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MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team hosts Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday at 3 p.m. in a conference dual.

Last time out: SMSU  posted wins in seven of its 10 bouts to pick up a 24-12 conference win over Northern State Wednesday night in Aberdeen, S.D.  Michal Barrie (Westbrook, Minn.) Brandan Schunk (Wabasso, Minn.), Wade Granger (North Bend, Neb.), Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.), Tyler Reed (Ottumwa, Iowa) and Brian Rodas (Farmersburg, Iowa) all picked up wins by decision for the Mustangs; David Albrecht (Woodbury, Minn.) had a win by forfeit at 149 pounds.

The series:  The Dragons hold the advantage in the series with the Mustangs, leading 14-17-1.  Last season, MSUM won the match-up between the two programs 42-3.  The last time SMSU posted a win versus the Dragons was in 2000-01 when the Mustangs picked up a 22-12 victory in Marshall.  Head coach Jesse Nelson is 0-1 against MSUM.

Back home:  The Mustangs will be looking for their first home victory since the 2006-07 season Saturday.  SMSU has dropped three matches at home this season, one to Augustana, another to Concordia of Moorhead and a third to St. Cloud State.  The Mustangs will also have a chance to better their record in the P.E. Gym next week when they host Upper Iowa on Friday.

Gridiron to grappling:  A familiar face from SMSU's football team has joined the wrestling squad.  Brian Rodas made his dual debut for the Mustangs on Wednesday against Northern State, posting an 11-5 decision over Jared Little.

National news:  Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.) was ranked No. 7 at 184 pounds in the NCAA Division II national wrestling rankings released Jan. 21 by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.  The spot was a jump up as the senior was ranked No. 8 in the first NWCA Poll released Dec. 2.  He fell out of the top eight in the Jan. 6 poll and has since dropped out again.

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 seven 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: 6   • Freshmen: 15

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 stay home next Friday to host Upper Iowa at 7 p.m.  That wraps up the regular season for the Mustangs as the regional tournament, hosted by the SMSU, is on March 1.

SMSU Line-up
125    Jordan Rozeboom
133    Michal Barrie
141    Garret Rozeboom
149    David Albrecht
157    Tanner Skillings
165    Wade Granger
174    Nathan Krekelberg
184    Tyler Johnson
197    Tyler Reed
HWT    Carter Ash
         Brian Rodas

DRAGON NOTES:  Holding a 6-10 record and 2-2 mark in the NSIC, Minnesota State Moorhead enters this weekend in fourth place in the conference.  Sixth-year head coach Keenan Spiess has his squad turning heads on the national scene as MSUM received votes in the latest Division II poll.  Tyler Tubbs has cracked the national poll for the Dragons, ranking No. 8 at 165 pounds.    Heading into this weekend, MSUM's two conference wins of the season have been over Mary and Northern State, while its two conference losses have been at the hands of Minnesota State and Augustana.  Saturday's match culminates the weekend for the Dragons as they wrestle at St. Cloud State on Friday night.

MSUM Line-up
125    Joe Werner
133    Kelly Janke   
141    Evan Forde
149    Derek Bomstad
157    Tallen Wald
165    Tyler Tubbs
174    Jarret Hall
184    Dustin Nagel
197    Matt Nelson
HWT    Tim Johnson
         Jon Swart