GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks took advantage of back-to-back forfeits at the start and delivered clutch victories in both of the final two bouts to win their season-opening men's wrestling dual over arch-rival Western Colorado University, 24-17, on Thursday evening in Brownson Arena.

Taking a 12-0 lead thanks to forfeit wins at 125 and 133 pounds, the Mavericks went on to take an 18-3 lead at the half-way point of the non-conference dual before the Mountaineers, who fell to 1-2 on the year, roared back to within a single point with three straight victories, including a stunning pin by Cole Gray at 184 pounds. However, Gabe Carranza and Tyler Doyle delivered 4-1 and 9-2 wins at 197 and 285 pounds, respectively, as the Mavs hung on to the victory.

CMU has now won four of the last five match-ups between the teams while winning at home for the third straight and fourth time in the last five years.

The rivals, who regularly schedule an early-season non-RMAC dual, will meet again in Gunnison on Feb. 13 in the RMAC counter.

Maverick freshman Dayson Torgerson and redshirt sophomore Oran Huff both made their official dual debuts and had their arms raised as the Mountaineers were unable to fill the lightest two weights due to injury.

The Mavs then went up 15-0 as Denin Torgerson, Dayson's older brother, claimed a 6-4 win over Noah Kasprowicz at 141 points thanks a late third-period reversal. Western responded at 149 pounds as Dean Noble posted a 4-2 win over Maverick newcomer Juan Garcia, a transfer from NCAA Division III power Wisconsin-Lacrosse.

However, Owen Cline out-lasted Ryan Wilson in a key 157-pound bout, as the Maverick youngster scored an 8-6 decision re-establishing the Mavs' 15-point team lead (18-3).

The Mountaineers' Walker Heckendorf then posted a victory by the same scoreline over CMU's Nick Gallegos at 165 pounds.

Cole Hernandez, ranked third in the country, then claimed a 20-4 technical fall win at 174 pounds, allowing the Mountaineers to close the overall deficit to 18-11.

CMU's Jason Bynarowicz then took a 4-0 early lead early in the third period of the 184-pound bout before Gray delivered two late takedowns, taking Bynarowicz to his back on the second before pinning him with just 27 seconds to go. That stunner pulled the Mountaineers within a point at 18-17.

However, Carranza stopped the Mountaineer momentum with a 4-1 win over Sage Harrison at 197 pounds, his second of the season over the Mountaineer redshirt freshman. Carranza used a late second period take-down to take a 4-0 lead and cruised throughout the final two minutes.

Carranza's win put the Mavericks up 21-17 and set the stage for Doyle to close out the dual with a convincing 9-2 win over Zack Schraeder in the final bout of the night. Doyle scored takedowns in the second and third periods and also used a penalty point and riding time point to post his team-leading tenth win of the season.

Prior to the official dual, the teams split a pair of exhibition matches, both of which were decided by duals. Ryan Dirksen won for WCU in a 165/174 pound math-up while Ruben Samuelson won for the Mavs at 285 points, pinning Tommy Tatham in 43 seconds.

Both teams will be in action on Friday in Brownson Arena as they begin their official Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference slate against affiliate member San Francisco State. The Mountaineers and Gators, who are currently 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC, will square-off at 2 p.m. while the Mavs will take the mat at 6 p.m.

Results:
125- Dayson Torgerson (CMU) wins by forfeit
133- Oran Huff (CMU) wins by forfeit
141- Denim Torgerson (CMU) dec. Noah Kasprowicz (WCU), 6-4
149- Dean Noble (WCU) dec. Juan Garcia (CMU), 4-2
157- Owen Cline (CMU) dec. Ryan Wilson (WCU), 8-6
165- Walker Heckendorf (WCU) dec. Nick Gallegos (CMU), 8-6
174- #3 Cole Hernandez (WCU) def. Gus Dalton (CMU), T-Fall (20-4, 5:54)
184- Cole Gray (WCU) def. Jason Bynarowicz (CMU), Fall (6:33)
197- Gabe Carranza (CMU) def. Sage Harrison (WCU), 4-1
285- Tyler Doyle (CMU) dec. Zach Schraeder (WCU), 9-2

Exhibition Matches
165/174- Ryan Dirksen (WCU) def. Tanner Baumgartner (CMU), Fall (4:27)
285- Ruben Samuelson (CMU) def. Tommy Tatham (WCU), Fall (0:43)