Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa’s Dawson Collins is the week seven Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
 
Collins tied a bow on a perfect weekend at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals in Louisville, Ky., cruising through the 125-pound weight class with four wins, including a pair of victories over top-five opponents.
 
Collins opened his stint at the event with a sudden victory over West Liberty’s Cole Laya, the NWCA preseason No. 1-ranked wrestler in the 125-pound class on Friday. He then closed that same day with a pinfall win at the 4:43 mark over his Fort Hays State foe. Saturday was more of the same for Collins as he continued to steamroll his competition beginning with a decisive 4-0 victory against Ashland, followed by a 6-4 sudden victory against Augustana.
 
Collins was named the No. 3 individual in the 125-pound weight class in the NWCA preseason individual rankings. The Mavericks return to competition on Wednesday, Jan. 18, on the road against Northeastern Junior College. Competition against Northeastern JC will be hosted in Sterling, Colo., and will begin at 6 p.m. MT.
 
Wrestler of the Week: Dawson Collins, Colorado Mesa – So. – 125 – Grand Junction, Colo.
Collins had his best weekend of the season at the NWCA National Duals where he went 4-0 for the Mavericks. The 125-pound All-American defeated No. 1 ranked Cole Laya of West Liberty in his first match by way of a 3-1 score in sudden victory. He also added a win over No. 5 Jaxson Rohman of Augustana in a 6-4 sudden victory.
 
Honorable Mention: Josiah Rider, Adams State; Anderson Salisbury, Colorado School of Mines; Michael Atencio, CSU Pueblo; Cole Hernandez, Western Colorado.