MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team opened the conference season with a 35-6 loss to defending national champion and top-ranked, St. Cloud State, on Thursday night in the PE Gym.
 
The Huskies advance to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC while SMSU drops to 0-1 both overall and in the NSIC. SCSU has won 61 consecutive NSIC matches dating back to Jan. 27, 2011.
 
The match started with the 197-weight class as SCSU's Vince Dietz (9-0), ranked No. 1 nationally, defeated SMSU's Ben Thompson (3-6) by major decision (12-0) to maintain his undefeated record and gain a 4-0 lead for the Huskies.
 
Andrew Petersen (7-2), ranked 12^th in the nation, won by decision, 5-3, over redshirt freshman, Brady Reigstad (1-2), as the Mustangs trailed 4-3 after the 285-weight class.
 
The Mustangs dropped the next four bouts as Brandon Biggs (6-2)defeated Willie Meine (5-3) by decision, 7-3, in the 125-weight class, followed by Garrett Vos (5-0), ranked fourth in the nation, with a 6-0 victory by decision over Brock Buysse (5-3) at the 133-weight class, Travis Swanson (6-2) won by forfeit at the 141, and James Pleski (5-1), ranked second in the nation, won by fall at 5:51 over Jordan Biehn (0-1).
 
Cortez Arredondo, ranked 10th in the nation, (7-2) earned the Mustangs' second victory with a 5-3 win by decision over Taner Trembley (0-1).
 
Eighth ranked, Devin FitzPatrick maintained his undefeated record (7-0) with a 16-5 victory by major decision over Dru Kuchenbaker (7-4) to gain a 29-6 lead.
 
St. Cloud State closed the victory as Riley Vanik won by fall over Cole Hennen at 1:50 to make the score 35-6.
 
SMSU had five wrestlers ranked in the top six in the Super Region 5 Rankings released on Nov. 26. Justin Haneke is ranked sixth at 149, Cortez Arredondo is ranked second at 157, Kegen Fingalsen is ranked fifth at 165, Jackson Ryan is ranked fourth at 197, and Andrew Petersen ranked second at 285-weight class.
 
Southwest Minnesota State ranked eighth in the team rankings while SCSU earned the top-spot.
 
197: Vince Dietz wins (MD) over Ben Thompson (12-0) SMSU 0, SCSU 4
285: Andrew Petersen wins by decision over Brady Reigstad (5-3) SMSU 3, SCSU 4
125: Brandon Biggs wins by decision over Willie Meine (7-3) SMSU 3, SCSU 7
133: Garrett Vos wins by decision over Brock Buysse (6-0) SMSU 3, SCSU 10
141: Travis Swanson wins by forfeit (6-0) SMSU 3, SCSU 16
149: James Pleski wins by fall over Jordan Biehn (FALL at 5:51) SMSU 3, SCSU 22
157: Cortez Arredondo wins by decision over Taner Trembly (5-3) SMSU 6, SCSU 22
165: Devin FitzPatrick wins by (MD) over Kegen Fingalsen (16-5) SMSU 6,  SCSU 26
174: Kolton Eischens wins by decision over Dru Kuchenbaker (7-0) SMSU 6, SCSU 29
184:  Riley Vanik won by fall over Cole Hennen (FALL at 1:50) SMSU 6, SCSU 35