MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (3-6, 2-4 NSIC), hosts No. 23 Minot State (4-6, 0-4 NSIC) and UMary (2-6, 0-3 NSIC) in the final regular conference weekend of the 2019-20 season. 
 
The action begins on Friday at 7 p.m. facing No. 23 Minot State and continues on Saturday at 3 p.m. versus UMary. Saturday's dual will honor SMSU's seven seniors; Brock Buysse, Cole Hennen, Andrew Petersen, Nick Santos, Kyle Green, Willie Meine, and Ben Thompson. 
 
CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS – The Mustangs faced No. 17 Minnesota State (7-2, 3-1 NSIC) last week to fall 31-7 last Thursday in the PE Gym. Jackson Stauffacher (133) and Hayden Voxland (174) were the lone Mustangs to earn a bout victory in the dual.  
 
Stauffacher, who won by tech fall, is 5-1 on the season has only fallen to Augustana a conference dual. 
 
Voxland, who earned a 6-5 decision victory, defeated last week's NSIC Wrestler of the Week, MSU's No. 10 Zach Johnston, and was listed as a "top performer" by the Northern Sun. 
 
Jackson Ryan (197) snapped a six-bout winning streak last Thursday in a fall to MSU's Matthew Blome. Ryan had won every bout appearance since Dec. 13. 
 
Hunter Pfantz (125) also was on a winning streak with five consecutive bout victories which ended last Thursday in a defeat by tech fall to MSU's Trenton McManus. Pfantz is 16-8 on the season. 
 
REGIONAL RANKINGS – Four Mustang wrestlers made the cut in the Super Five Region Rankings, released on Jan. 22. Jackson Stauffacher ranks fifth at 133, Robert Shields ranks fifth at 149, Cole Hennen ranks fifth at 184, and Jackson Ryan ranks third at 197.  
 
MINOT STATE— Minot State 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the NSIC. The Beavers are tied at No. 23 in the latest NWCA poll, released on Jan. 22, with fellow NSIC competitor, Northern State. MISU's Dean Arevalo (125) is ranked No. 6 and is joined by teammate, Jordan Will (HWT) who ranks No. 8. Minot State's last conference victory occurred on Nov. 24 in the conference opener with a 19-16 victory over UMary. 
 
MINOT STATE SERIES HISTORY — Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series 7-2 despite falling in the last match-up a season, 29-12, in Minot, N.D., on Feb. 9, 2019. SMSU amassed a six-dual winning streak from Feb. 8, 2013 to Feb. 8, 2018. 
 
UMARY – UMary is 2-6 overall and 0-3 in the NSIC and is on a three-dual losing streak. UMary is coming off an 0-2 weekend, falling to Minnesota State and St. Cloud State. UMary has two ranked wrestlers as Braydon Huber (157) ranks No. 12 and Phillip Springsteen (174) ranks No. 7. 
 
UMARY SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series 9-4 despite falling in the last two matchups. SMSU was one four of the last six duals after falling 20-19 and 27-12 the last two seasons. SMSU has strung together two four-match winning streaks and never lost three duals consecutively.

MUSTANG HEAD COACH — Jesse Nelson is in his 13th season as head coach at SMSU in 2019-20. 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 85-101-1, including 33-61 in conference matches. During his tenure, Nelson has groomed 21 national qualifiers--including four two-time qualifiers and three three-time qualifiers--along with 12 All-NSIC honorees. 
 
UP NEXT — The Mustangs will compete in the NCAA Super Regional in Sioux Falls on Saturday, Feb. 29, with action beginning at 10 a.m. Any advancing wrestlers will move on to compete at the NCAA Championships, beginning on Friday, March 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D., at the Sanford Pentagon.

Probable SMSU Lineup 
125 Hunter Pfantz
133 Jackson Stauffacher
141 Justin Sampson
149 Robert Shields
157 Nathan Moore
165 Jacob Backlund
174 Hayden Voxland
184 Cole Hennen
197 Jackson Ryan
285 Andrew Petersen