Grizzlies dominate the mat

Only one pin was scored in Wednesday night’s dual meet between host New Mexico Highlands and national power Adams State, and it was Highlands’ Igor Gomzin who did the pinning.

Dave Kavanaugh/Optic photo

Highlands 184-pounder Igor Gomzin pins Adams State’s Mario Garcia on Wednesday night.

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Gomzin, a junior from St. Petersburg, Russia, stuck Mario Garcia with 1:29 left in the first period. He’d been leading 4-0 when he turned a cross face into a cradle, rolling Garcia onto his back and firing up the Wilson Complex crowd.

But the Grizzlies got the last laugh, cruising to a 30-12 team victory.

Other than that match and a forfeit win for NMHU at 197 lbs., Adams State won every individual match that was contested.

125 lbs.) Jerry Huff accumulated more than four minutes of riding time in defeating Erick Rangel 10-1. Rangel is a freshman from Santa Teresa.

133) Martin Ramirez built up 3:58 of riding time in beating Austin Morrow 16-0.

141) Ryan Fillingame prevailed against Dan Gaylor 10-2.

149) Max Ortega edged Mariano Montoya 3-1 in a classic defensive struggle that brought the Highlands fans to their feet.

New Mexico wrestling fans know Ortega best as a five-time state champion from Rio Rancho. Montoya is a sophomore from Española.

157) Daniel Kelly controlled Juan Alvarado 7-0.

165) Justin Samora blanked Santa Fe’s Travis Saxon 9-0, narrowly avoiding takedown points with a slip out of bounds.

174) Former NMHU grappler Jarrod Purvis took a hard-fought battle with Easton Hargrave 8-3.

184) Cowboy senior Igor Gomzin pinned Mario Garcia at the 1:29 mark of the first period.
197) Highlands’ Justin Rockhill collected a win via forfeit.

285) Taylor Stam shut out Robert Rockhill 8-0.

This past week, Adams State fell out of the NCAA Division II national rankings for the first time since 2001. The Grizzlies looked determined to get back into the top 20 Wednesday, roaring to a 26-0 lead before Gomzin broke the streak.

Three Grizzlies are nationally ranked — No. 3 Fillingame, No. 8 Huff and No. 8 Purvis.

NMHU was to host Chadron State in another Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual on Thursday night. Then the team hosts Colorado School of Mines on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Note: Former Robertson state champion and onetime NMHU wrestler Adam Martinez officiated Wednesday’s dual.