OPENING BOUT
The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will continue Northern Sun Intercollegiate action on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. when the Mustangs grapple with Augustana College at The Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Mustangs are in search of ending a 13-dual losing skid to Augustana dating back to the 1998-99 season. The Mustangs lost a heart-breaker to Augustana last season at the PE Gym as the Vikings took the dual 19-18 by criteria (Bout wins, 6-4). The Mustangs began the eight-dual NSIC schedule with a 40-0 shutout win over Minot State this past Saturday.
SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
The Vikings are sitting atop the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings with their 2-0 conference record. Augustana enters the dual with an overall record of 6-2 and boast wins over NSIC foes U-Mary (38-6) and Minot State (36-6). The two blemishes on the Vikings' record in 2013-14 are losses to NCAA Division I opponents Air Force (30-13) and South Dakota State (17-15). The Vikings are 4-1 in home duals this season. The 1998-99 season was the last time SMSU defeated Augustana as it was also the last time SMSU took down the Vikings on the road. Three Vikings are individually ranked by the NCAA: TJ North (125), Sean Derry (184), and Jayd Docken (197) all received individual national rankings.
LAST TIME OUT
Southwest Minnesota State took all 10 bouts to blank Minot State 40-0 on Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action from the PE Gym.
It was SMSU's (4-2, 1-0 NSIC) first shutout since the 1991-92 season and first win in conference play this season. SMSU defeated Minot State 44-3 last season.
SMSU received two bonus point victories from
Ethan Hildebrandt at 141 and No. 8
Jacob Begin at 174 as both Mustangs pinned their opponent to give the team 12 points.
Antonio Meikel won his 125 pound bout by forfeit and
Beau Buysse (149) picked up four points with his 10-2 major decision over Jon Wilson.
No. 7
Justin Reinsma (133),
Codie Lane (157),
Kyle Begin (165),
Andrew Rodas (184),
Micah Larson (197), and
Cole Wilson (285) all won their bouts by decisions.
Larson won his bout by recording four points in the last 30 seconds -- a 2-point reversal and a 2-point nearfall -- to topple Mitchell Eull. The decision gave SMSU a 37-0 lead.
