The Orediggers (8-2) came back from a 14-4 deficit with five victories in their final six bouts, sparked by Keenan Willits' pin at 165 and capped by Gracia's winner-take-all 4-2 decision at 125 pounds. The Cowboys won all four of their bouts with bonus points.
Mines got off to a great start at 133 pounds as Jake Woods majored Adrian George, 16-6, keyed by a 13-point first period, but the Cowboys answered that with three consecutive bonus-point wins. Lukas Erickson got caught in a takedown to his back as Logan Pine earned the pin late in the first at 141, and Reis Humphrey scored a 16-4 major over Ryan Carpenter at 149. At 157, Kellen Pelzel used a big third-period to major Jack Damenti 13-2, and NMHUU suddenly had a 14-4 lead.
The tide started to turn as Willits dominated Allen Michel at 165 and turned it into a 56-second pin, and TJ Shelton battled Kenny Yara to a 10-6 decision at 174 to cut the NMHU lead to 14-13. Connor Ventura then put Mines ahead, shutting out Jonathan Bechtloff 3-0 at 184 in a defensive showcase.
Highlands temporarily went back on top when Chris Collins worked a 14-3 major decision over Anthony Spallino at 197, and that sent the dual down to the final two matches. Hunt had no trouble with Gabriel Escobedo at heavyweight in an 8-1 decision to retake the lead 19-18, and with the dual on the line, Gracia came through with a 4-2 win against Dominic Rivera, earning a first-period takedown and then a pair of escapes after Rivera reversed him to start the second period.
NOTABLES
- The win was Mines' first over NMHUU since the 2014-15 season.
- Willits' pin was his seventh of the year, tying him for the team lead with Weston Hunt.
- Woods' victory was his team-best 19th of the season; the sophomore is now 19-4.
- Hunt's decision was his first career RMAC victory.
NEXT UP
Mines hosts Adams State Saturday at 2 p.m. with Senior Day preceding the meet.
Results:
133: Jake Woods (MINES) over Adrian George (NMHU) (MD 16-6)
141: Logan Pine (NMHU) over Lukas Erickson (MINES) (Fall 2:56)
149: Reis Humphrey (NMHU) over Ryan Carpenter (MINES) (MD 16-4)
157: Kellen Pelzel (NMHU) over Jackson Damenti (MINES) (MD 13-2)
165: Keenan Willits (MINES) over Allen Michel (NMHU) (Fall 0:56)
174: TJ Shelton (MINES) over Kenneth Yara (NMHU) (Dec 10-6)
184: Connor Ventura (MINES) over Jonathan Bechtloff (NMHU) (Dec 3-0)
197: Christopher Collins (NMHU) over Anthony Spallino (MINES) (MD 14-3)
285: Weston Hunt (MINES) over Gabriel Escobedo (NMHU) (Dec 8-1)
125: Zachary Gracia (MINES) over Dominic Rivera (NMHU) (Dec 4-2)
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