MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team continues dual action this Saturday with four matches at the Augustana Duals in Sioux Falls, S.D. The matches will be held at the Elmen Center on the campus of Augustana University.
 
THE SCHEDULE
10 a.m.: SMSU vs. Northwestern (Iowa)
11:30 a.m.: SMSU vs. Morningside (Iowa)  
1 p.m.: SMSU vs. Nebraska-Kearney
2:30 p.m.: SMSU vs. Truman State (Mo.)
 
SERIES VERSUS NORTHWESTERN
SMSU leads the all-time series versus Northwestern, 6-0, in a series that started in 1978-79. SMSU won the last match-up versus Northwestern, 33-20, during the 2010-11 season.
 
SERIES VERSUS MORNINGSIDE
SMSU leads the all-time series versus Morningside, 5-1-1, in a series that started in 1971-72. SMSU won the last dual during the 2012-13 season, 43-6.
 
SERIES VERSUS NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
Nebraska-Kearney lead the series 2-0, earning a 44-9 victory in 2006-07 and a 31-6 win during the 2013-14 season.
 
SERIES VERSUS TRUMAN
Truman State leads the series 2-1, in a match-up that started in 2001-02. SMSU won the first dual, but TSU earned victories in 2004-05 and 2006-07.
 
LIVE STATS
Live stats for the four matches on Saturday can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
 
SMSU HEAD COACH
Jesse Nelson is in his 10th season as head coach at SMSU in 2016-17. Nelson was named the fourth coach in the program history on Aug. 22, 2007. Nelson, the 2013-14 NSIC Coach of the Year, has a dual record of 54-62-1, including 19-38 in conference matches. During his tenure, Nelson has groomed 19 national qualifiers—11 in the last three seasons alone—seven All-NSIC wrestlers, including three two-time NCAA qualifiers and three three-time NCAA qualifiers.
 
SEASON LEADERS
A handful of Mustangs have racked up eight or more victories this season … Cortez Arredondo has nine victories at 149 … Griffin Osing has nine wins at 184 … Kegen Fingalsen also has nine wins at 174 … Cole Hennen has eight wins at 197.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Southwest Minnesota State competed last Saturday at the Buena Vista Open in Storm Lake, Iowa. Taylor Curtis placed second at 125 recording a 3-1 record to lead the Mustangs.
 
Zach Beaumaster also went 3-1 and finished third at 141. Griffin Osing and Nick Esping both went 1-1 at 174 to tie for third place, while Jordan Biehn racked up three wins at 133 to place fifth.
 
At 133, Cameron Henning finished in seventh place after finishing 3-1. Trent Butcher and Cortez Arredondo both picked up two victories at 149, with Butcher finishing fifth, while Arredondo placing sixth.
 
At 157, Jake Slocum and Dru Kuchenbaker (unattached) recorded 3-1 records with Kuckenbaker finishing fifth, while Slocum placing seventh.
 
DUAL MATCH OPENER
SMSU opened its dual and NSIC season last Thursday falling to No. 1 St. Cloud State, 36-3, in Marshall. Cortez Arredondo picked up the lone victory for SMSU at 149 pounds with a 7-4 decision.
 
SCSU won by major decision at 125, by decision at 133 and by major decision at 141, to build an 11-0 lead, before Arredondo's victory at 149.
 
Trailing 11-3, SMSU lost by tech. fall at 157, before Keegan Fingalsen dropped a hard-fought 15-10 bout at 165, to push the SCSU lead to 19-3. SMSU lost by major decision at 174, before Cole Hennen dropped a tough 4-2 decision at 197. SCSU closed the match with a major decision at 197, before earning an injury default win at 285.
 
PRESEASON NSIC POLL
Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish tied for seventh in the NSIC preseason poll.
 
UP NEXT
Southwest Minnesota State will have several weeks off during the holiday season before returning for the Western State (Colo.) Duals in Gunnison, Colo., on Jan. 7.