MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (1-1, 1-1 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action this Thursday hosting Augustana University (1-2, 1-2 NSIC) inside the PE Gym starting at 6 p.m. The teams will have six "extra" bouts starting at 6 p.m., followed by the official NSIC match at approximately 7 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Augustana leads the all-time series 30-5 and has won the last six matches, including 27-10 last season in Sioux Falls, S.D. … SMSU's last victory in the series came on Jan. 14, 2014, in Sioux Falls … SMSU won four of six matches from 1992-1998, but Augustana has won 19 of the last 20 since the 1999-2000 season.
 
HEAD COACH JESSE NELSON: Jesse Nelson is in his 14th season as head coach at SMSU and has a career record of 87-103-1, including 35-63 in conference matches. Nelson, the fourth coach in the program history and the 2013-14 NSIC Coach of the Year, was hired on Aug. 22, 2007. During his tenure, Nelson has groomed 23 national qualifiers—including four two-time qualifiers and three three-time qualifiers—along with 13 All-NSIC honorees. Nelson has coached three NCAA All-Americans, including Justin Reinsma in both 2012 and 2013, Jacob Begin in 2015 and Cole Wilson in 2016.
 
SMSU NOTES: SMSU, which is receiving 10 votes in the latest NWCA Top 25 poll, and is just outside the Top 25, is 1-1 on the season earning a victory at MSU Moorhead on Jan. 7, before suffering a 28-6 loss at Wisconsin-Parkside last Friday night … SMSU's home match on Jan. 14 versus UMary was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols … In SMSU's loss to Parkside on Friday, the Mustangs lost several tight matches in the lower weights and trailed 28-0 … SMSU's Jackson Ryan earned a 5-3 victory at 197 and was followed by a 6-0 victory by Jacob Dykes at 285 … Both Ryan and Dykes are 2-0 on the season.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS: SMSU has one individual ranked in the first regular season NWCA national rankings released on Jan. 22 with 2020 NCAA National Qualifier, Jackson Ryan (2-0), fifth at 197 pounds.
 
REGIONAL RANKINGS: In the latest Super Region V rankings, SMSU has three individuals ranked among the top six. Hayden Voxland is ranked sixth at 174, Caden Steffen is third at 184, while Jackson Ryan is second at 197.
 
AUGUSTANA NOTES: The Vikings, who are receiving seven votes in the NWCA Top 25, enter Thursday's match at 1-2, earning a victory over Parkside (21-17) on Jan. 9, before losing to No. 12 Minnesota State (25-13) on Jan. 14 and losing to No. 1 St. Cloud State (25-9) on Jan. 24 … AU's Hunter Burnett, ranked No. 9 at 149, defeated No. 1 ranked Jake Barzowski from St. Cloud State by a 4-2 decision on Sunday … AU's Steven Hajas is ranked No. 10 nationally at 285 … AU has seven individuals ranked among the top six in the Super Region V rankings … Jason Reitmeier is in his 17th season as head coach and has an overall dual record of 192-90.
 
Probable SMSU Line Up:
125 - Ben Emrich (0-2)
133 - Jackson Stauffacher (1-1)
141 - Justin Sampson (0-2)
149 - Robert Shields (1-1)
157 - Sean Howk (0-2)
165 - Carter Marx (0-2)
174 - Hayden Voxland (1-1)
184 - Caden Steffen (1-1)
197 - Jackson Ryan (2-0)
285 - Jacob Dykes (2-0)
 
Extra SMSU Line Up:
141 - Hunter Pfantz (0-0)
149 - Luke Peterson (1-0)
174 - Jace Paplow (1-0)
184 - Caleb Pesta (0-0)
197 - Dillon McEachran (0-0)
285 - Neil Hanson (0-0)