MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (6-11, 2-3 NSIC) will be back on the road for a second consecutive week as the Mustangs face conference leading Minnesota State (7-3, 4-0 NSIC) on Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by a match on Sunday afternoon at Northern State (4-8, 0-4 NSIC).
THE SCHEDULE (all times central):
SMSU at Minnesota State (7-3, 4-0 NSIC), Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Taylor Center
SMSU at Northern State (4-8, 0-4 NSIC), Feb. 5, 2 p.m., Wachs Arena
ABOUT MINNESOTA STATE:
Minnesota State currently sits atop the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-0 start in NSIC matches. The Mavericks have won four straight matches that includes three NSIC victories. Minnesota State defeated second place, Upper Iowa, 25-13 last Thursday night.
ABOUT NORTHERN STATE:
The Wolves enter this week in the midst of a three-match losing streak. Northern State is off to an 0-4 start against Northern Sun opponents after a 23-15 loss to MSU Moorhead last Friday night.
SERIES HISTORY (Minnesota State):
Southwest Minnesota State is 9-27 all-time versus Minnesota State as the Mavericks have won the last two matches. The last win for SMSU was a 31-9 victory during the 2013-14 season. SMSU is 5-16 all-time in Mankato vs. the Mavericks.
SERIES HISTORY (Northern State):
The Mustangs are 26-9-2 all-time versus Northern State dating back to the 1979-80 season. SMSU has won six straight matches against Northern State dating back to the 2010-11 season. SMSU won last year's contest 29-19 in Marshall and is 16-5-1 all time on the road versus Northern State.
LIVE STATS:
Live stats coverage will be available from 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 60-72-1, including 21-40 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:
Kegen Fingalsen is 18-13 (4-1 NSIC) with three pins and three major decisions...
Cole Hennen is 17-10 (3-2 NSIC) with seven tech falls, three pins, and two major decisions...
Cortez Arredondo is 16-14 with two pins, three tech falls and one major decision ...
Jackson Ryan has posted a 13-10 mark with four pins and four major decisions ...
Cameron Henning has eight wins by fall so far for the Mustangs.
LAST TIME OUT:
The Mustangs won its first conference match against Minot State last Thursday and followed up with a second consecutive victory in a 20-16 win over U-Mary on Friday night.
SMSU vs. Minot State- After a close 9-7 decision victory for
Taylor Curtis at 125,
Jordan Biehn captured a major decision to give the Mustangs a 7-0 start.
Jake Slocum won by tech fall at 157 and
Jackson Ryan later won by major decision at 197 which gave SMSU a 22-10 lead, putting the match out of reach.
SMSU vs. U-Mary- The Marauders won the first three weight classes to start the night including a major decision at 133 to take a 10-0 lead. SMSU responded by winning its next three bouts, taking a one point lead in the match with the help of two major decisions from
Jake Slocum and
Kegen Fingalsen respectively.
Cole Hennen won by tech fall at 184 and
Jackson Ryan earned a 15-6 major decision at 197 to give SMSU its second consecutive victory.
Top Performers
-
Kegen Fingalsen went 2-0 over the weekend to improve his NSIC record to 4-1 for SMSU including a 12-3 major decision vs. U-Mary at 165
-
Cole Hennen went 2-0 at 184 including a win by tech fall at U-Mary
-
Jake Slocum won by tech fall at 3:56 at Minot State
NSIC STANDINGS (as of 1/30):
| SCHOOL |
CONF |
CPCT. |
OVERALL |
PCT. |
STREAK |
| Minnesota State Mankato |
4-0 |
1.000 |
7-3 |
0.700 |
W4 |
| St. Cloud State |
3-0 |
1.000 |
12-1 |
0.923 |
W5 |
| Augustana |
3-0 |
1.000 |
10-5 |
0.667 |
W4 |
| Upper Iowa |
5-1 |
0.833 |
9-3 |
0.750 |
L1 |
| Southwest Minnesota State |
2-3 |
0.400 |
6-11 |
0.353 |
W2 |
| MSU Moorhead |
1-3 |
0.250 |
4-7 |
0.364 |
W1 |
| U-Mary |
1-4 |
0.200 |
5-7 |
0.417 |
L3 |
| Northern State |
0-4 |
0.000 |
4-8 |
0.333 |
L3 |
| Minot State |
0-4 |
0.000 |
3-13 |
0.188 |
L3 |
PRESEASON NSIC POLL
Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish tied for seventh in the NSIC preseason poll.
UP NEXT
Following its two road matches this weekend, the Mustangs will host their final home match and final NSIC match of the season on Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.
