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MARSHALL, MINN. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will look for its second conference win in a row Friday at 7 p.m. when the Mustangs host Augustana in their dual home opener. 

Last time out:  After trailing 16-15, SMSU took the final two bouts of the day to capture a 24-16 conference victory over Mary Saturday afternoon in Bismarck, N.D.  It was SMSU's first conference dual win since the 2006-07 season and head coach Jesse Nelson's first conference win at SMSU.  Michal Barrie (Westbrook, Minn.), Garret Rozeboom (Mason, Mich.), Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.), Carter Ash (Milaca, Minn.) and Jordan Rozeboom (Mason, Mich.) all picked up victories.

The series:  The Mustangs and Vikings have met 23 times, and SMSU is 4-19 against Augie.  Last season, the Vikings upended the Mustangs 45-3 in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Head coach Jesse Nelson is 0-1 against the new NSIC opponent.

At the top:  SMSU's 1-0 NSIC mark puts the squad in a tie for first place in the conference.  The Mustangs share the honor with Minnesota State Moorhead; the Dragons also sport a 1-0 record. 

Open season:  Five of SMSU's first seven contests of the 2008-09 season were open tournaments;  SMSU has placed a total of 28 wrestlers in those contests.  The dual season, however, is now in full swing as SMSU's next eight outings, including this week's match-up with Augie, will be in that format.

National news:  Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.) was ranked No. 8 at 184 pounds in the first NCAA Division II national wrestling rankings released Tuesday, Dec. 9, by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.  He has since dropped out of the rankings, but the senior has been the lone Mustang to take a spot in the national rankings this season.

Jesse's class:  The 2008-09 squad will be head coach Jesse Nelson's first true recruiting class.  Hired in August 2007, Nelson had virtually no time to recruit for the 2007-08 season.  However, he has brought in 15 freshmen and six transfers to compliment 10 returners.  The squad is young, but what they lack in experience, they make up for in athleticism.

Fillin' it out:  A full roster this year means the Mustangs will not have to forfeit weights in dual action.  Due to a thinned out roster last season, the Mustangs had to forfeit several weights throughout the year, especially in the heavyweight category where SMSU had no wrestler to fill the spot at any point during the season. The story, however, is a little different in 2008-09.  The Mustangs will not only fill out every weight, they will be three wrestlers deep at some of the weights.

A new face:  Assistant coach Jake Avre begins his first season as Nelson's top assistant in 2008-09.  Avre wrestled for the University of Minnesota during its 2001 and 2002 Big Ten and national championship seasons and brings an impressive resume of coaching experience at the high school and club level to SMSU.

Break it down:  Young might be the best word to describe the 2008-09 SMSU wrestling squad.  The following is a class-by-class breakdown of the team:
    • Seniors: 3    • Juniors: 5
    • Sophomores: 3    • Redshirt Freshmen: 5
    • Freshmen: 16

Take me to your leaders:  The Mustang captains for the 2008-09 campaign are Tyler Johnson, Michal Barrie and C.D. Johnson.

New-look NSIC:  The newly expanded NSIC adds three more dual dates for SMSU this season.  The addition Minnesota State, St. Cloud State and Augustana brings the conference to eight teams.  SMSU was picked to finish seventh in the NSIC wrestling preseason coaches' poll.

Up next:  The Mustangs host Division III Concordia-Moorhead on Jan. 22, quickly followed by a another D-III opponent on Jan. 22 when SMSU heads to St. John's.

Probable SMSU Dual Starters vs. Augie
125    Ed Reno
133    Michal Barrie
141    Brandan Schunk
149    Garret Rozeboom OR Tanner Skillings
157    David Albrecht
165    Wade Granger
174    Nathan Krekelberg
184    Tyler Johnson
197    Ben Derynck
HWT    Carter Ash

VIKING NOTES:  Jason Reitmeier enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Augustana wrestling program and has posted a 4-2 record this season.  The Vikings are ranked No. 18 in the latest Division II national poll and have picked up wins against Morningside, Dana, Sioux Falls and Central Missouri.  The Vikings' only losses of the season have come at the hands of Division I programs Nebraska and Oregon State.  Friday's dual with SMSU is Augie's first conference dual of the season.  With their 0-0 conference record, the Vikings sit in a tie for third place in the NSIC.

Augustana Probable Starters
125    Al Meger    So.    0-1
133    Jason Jeremiason    So.    6-5
141    Jay Sherer    So.    15-6
149    Mike Long    Sr.    1-2
157    Carl Serck    Fr.    15-6
165    Gavin Nelson    So.    7-1
174    Brian Schultz    Fr.    14-7
        Marcus Edgington    Fr.    11-10
184    Nick Henning    So.    7-3
197    Ty Copsey    So.    12-5
HWT    Lance Peters    So.    6-4