MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will put an end to the 2011-12 regular season this weekend with a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference duals. The Mustangs will travel to Moorhead, Minn. to take on MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m. on Friday night before returning home to celebrate “Senior Day” on Saturday night hosting Minnesota State, Mankato at 7 p.m. at the PE Gym.
About the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State is 9-5 on the season, including 2-3 in the NSIC, which currently sits the Mustangs in fourth-place in the eight-team conference. With its win over Concordia-Moorhead last Friday, SMSU achieved its highest win total since the 2002-03 season. Southwest Minnesota State also improved to 6-0 in dual meets at the PE Gym on the season, its highest home win total since the 1968-69 season when the Mustangs went 9-1.
Streaking: Jacob Begin continued his winning streak, picking up his 11th straight victory last Friday, earning a 15-2 major decision over Josten Coleman to improve to 20-4 on the season. He has not lost since an 8-6 decision to Dillon Reid of NCAA Division I South Dakota State on Dec. 9.
Steady senior: Senior
Martin Hagen (197 pounds) has won three of his last four conference matches picking up two straight wins last weekend of Brian Schultz of Augustana and Kriss McCleary of U-Mary. Hagen scrapped out a 3-2 decision over Schultz on Friday night on the road before picking up a 7-5 decision over McCleary at home on Saturday. The senior has won eight of his past 11 bouts, dating back to Dec. 3.
The coach: Jesse Nelson is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Mustang wrestling program. Following a winless dual season in 2007-08, the team's dual win total has improved from three in 2008-09, four in 2009-10 and eight this past season. SMSU's 8-4-1 dual record in 2010-11, was the program's first winning season since 2002-03, while the team also finished tied for fourth in the eight-team NSIC and had one national qualifier. Nelson has had six different individuals qualify for the NCAA II national championships, including one two-time national qualifier. His recruiting efforts have also increased SMSU's roster size from 15 during his first season to nearly 40 during the 2010-11 season.
2012 Regional Tournament: The 2012 Super Region 3 Tournament will be held on Feb. 26 at St. Cloud State University beginning at 10 a.m. Southwest Minnesota State is currently ranked in a tie for ninth in the Super Region 3 rankings.
About the Dragons: MSU Moorhead is 2-8 on the season, including 0-5 in the NSIC and is coming off three consecutive losses. The Dragons were last in action on Feb. 10 in an 28-12 loss to Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D. MSU Moorhead's Corey Ulmer is currently ranked first in the nation at 125 pounds. Ulmer enters the weekend with a 20-2 record on the season and has won 13 straight matches. Kris Nelson is in his third season as the head coach at MSU Moorhead with a career record of 15-38.
About the Mavericks: Minnesota State is 4-8 overall on the season and 2-3 in conference duals. The Mavericks are tied with Southwest Minnesota State for fourth place in the conference standings. MSU is coming off a 21-9 dual victory over the University of Mary on Feb. 10 and hosts No. 1 St. Cloud State on Friday night. Drew Lexvold is ranked eighth in the nation at 133 pounds and owns a 10-3 record on the season. Jim Makovsky is in his 19th season as the head wrestling coach at Minnesota State with a career record of 224-87-3.
The series: Southwest Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead will meet for the 42nd time in school history in a series that began during the 1983-84 season. The Dragons lead the series 24-16-1. Last season, SMSU earned its first NSIC victory of the season with an 18-16 victory over the Dragons at home.
Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota State will meet for the 31st time since the 1980-81 season. The Mavericks lead the all-time series 22-8 and have won 20 straight duals over the Mustangs. Last season, the Mavericks earned a 31-6 dual victory over the Mustangs in Mankato.
Probable lineups:
SMSU
125 –
Travis Borchert (11-8)
133 –
Justin Reinsma (16-11)
141 –
Ethan Hildebrandt (15-8)
149 –
Codie Lane (9-12)
157 –
Casey Field (1-1) or
Josh Anderson (2-12)
165 –
Jacob Begin (20-4)
174 –
Trent Molacek (6-12)
184 –
Andrew Rodas (7-10) or
Micah Larson (6-10)
197 –
Martin Hagen (15-7)
285 –
Brian Rodas (6-4) or
Cole Wilson (14-3)
MSU Moorhead
125 - Corey Ulmer (20-2)
133 Graelin Garlington (0-10)
141 Connor MacGregor (5-14)
149 Tyler Steinwand (10-9)
157 Derek Lee (2-11)
165 Jacob Bennett (15-10)
174 Trent Sovde (9-9)
184 Kody Kalkbrenner (4-11)
197 Eric Lehmann (10-9)
285 Gerad Fugleberg (9-13)
Minnesota State
125 - David Demo (20-9)
133 - Brian Reisenauer (10-12)
141 - Robby Fisher (15-7)
149 - Jesse Westphal (21-8)
157 - Tel Todd (25-9)
165 - Cody Quinn (18-4)
174 - Brendan Eichmann (16-11)
184 - Brandon Pederson (15-12)
197 - Derek Hahn (7-13)
285 - Nate Haynes (9-7)
Super Region 3 Rankings
|
Rk. |
Pts. |
School |
|
1 |
65 |
St. Cloud State |
|
2 |
40 |
Upper Iowa |
|
3 |
34 |
Augustana |
|
4 |
24 |
Wisconsin Parkside |
|
5 |
18 |
Maryville |
|
6 |
14 |
Minnesota State |
|
7 |
10 |
University of Mary |
|
7 |
10 |
MSU Moorhead |
|
8 |
8 |
Indianapolis |
|
9 |
7 |
Northern State |
|
9 |
7 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
|
10 |
3 |
Newman |
NSIC Rankings
|
Rk. |
Pts. |
School |
|
1 |
69 |
St. Cloud State |
|
2 |
49 |
Augustana |
|
3 |
47 |
Upper Iowa |
|
4 |
26 |
Minnesota State |
|
5 |
16 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
|
6 |
14 |
University of Mary |
|
7 |
11 |
MSU Moorhead |
|
8 |
8 |
Northern State |
SMSU Individuals in Regional Rankings
SMSU Individuals in NSIC Rankings
The captains: Head coach
Jesse Nelson announced the 2011-12 team captains on Oct. 3. Senior
Trent Molacek, junior
A.J. Jenniges and sophomores
Justin Reinsma and
Micah Larson were named team captains for this season.
Relying on its youth: Southwest Minnesota State has had to rely on a young group of wrestlers cracking the starting lineup. SMSU has used six sophomores and two red shirt freshman in its starting lineup for the majority of the season.
In the 2010-11 Central Region Tournament: Southwest Minnesota State finished eighth out of 10 teams in the Super Regional Three Tournament last season.
CD Johnson qualified for the national tournament winning the true-fourth place match over Mic Berg of St. Cloud State.
Justin Reinsma,
Demond Carter and
Brian Rodas all earned fifth-place honors at the regional tournament just missing berths to the national tournament.
According to the coaches: Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. St. Cloud State, ranked No. 1 in the country, was picked to win the league earning 55 points.
2011-12 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll
1 St. Cloud State 55
2 Upper Iowa 54
3 Augustana 44
4 Minnesota State 32
5 University of Mary 20
6 MSU Moorhead 17
7 Northern State 11
8 Southwest Minnesota State 7
