MARSHALL, Minn. — The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will close conference play this weekend as it hosts No. 15 Minnesota State on Friday night at 7 p.m., before traveling to MSU Moorhead on Saturday for a 5 p.m., dual.
 
CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS — The Mustangs will enter the week 7-9 overall, 3-3 in the NSIC, after recording a 1-1 record last weekend against No. 2 St. Cloud State and Minot State. The Mustangs started the week suffering a 41-3 loss against No. 2 SCSU, but bounced back with a 39-9 victory to Minot State last Saturday. SMSU is ranked No. 12 in the latest Super Region III rankings. Cole Wilson (285) is ranked No. 1 in the region and eighth in the national poll.
 
MINNESOTA STATE - The Mavericks—ranked No. 15 in the nation—will enter Friday night's dual 8-4 overall, 4-2 in the NSIC after suffering a loss to No. 2 St. Cloud State last Saturday. Alphonso Vruno (141) will enter the dual on a six-match win streak, while carrying a 14-5 record. Matt Micney (157) is ranked No. 2 in his class and carries an 18-1 record, but suffered his first loss of the season against SCSU.
 
MINNESOTA STATE HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State will meet with Minnesota State for the 36th time in a series that started back in the 1980-81 season. MSU holds a 26-9 series advantage, 10-4 in Marshall and has taken the last 24 of 25 matches. SMSU's last home victory snapped a 22-match skid in the 2013-14 season with a 31-9 win. SMSU suffered a 29-9 loss last season in Mankato.
 
MSU MOORHEAD – The Dragons will enter the week 6-6 overall, 1-4 in the NSIC and will face Minot State Friday night before SMSU Saturday. The Dragons' lone conference win was a 32-8 victory to Northern State. MSUM is ranked No. 8 in the Super Region III and has three wrestlers ranked. Blake Bosch (133) is ranked No. 1 in the region with a 25-5 record and carries a 17-match win streak. Adam Blees (165) is ranked No. 6 in the region
 
MSU MOORHEAD HISTORY – SMSU will meet with MSU Moorhead for the 46th time in a series that started back in the 1983-84 season. SMSU had a four-match streak, but the Dragons snapped it with a 25-15 win last season in Marshall. SMSU has won the last three matches in Moorhead with its last loss a 32-6 defeat during the 2009-10 season.
 
STREAKS — Senior Cole Wilson recorded 2-0 records last week against SCSU and Minot State to keep his winning streaks alive. Wilson will start the week on an 12-bout win streak.
 
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK — Southwest Minnesota State senior heavyweight wrestler Cole Wilson was named the Wrestler of the Week by D2wrestle.com and by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, after finishing 2-0 during the Jan. 5-6 weekend. He started the weekend with a 4-2 sudden-victory over No. 1 Austin Goergen of St. Cloud State. The win was the first over Goergen and handed the top ranked wrestler his first loss of the season. The heavyweight closed the weekend with a 3-0 decision over Minot State's Mitch Eull. Wilson has received the NSIC Wrestler of the Week honor four times in his career and twice this season. He also was named to both honors after the Jan. 22-23 weekend.

PROBABLES — The following are the probable starts for SMSU this week.
125 | Taylor Curtis (3-19)
133 | Antonio Meikel (10-16)
141 | Cortez Arredondo (11-11)
149 | Zach Beaumaster (4-11)
157 | Patrick Kelley (11-12)
165 | Kegen Fingalsen (22-11)
174 | Kyle Begin (14-7)
184 | Brody Goens (12-12)
197 | Ashton Bartlett (5-18)
285 | No. 8 Cole Wilson (22-3)
 
UP NEXT — Southwest Minnesota State will host Concordia College on Feb. 18, before competing at the NCAA Super Regional Feb. 27-28 in Sioux Falls, S.D.