MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (0-1, 0-1 NSIC) travels to Northern State (4-1, 2-1 NSIC) for the first road conference dual of the season on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Wachs Arena. 
 
CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS: SMSU returns to action after competing in the Doane University Open on Dec. 8. Justin Haneke placed fourth and Jackson Ryan placed sixth after Haneke (149) and Ryan (197) both went 3-2 on the day. The Mustangs are 0-1 in dual action this season, falling 35-6 to No. 1 St. Cloud State on Nov. 29. Andrew Petersen and Cortez Arredondo earned the only two victories for the Mustangs. Petersen defeated Brady Reigstad in a 5-3 decision and Arredondo earned a 5-3 victory over Taner Trembley. Arredondo is ranked at No. 8 in the NWCA at 157-pounds.

SMSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: 
157      Cortez Arredondo       16-4
HWT    Andrew Petersen        15-6
197      Jackson Ryan             12-6
165      Kegen Fingalsen         11-8
184      Cole Hennen               10-5
125      Ben Emrich                 10-7

SMSU PROBABLE LINEUP: 
125      Willie Meine (4-9)
133      Brock Buysse (5-8)
141      Riley Altenburg (4-8)
149      Justin Haneke (5-5)
157      Cortez Arredondo (16-4)
165      Kegen Fingalsen (11-8)
174      Griffin Osing (9-5)
184      Cole Hennen (10-5)
197      Ben Thompson (7-9) 
285      Andrew Petersen (15-6)
 
NORTHERN STATE — Northern State is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC. NSU was set to finish ninth in the NSIC 2018-19 Preseason Wrestling Coaches' Poll. Last season, NSU sent Blake Perryman to the NCAA National Championships, where Perryman finished third and earned All-American honors. Kenny Jones was named a NSIC Wrestler to Watch. Jones wrestles at 133 pounds and 12-5 last season. Kolton Roth and Caden Moore are ranked No. 6 and No. 10 in the NWCA National Rankings, released on Dec. 31. NSU earned a 21-13 victory over Augustana last Thursday, ending an over two-decade losing streak.
 
NORTHERN STATE HISTORY — SMSU leads the all-time series 28-9-3 over NSU. The Mustangs have won the past eight matches dating back to the 2010-11 season. The Mustangs won the last dual 37-6 at home. SMSU won eight of the ten classes. 

NORTHERN STATE PROBABLE LINEUP: 
125    Dayne Morton
133    Kenny Jones
141    No. 6 Kolton Roth
149    No. 10 Caden Moore
157    Walker Carr
165    Billy Holtan OR Tanner Wiese
174    Jake Flakus OR Paxton Mewes
184    Kaden Campbell OR Riley Lura
197    Diego Gallegos
285    Harrison Townsend

HEAD COACH: Jesse Nelson is in his 12th season as head coach at SMSU in 2018-19. Nelson was named the fourth coach in the program history on Aug. 22, 2007. Nelson, the 2013-14 NSIC Coach of the Year, Nelson has a career dual record of 81-88-1, including 30-51 in conference matches. During his tenure, Nelson has groomed 20 national qualifiers--including three two-time qualifiers and three three-time qualifiers--along with 11 All-NSIC honorees. 

UP NEXT — Southwest Minnesota State hosts Augsburg on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a non-conference dual.