Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics

Heavyweight Carson Hatch helped lift the Cal Poly Humboldt men’s wrestling team to a memorable road win with a clutch performance on Friday.

The Lumberjacks posted their second straight dual match victory, defeating Colorado School of Mines 25-19.

The win over the No. 16 team in the nation was achieved in dramatic fashion.

Going into the final match of the night, the Jacks led by just two points (21-19), but Hatch delivered in style and turned in a masterful performance, dominating Colorado’s Trevor Thorn with a 17-3 major decision.

The Lumberjacks opened the night with four consecutive victories, setting the tone against the nationally ranked Orediggers.

Caleb Tatad (125), Isaiah Miller (133), Nathan Aguilar (141) and Jayson Victoria (149) all won their respective matches to give the visitors a big early advantage, with the latter three all winning by pin.

The home team would battle back with five straight wins to pull within two points, before Hatch secured the team victory to cement the Jacks’ place in the national conversation.

“I’m really proud of how our team competed tonight,” CPH head coach Lennie Zalesky said. “Anytime you can take down a nationally ranked opponent like Colorado School of Mines, it’s a great accomplishment. 

“They’ve been a top-three team in the (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) for the past seven seasons and three-peated as RMAC champions from 2018 to 2021.”

The win was the program’s first over an NCAA Division-II ranked opponent this season.