1 lead after two. In the third, Marquez quickly escaped to tie the match. With about thirty seconds left, a scramble ensued that saw Marquez get the takedown with 20 seconds left. Marquez rode out Stuht to claim the 4-2 win.
The upper three weight classes all ended 4-2.
Redshirt sophomore
Juan Alvarado deflected a shot in the third to preserve the 3-2 win at 165. Alvarado got the first period takedown. Western State's Austin Harris cut the deficit in half with a takedown. Another Harris escape in the second knotted the match after two periods. Alvarado started down in the third and got the escape for the final point of the bout, but there was no shortage of fireworks. With about a minute left, Harris looked as if he was going to take a 4-3 lead, but Alvarado fought off the shot to preserve the lead and eventual win.
The Cowboys were able to take a pair of ranked wrestlers to overtime, but Western State got the 4-2 win. At 184, the Mountaineers #6 Kyle Piatt took senior
Igor Gomzin down 0:24 into overtime. At 197, #7 Sam Magnum got the reversal in the first 0:30 overtime period and rode out junior
Justin Rockhill.
While Highlands took a 3-0 lead early, Western State was able to flip the score when Zach Shank pinned junior
Tre Humphrey in 5:34 at 133.
The New Mexico Highlands wrestling team returns to action Friday (Jan. 31) when it takes on Oklahoma City at 2 p.m. at Robinson HS in Las Vegas.
RESULTS:
125:
Erick Rangel (NMHU) decision over Dammion Heard (WSCU), 3-1. NMHU 3-0.
133: Zach Shank (WSCU) wins by fall over
Tre Humphrey (NMHU) in 5:34. WSCU 6-3.
141: Corbin Bennetts (WSCU) wins by decision over
Dan Gaylor (NMHU), 9-2. WSCU 9-3
149: CJ York (WSCU) wins by decision over
Pierce Stowman (NMHU), 6-2. WSCU 12-3.
157: Shawn Seppala (WSCU) wins by decision over
Jesse Martinez (NMHU), 7-4. WSCU 15-3.
165:
Juan Alvarado (NMHU) wins by decision over Austin Harris (WSCU), 3-2. WSCU 15-6.
174: #3 Elliot Copeland (WSCU) wins by decision over
Easton Hargrave (NMHU), 9-2. WSCU 18-6.
184: #6 Kyle Piatt (WSCU) won by decision over
Igor Gomzin (NMHU), 4-2 OT. WSCU 21-6.
197: #7 Sam Magnum (WSCU) won by decision over
Justin Rockhill (NMHU), 4-2, OT. WSCU 24-6.
285:
Cody Marquez (NMHU) wins by decision over Lane Stuht (WSCU), 4-2. WSCU wins 24-9.
