COMPLETE NOTES (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (2-3, 0-3 NSIC) travels to Minnesota State Moorhead (1-4, 3-9 NSIC) on Friday for a conference dual with the Dragons.  Wrestling is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Series record:  Friday will be the 34th meeting between SMSU and MSUM.  The Mustangs are 14-18-1 against the Dragons all-time, while head coach Jesse Nelson is 0-2 against MSUM. 

Last time out:  SMSU split a pair of duals on the road last weekend, falling to No. 6 Upper Iowa and topping Buena Vista.  On Friday, UIU was victorious in eight of 10 bouts en route to topping SMSU 35-12.  Brandan Schunk (Wabasso, Minn.) and Brian Rodas (Farmersburg, Iowa) both picked up wins by fall for the Mustangs.    SMSU notched wins in all but one bout to cruise past BVU 41-3 on Saturday.  The Mustangs recorded four wins by fall on the afternoon.

Northern sun:  The Mustangs are looking for their first win in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest heading into Friday's tilt with MSUM.  SMSU hopes to make another improvement on its conference mark, just as the Mustangs did last year.   SMSU won a pair of conference duals in 2008-09 after going 0-4 in the NSIC in 2007-08.

Carter ranked nationally:  Demond Carter (East St. Louis, Ill.) jumped two spots and is ranked No. 6 at 149 pounds in the latest individual Division II national rankings released last Wednesday by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.  The junior, who debuted at No. 8 on Jan. 20, has compiled a 10-8 record this season.

Mustangs move up:  SMSU is ranked No. 6 in the latest Super Region Three rankings released on Jan. 21, moving up two spots from its previous ranking.  Upper Iowa took the No. 1 spot in the rankings.  Demond Carter is SMSU's highest ranked individual as he is No. 2 at 149 pounds.

According to the coaches:  The NSIC's head coaches tabbed SMSU seventh in the 2009 Preseason Coaches' Poll.  SMSU received 12 points in the poll.  Minnesota State received 54 points and took the top spot.
    Team            Points
    1.     Minnesota State    54
    2.     Augustana    48
    3.     Upper Iowa    45
            St. Cloud State    5
    5.     Minnesota State Moorhead    18
    6.     Northern State    16
    7.     Southwest Minnesota State    12
    8.     Mary    2

The coach:  Jesse Nelson enters his third year as head coach of the SMSU wrestling program.  Nelson owns a 5-21 record at SMSU and has charted improved campaigns in each of his seasons with the Mustangs.  He is assisted by Jake Avre.

Mustang wrestling online:  All of SMSU's home wrestling contests this season will be broadcast at www.pennatlantic.com.  The Webcasts are free of charge, but users must set up an account with Penn Atlantic to view the matches.

Stay connected:  Stay connected with SMSU wrestling all season long at www.smsumustangs.com.  The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.  For the latest video highlights and new episodes of the Mustang Minute check out SMSU's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/smsuathletics.

Up next:  SMSU will travel to Morningside (Iowa) on Feb. 11 for a non-conference dual.

SMSU Probable Line-Up...
125    Robert Morris
133    A.J. Jenniges
141    Brandan Schunk
149    Kyle Anderson
157    Wade Granger
165    Trent Molacek
174    Micah Larson
184    C.D. Johnson
197    Andrew Rodas
285    Brian Rodas

About MSU Moorhead...
The Dragons are 3-9 (1-4 NSIC)...have lost last five duals...lone conference win came against Mary on Jan. 6...posted wins against Sioux Falls (S.D.) and Morningside (Iowa) in November...led by first-year head coach Kris Nelson, a former assistant at North Dakota State.