CHADRON — Earlier in the week, the Western State Colorado University wrestling team moved up six spots to fifth place in the NCAA Division II rankings. Chadron State College wrestlers and their fans learned Saturday afternoon that the Mountaineers merit the attention.
 
Western State won eight of the 10 matches while taking a 35-6 decision in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual. It was the first wrestling dual to take place in the Chicoine Center.
 
A majority of the Mountaineers applied relentless pressure and often capitalized on momentary lapses by the Eagles to gain the upper hand.
 
The Eagles' winners were freshman Chance Helmick, who squeezed out a 10-9 decision at 165 pounds, and sophomore Caleb Copeland, who won the 174-pound match 4-2.
 
Helmick has now won nine of his last 10 matches and Copeland has won 10 of his last 12. 
 
Three Mountaineers posted pins. Trent Piatt opened the dual with a first period pin at 125 pounds, Devon Zavala used a cradle midway in the second period to stop one of CSC's winningest wrestlers, Jacob Anderson, at 149 pounds and Peter Angulano ended the heavyweight match late in the third period.
 
Zavala led Anderson by just 9-8 when he put together his winning combination.
 
Two more Western State grapplers posted major decisions. Zach Shank won the 133-pound match 11-0 and No. 5 ranked Kyle Piatt was a 15-2 winner at 184.
 
Corbin Bennetts at 141, Shawn Beiriger at 157 and No. 6 rated Sam Mangum at 197 won by decisions for the Mountaineers, now 9-1 in duals this season.
 
Chadron State is now 7-7.  The action was the last of the season at home for the Eagles. This coming weekend they will be on the road to dual New Mexico Highlands and Adams State.

125—Trent Piatt, WSCU, pinned Robert Ozuna, 2:10.
133—Zach Shank, WSCU, major dec. Taylor Summers, 11-0.
141—Corbin Bennetts, WSCU, dec. Zach Denney, 3-0.
149—Devon Zavala, WSCU, pinned Jacob Anderson, 4:18.
157—Shawn Beiriger, WSCU, dec, Reed Burgener, 7-4.
165—Chance Helmick, CSC, dec. Austin Harris, 10-9.
174—Caleb Copeland, CSC, dec. Jaden Oleanick, 4-2,
184—Kyle Piatt, WSCU, major dec. Dylan Fors, 15-2.
197—Sam Mangum, WSCU, dec. Devan Fors, 7-1.
Hwt—Peter Angulano, WSCU, pinned Austin Abbey, 4:37.
Exhibition 174—Elliot Copeland, WSCU, dec. Tyler Smart, 8-1.