CHADRON, Neb. -- The Chadron State College wrestling team will launch a busy weekend by hosting Colorado Mines in a dual beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Nelson Physical Activity Center. The Eagles also will take the mat four times at the Nebraska-Kearney Duals on Saturday.

The action will be the first for the Eagles since Dec. 18, just before the holiday break began.   Coach Brett Hunter said the time off helped several of his wrestlers recover from injuries, but it's time to get back in action.

The Eagles closed out the 2015 portion of their schedule by winning four of five duals.  The exception was a 19-18 loss to Nebraska-Kearney, the top-ranked team in NCAA II Super Region 4 that includes Chadron State.  That score undoubtedly helped boost the young CSC team to seventh place in the rankings among the 14 teams in the region.

Four Eagles are ranked among the top six in their weight classes in the region.  They are Terrance McKinney, first at 149 pounds; Caleb Copeland, third at 174; Taylor Summers, third at 133; and Shane Rodenburg, fifth at 184.

McKinney is 10-5 this season, Copeland 11-5, Summers 10-3 and Rodenburg 11-5.

Among the unranked Eagles is Chance Helmick, who is 16-4 at 165 pounds.  Other Eagles with winning records through 2015 include Brock Thumm, 6-5 at 141, and Johnny Porter, 7-5 at 157.

The Eagles are expected to have a new heavyweight in the lineup for at least some of the duals this weekend.  Chadron native Cooper Cogdill has recovered from preseason knee injuries, including one that required surgery.  Originally on the roster at 197 pounds, the redshirt freshman now weighs about 225 and won three of four matches on Saturday at a tournament in Hastings.

Hunter acknowledged that Cogdill isn't nearly as big as many heavyweights, who can weigh up to 285 pounds, but said he is "more agile and is a tough kid."

Chadron State and Colorado Mines have usually met near the end of their dual schedules. The Eagles won last year's match 23-11. Hunter said the Orediggers appear to be improved this winter. Two Orediggers are on the latest Region 4 rankings: Paul Wilson is No. 2 at 197, and Jacob Gerken is No. 5 at 149.

Mines is 10th in the recent regional team rankings.  

The Eagles will wrestle Minot State, Newman (Kan.), the University of Mary, and Southwest Minnesota State, in that order, in Kearney on Saturday.  Newman is No. 9 on the Region 4 list.  The other teams belong to the Northern Sun Conference and were at the bottom of the league's preseason rankings this season.