Sports Reporter
Photo by: Millie Schreibman
scschroc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Families, friends and fans gathered at Brownson Arena Saturday night for CMU’s wrestling Senior Night. The match marked the final home dual for senior wrestlers. Four seniors wrestled in the dual as the No. 14 Mavericks beat Colorado School of Mines 25-18 and improved their record to 20-3 on the season and 6-2 in RMAC meets.
Tyler Nelson, Jon Gappmaier, Nick Petersen and Garrett Stowall wrestled their final home matches, but are looking forward to the RMAC Championships next weekend in Nebraska, with the top four finishers of each weight class earning a spot in the NCAA Championships in Alabama.
“It has been such an honor to wrestle for Chuck Pipher and CMU wrestling the last five years, and to actually have my career come to an end is surreal,” Nelson said. “But my mindset for next week is just like it has been my whole career, I am going to get prepared to be an All-American. So for the RMACs next week I have complete confidence in myself to qualify and that’s the reason we train so hard all year.”
As their collegiate wrestling careers wind down, the seniors reflect on what they have accomplished and how wrestling at CMU has influenced their lives.
“I am so blessed to have been able to be a part of such a great team,” Nelson said. “My coaches and teammates have been so awesome the last five years and I will miss being in the wrestling room at Brownson arena everyday.”
With an emphasis placed on winning and excelling on the mat, the seniors must also look to the future. Wrestling has had an enormous impact on these wrestlers, and have set them up for successful lives beyond wrestling.
“Wrestling has taught me how to work hard and that I can do what I put my mind to and succeed at it,” Petersen said.
As with any sport, wrestling has absorbed much of the seniors’ lives. They have poured countless effort into the sport, which was made possible through the support and sacrifices made by their families.
“Well, it is sad to see 26 years of this come to an end,” said Khris Nelson, Tyler’s mother. “It has been great, but now he will be starting a whole new life.”
Older athletes have generally led the way for most teams and set examples for the young athletes to follow. Sophomore Andrew Schumann doesn’t take their presence and influence lightly and is thankful to have had these seniors in his life and wrestling career.
“I have wrestled with Tyler [Nelson] since I was a freshman, and he has impacted my wrestling a ton. Whether it was an extra workout or teaching me a certain move, he has been there to help me,” said Schumann. “I think our older guys are the hardest workers not only in the wrestling room but in class too. They set goals for the team that everyone wants to meet because we see how hard they go in the room. It doesn’t matter if they are hurt or sick. They bring it every day. They will be missed when the year is over.”
The team will put any emotions aside and focus on the RMAC Championships next weekend.
“I look forward to the next couple weeks and watching our team finish the best they have in their recent history,” Nelson said.
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