GUNNISON, Colo. – Newcomer Nick Kee posted a perfect 3-0 day on the mat, and the UNC Pembroke wrestling team racked up eight bonus-point victories on the way to registering a 2-1 record on Saturday at the Tracy Borah Duals on the campus of Western Colorado University.
 
The Braves (8-7) opened the day with a tough 24-20 loss to New Mexico Highlands (1-0), but rebounded with a 27-17 upset victory over 22^nd-ranked Colorado Mesa (3-1) and capped the day with a 19-18 triumph over CSU-Pueblo (1-3). The event wrapped up a six-day, three-event tour of the Midwest for the Black & Gold.
 
Newcomer Anthony Carter posted a hard-fought 6-4 decision over Marcus Santillanes of New Mexico Highlands, but the Cowboys captured three of the next four matchups, including three bonus-point wins, to eventually build a 15-7 advantage on the team scoreboard. The Black & Gold got consecutive wins from Brandon Sloop (184 pounds) and Kee (197) to forge ahead, 20-18, but Ryan Monk was forced to retire with an injury after the first period of the heavyweight bout to secure the win for New Mexico Highlands.
 
Nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa won each of the first two individual matches in the afternoon session to take a quick lead, but the Braves used pins from Tyler Makosy (149) and Kee, as well as a pair of forfeits, to key the team win. Bracken Lovell gave the Mavericks a 6-0 advantage in the team scoring column with a 4-0 decision at 133 pounds, but UNCP tacked up four-straight triumphs and led 21-6 after Kaleb Warner's forfeit victory at 165 pounds. Colorado Mesa answered with a major decision at 174 pounds, as well as a 3-2 victory by Nolan Krone at 184 pounds, but Kee clinched the team victory with a first-period (0:52) pin in the 197-pound bout.
 
The story was much the same in UNCP's matchup with CSU Pueblo later in the day. The Thunderwolves won three of the first five individual matchups and led 12-7 after a pin from Justin Davis at 157 pounds, but the Black & Gold responded with four-straight victories, including Kee's 13-6 decision in the 197-pound bout that clinched the outcome. Warner, newcomer Jovaun Johnson and Sloop also registered key wins in that four-match run as well.
 
The Braves will be back in action again on January 18 when they head to eastern Pennsylvania to take part in the Kutztown Duals. UNCP is slated to take on Millersville, No. 2 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 19 Kutztown and Shippensburg at that event which will be held inside Kutztown University's O'Pake Fieldhouse.