MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (1-6, 1-5 NSIC) closes the regular conference season on a road trip to Minot State (3-9, 1-5 NSIC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. and UMary (4-4, 2-4 NSIC) on Sunday at 2 p.m.
SMSU NOTES – SMSU won its first dual of the season with a 24-16 win over MSU Moorhead last Friday night in the PE Gym. SMSU won six of the ten bouts and even forfeited at 125.
Cole Hennen started the night with a 3-1 decision victory at 197 for his second consecutive conference victory to maintain a 2-4 conference record.
Brock Buysse and
Griffin Osing each earned first conference victories this season, Buysse, at 133 with a 2-1 decision win over MSUM's Seth Hutchison and Osing, at 184, a 5-4 win over MSUM's Evan Foster.
Justin Haneke and
Kegen Fingalsen both earned victories by fall with Haneke earning a win by fall at 4:42 over Dylan Connell at 149 and Fingalsen a win by fall at 4:18 over Justin Dravis.
Cortez Arredondo followed up with a 10-9 decision victory over Braydon Ortloff at 157. The bout finished locked at 9-9 but Arredondo claimed the win after the addition of riding time.
Arredondo moved up to No. 7 in the latest NWCA poll released on Feb. 4.
SMSU Individual Leaders:
Cortez Arredondo (21-5)
Andrew Petersen (18-9)
Kegen Fingalsen (14-11)
Cole Hennen (12-9)
Hayden Voxland (11-15)
UMARY NOTES: UMary is 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the conference and was ranked No. 20 in the latest NWCA poll released on Feb. 4. Two Marauders were ranked in the top-12, with Tate Barnhardt (133) ranked No. 3 and Phillip Springsteen (174) ranked No. 8. Barnhart is 8-0 this season and went 2-0 last weekend against other nationally-ranked opponents. Springsteen is a redshirt sophomore with a 10-2 record against DII opponents.
MINOT STATE NOTES: Minot State is 4-9 overall and 1-5 in the conference, ranking just one spot above SMSU. Minot State earned their first conference victory last Friday with a 25-20 upset victory over No. 25 Northern State. Minot State picked up a 33-12 non-conference victory against Dickinson State on Wednesday night.
UMARY SERIES HISTORY: SMSU leads the all-time series 9-3 dating back to the 2006-07 season. SMSU has won four of the last five duals but dropped the meeting last season, 20-19. SMSU is 5-1 in Bismarck.
MINOT STATE SERIES HISTORY: SMSU leads the all-time series 7-1 and has won the last six duals. The series started in the 1970-71 season and played for two consecutive years until starting again in the 2012-13 season. SMSU won the meeting last season 23-17 and is 4-1 at Minot.
Following the final regular season weekend, the NCAA Super Regional will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. in Moorhead, Minn., in Alex Nemzek Hall.
