PUEBLO, Colorado -- January 28, 2021 -- The Chadron State College wrestling team earned the only two falls of the dual at Colorado State University-Pueblo on Thursday. The Eagles came away with a 23-16 victory to even their record at 3-3 on the season, with a 1-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference ledger.

"It was a good win ," said CSC Head Men's Wrestling Coach Brett Hunter. "I'm thankful we got to compete tonight. We're really proud of the guys and their continued improvement."

CSUP took a loss in its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference competition, falling to 0-1 in the league, and 2-2 overall.

The CSC pins were both in the first period. Joe Ritzen, emerging as an RMAC threat at 141 pounds, took his opponent down and pinned him in 1:38 in the third bout of the evening. Later 174-pounder Rowdy Pfeil, currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, did the same in just 2:15.

The other two bonus points in the dual came from Joe Taylor, at 133 pounds, who teched his opponent with three takedowns and four sets of nearfall points. It was Taylor's first head-to-head win this season, after receiving two forfeits last Saturday at the Midwest Duals.

Sophomore Preston Renner earned a 3-2 decision over Jasiah Williams of Pueblo, who had, in previous seasons, been ranked as high as fifth in the nation.

Eli Hinojosa closed the CSC scoring with a 9-3 victory at 197. That win sealed the team dual win for the Eagles.

CSC's Mason Watt lost a 7-3 heavyweight duel with No. 8 Gavin Nye, a 2020 national qualifer, to finish the varsity slate.

The Eagles will compete next on February 5, in a home dual against Western Colorado University.

Individual results:

125 - Parker McBride (CSUP) dec. Tate Stoddard, 10-4
133 - Joe Taylor (CSC) TF Devin Lueck, 19-2 (5:00)
141 - Joe Ritzen (CSC) pinned Andrew Sansburn, 1:38
149 - Gavin Melendez (CSUP) MD Sebastian Robles, 12-3
157 - Preston Renner (CSC) dec. Jasiah Williams, 3-2
165 - Justin Davis (CSUP) dec. Tate Allison, 3-2
174 - Rowdy Pfeil (CSC) pinned Elijah Valdez, 2:15
184 - Jair Flores (CSUP) dec. Joe Renner, 5-4
197 - Eli Hinojosa (CSC) dec. Ben Gould, 9-3
285 - Gavin Nye (CSUP) dec. Mason Watt, 7-3.