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MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team wraps up its 2008-09 regular season campaign Friday at 7 p.m. when Upper Iowa visits Marshall for a conference dual.

Last time out: Minnesota State Moorhead took four of the final five bouts of the afternoon to hand SMSU a 26-13 conference loss Saturday in Marshall.  Michael Barrie (Westbrook, Minn.), Garret Rozeboom (Mason, Mich.), David Albrecht (Woodbury, Minn.) and Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.) all notched victories for the Mustangs.

The series:  After eight meetings, the series between the Mustangs and Peacocks is stalemated at four wins for each squad.  Last season, UIU posted a 41-4 win against SMSU in Fayette, Iowa.   The last time the Mustangs grabbed a victory against the Peacocks was back 1993-94 when SMSU bettered UIU 31-18.

How they rank:  Upper Iowa enters this weekend ranked No. 9 in the latest national poll.  The Peacocks will be the fourth ranked squad SMSU has faced this season.  UIU has a pair of wrestlers individually ranked, too.

An improved squad:   SMSU's three wins so far this season means an improved campaign in 2008-09 for the Mustangs, who went winless last season.  Those three wins for SMSU include a pair of conference wins, the most NSIC victories since the 2000-01 season when the Mustangs went a perfect 3-0 in conference action.

National news:  Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.) is ranked No. 6 at 184 pounds in the latest NCAA Division II national wrestling rankings released Wednesday, Feb. 18, by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association.  This is the highest Johnson has been ranked this season.  He also checked in at No. 8 on Dec. 2 and No. 7 on Jan. 21.

Jesse's class:  The 2008-09 squad is 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 16 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 is in 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: 7   • 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 preseason poll.

Up next:  Friday's dual with UIU concludes the regular season for the Mustangs.  SMSU will next wrestle in the Super Regional Three.  The Mustangs are hosting the tournament on Sunday, March 1, in SMSU's R/A Facility.  Wrestling begins at 12 p.m.

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

PEACOCK NOTES:  An 11-4 record and 4-1 mark in the NSIC puts Upper Iowa in third place in the conference.  Heath Grim, in his eighth season as the head coach of the Peacocks, has his team ranked No. 9 in the latest NCAA II national poll.  UIU also has a pair of individuals nationally ranked as 133-pounder Trevor Franklin and 174-pounder Mitch Norton are ranked No. 5 and No. 8, respectively.  The Peacocks' only conference loss of the season came to Minnesota State, Mankato on Jan. 28.  UIU finishes up the regular season this weekend, traveling to Minnesota State Moorhead on Sunday after tangling with SMSU on Friday.

UIU Line-up
125    Kyle Pedretti
133    Trevor Franklin   
141    J.R. Baker
          Jacob Pedersen
149    Derek Stolarzyk
157    Travis Eggers
         Micah Keller
165    Brett Hakeman
174    Mitch Norton
184    Tony Gehling
197    Matt Norton
          Stephan Swart
HWT    Arron Cramer