The last time the Mountaineers won was in 1997 and 1991 and the first conference title for 12th year head coach Miles VanHee.
After posting a 9-0 RMAC dual record and a 14-4 overall dual record, head coach VanHee was selected as the 2008-09 RMAC Coach of the Year. This honor is the VanHee's second RMAC Coach of the Year.
VanHee lead his fourth-ranked Mountaineers to a first place finish with 121.5 points. Following behind Western was No. 12 Adams State (114) and No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney took third (104).
The Mountaineers will send eight individuals to the NCAA Division II National Championships on March 13 and 14 in Houston, Texas.
Those include Chris Freije (149), Donovan McMahill (197), Charlie Alexander (HWT), Marques Bravo (133), Skye Wells (165), Larry Wilbanks (184), Daren Hockett (141) and Nick Ross (174).
The Mountaineers had three first place finishers, three runners up, two fourth place finishers and one fifth place finish to earn the title.
Senior Chris Feije and sophomores Donovan McMahill and Charlie Alexander claimed their first-ever NCAA West Regional/RMAC Championships titles, while senior Marques Bravo and Larry Wilbanks and sophomore Skye Wells took second place in their respective weight classes. Also placing for the Mountaineers were Nick Ross (174 pounds, fourth place), Daren Hockett (141 pounds, fourth place) and Eddie Lopez (125 pounds, fifth place).
Freije, ranked No. 6 at 149 pounds, swept through the competition. Freije scored a pin over Jake Lords of Chadron State in the opening round (1:38). From there he went on to earn decision victories over his opponents. He decisioned Adams State's Joey Deaguero (5-2) and then earned a 7-5 decision over Colorado School of Mines' Jesse Snider (7-5). In the Championship round, Freije defeated top ranked Ryan Etherton of Nebraska-Kearney, 4-2.
McMahill, earned RMAC Wrestler of the Year, was impressive from the beginning. Claiming the top spot at 197 pounds, McMahill earned a bye in the first round, that he followed up with a pin over Ben Evans of Fort Hays State (2:07). In the third round, McMahill posted a 15-3 major decision over Luke McPeek of N.M. Highlands to continue his way to the Championship round. Facing against No. 2 Josh Majerus of Chadron State, McMahill was hoping for the same outcome as they first meeting between these two wrestlers. McMahill went on to man-handle defending national champion Majerus, to earn an 8-4 decision to claim his first ever RMAC Championship and Regional Title.
Alexander, ranked No. 1 at heavyweight, posted three decision victories and his first RMAC/West Regional title. Alexander earned a 5-2 decision over Adams State's Jeff Schossow. He then posted a 6-4 decision over Nebraska-Kearney's Derek Ross to earn a trip to the Championship round. During the Championship round, Alexander decisioned No. 2 Steve Franklin of San Francisco State (5-4).
Bravo started off strong with two technical falls. The first came against CSU-Pueblo's Joe Jones (16-0, 5:25) in the first round. He followed that up with his second one against Kellen Costelow from Colorado Mines (15-0, 6:25). His next dual, Bravo posted a 7-0 decision over ASC's Dominic Valencia to advance to the next round. Bravo came up short against San Francisco State's Naveed Bagheri, falling in a close 7-6 decision.
Wilbanks, who was wrestling at 184 pounds for the first time this season, opened up with an 8-0 major decision over Chadron's Ty Brown. To advance to the Championship round, Wilbanks upset FHSU's Tyler Gonzales (3-2). The only loss for Wilbanks, came at his final match against ASC's Kyle Sand. Sand defeated Wilbanks, 5-1 to take the title.
Wells, ranked No. 3 at 165 pounds and his first trip to Regional's, started off his day with a pin over SFSU's Zach Sesar (4:26). Wells then advanced to the Championship round, by defeating FHSU's Troy Lussenhop (10-6). But Nebraska-Kearney's Taylor May took the title from Wells, after earning a 6-3 decision victory.
Hockett started off with an 8-1 decision over Jason Wenger (Mesa State) in the opening round, but then fell to Fort Hays State's James Annon 9-4. Hockett battled his way through the consolation bracket, earning three decision victories (3-2, 8-4, 4-3). But, in his final dual of the tournament, Hockett fell to SFSU's Ben Lockett in a 6-5 decision, resulting in a fourth place finish.
Ross, who has been wrestling at 157, 174 and 184 pounds for the Mountaineers, was defeated by Jesse Feinsod (Fall, 0:56), but worked his way back into the National hunt throught the consolation bracket. Ross went on a 3-1 record to claim fourth place. He decisioned CSU-Pueblo's Jesse Grant 6-4 and squeaked past Grand Canyon's Daniel Garay (2-1). His next task was FHSU's Shawn Kuhlman. Ross posted a 6-3 decision on Kuhlman to advance to a match against Feinsod for third place. Feinsod pinned Ross at 2:25.
Lopez, a senior, started off with a 7-5 decision over UNK's Michael Abril, before falling to Adam State's Arsenia Barksdale in a 6-3 decision. Lopez battled his way through the consolation bracket, but fell to Devlon Webb (4-3). Battling for fifth place, Lopez went on to earn an 8-4 decision over Abril.
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