LA GRANDE, Ore. – No. 20 Eastern Oregon University Men's Wrestling is back in action this weekend to begin the 2022 New Year! The Mountaineers head Southwest for a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference duals.

OPPONENTS
Arizona Christian Firestorm (8-3, 4-2 CCC)
No. 18 Embry-Riddle Eagles [AZ] (5-1, 4-1 CCC)

WHERE
Glendale, Ariz. - ACU Events Center (ACU)
Prescott, Ariz. - ERAU Activity Center (ERAU)

WHEN (All Times Pacific)
Friday, Jan. 7, 4 p.m. - vs. ACU
Saturday, jan. 8, 4 p.m. - vs. ERAU

Mat Points
• The Mountaineers (4-3, 2-2 CCC) will hit the mats for the first time since Dec. 19 after competing at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
• For Eastern, this weekend's duals will also be their first since Dec. 17. EOU will look to get back to its winning ways after having a four-dual win streak snapped in a 27-18 loss against MSU-Northern. 
• In tournament action, Eastern finished 19th as a team at Reno's TOC with a limited squad on deck.
• Following the two road duals, the Mountaineers will host a pair of neutral site match-ups in mid-January, both against CCC opponents. 
• Eastern will not return to tournament action until late January and will close out the month at a pair of high level tournaments in the Missouri Valley Open (Jan. 21-22) and the Clackamas Open (Jan. 30).

How to Watch/Follow
• Live video for both duals this weekend will be provided through each school's livestreaming pages. To watch either dual, Fans can click the respective link above.
• Live stats coverage for this weekend's duals will be covered through TrackWrestling.com. Fans can follow live results by clicking the respective link above. 
• Live stats coverage for EOU Men's Wrestling can be found on the team's schedule page as well during the 2021-22 season.

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
• The Mountaineers last competed on Dec. 17 and 19 in Reno, Nevada in a dual and at the Reno Tournament of Champions, respectively.
• Against then No. 10 Montana State-Northern, Eastern suffered a 27-18 loss. The Mountaineers picked up individual wins from Luciano Fasulo (125), Vincent Cramer (149), Keegan Mulhill (174), Kyle Knudtson (184), and Noel Orozco (285).
• At Reno TOC, EOU had a limited squad of grapplers compete and placed 19th as a team. Three athletes went 2-2 in Fasulo at 125 pounds, Monte Zufelt at 141 pounds, and Knudtson at 184 pounds.

Mountaineers in the Rankings
• In the latest edition of the NAIA Men's Wrestling Coaches' Top-20 Poll, EOU checked in at No. 20. The team's ranking is three spots lower than their previous spot on 17th.
• During the 2021-22 season, EOU has been ranked in every NAIA poll and is one of four CCC teams nationally ranked.
• In the fourth edition of the NAIA's conference polls, eastern is ranked fourth in the CCC.

Previously Against Arizona Christian/Embry-Riddle
• EOU and ACU have met just once as ACU began its first ever season in 2019-20. In the lone meeting, EOU was the victor 27-10.
• Friday's meeting will be just the second ever meeting between the programs and the first ever in Glendale.
• The Mountaineers and Eagles last met in 2019-20 in a neutral site match-up in Portland. Eastern earned the win, downing Embry-Riddle 25-18.
• EOU and Embry-Riddle have squared off three times since 2017-18. The Eagles have the slim series lead at 2-1 and 1-0 at home against the Mountaineers.

Scouting the Competition
Arizona Christian Firestorm
• ACU enters the weekend with an 8-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark against CCC opponents. They have dropped each of their last two duals, but are 4-1 at home this year.
• Leading the way in wins for the Firestorm is Carlo Castagnaro. He is 13-4 on the year and has primarily wrestled at 165 pounds. He is 3-0 in his last three bouts and has won eight of his last 10 matches.
• Also in the double-digit win category for ACU is Jacob Viera at 174 pounds. He is 10-2 on the year and has had four wins come by way of tech fall. 
• Alejandro Mosqueda is also at 10 wins this season with a 10-4 record at 285 pounds. He has scored a pair of major decisions and has three falls.
• Christain Cornes has also been a solid contributor with a 9-1 record at 184 pounds. He has pinned five opponents and scored four decisions.
• In the lighter weight classes, James mMheras has led the way with a 9-4 record at 125 pounds. He has picked up three falls and scored two tech falls.

No. 18 Embry-Riddle Eagles
• ERAU enters the weekend with a 5-1 overall dual record and is 4-1 against CCC opponents this season. In the latest NAIA top-20 poll, the Eagles are also ranked No. 18. At home, they are 3-1 this season.
• Keller Rock leads the way in wins with a 14-2 record. He has wrestled at both 165 pounds and 174 pounds. Nine of his wins this season have come via pin.
• Also at 14 wins is Jacob Seto with a 14-3 record. He has scored four pins and decisions, respectively, and three tech falls.
• James Williams is third in wins with a 13-4 overall record at 165 pounds. He is currently on a four-match win streak with three coming by way of tech fall.
• At 133 pounds, Jarrett Jorgenson is at 10 wins, while Sheldon Cole is 11-5 at 157 pounds. 
• Michael Densmore is 12-7 at 197 pounds for the Eagles. He has won five of his last seven bouts and has eight falls on the year so far.

Projected EOU Starting Lineup vs. ACU/ERAU
125: Luciano Fasulo
133: Zach Mauras 
141: Jaxon Morlan
149: Chad Muenzer OR Vincent Cramer
157: Malakai Moyer
165: John Bittinger
174: Keegan Mulhill
184: Kyle Knudtson
197: Jay Smith OR Marco Retano
285: Noel Orozco

Up Next
• EOU will be back in action on Jan. 12 when the team takes on two more CCC opponents in a neutral site doubleheader in Pendleton, Ore. The Mountaineers battle Warner Pacific at 3:30 p.m. PT, followed by Corban at 7 p.m. PT. 

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