MOORHEAD, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (1-2, 1-2 NSIC) picked up their first victory in the Chayse Jackson era with a  32-8 victory at MSU Moorhead (0-3, 0-2 NSIC) in the Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn., on Thursday night.
 
After an MSUM forfeit at 125 pounds, the action started at 133, with Cole Jones leading wire to wire, defeating Hunter Pfantz by major decision to get MSUM on the board with SMSU leading 6-4 through two bouts.
 
Luke Peterson would extend the Mustang lead at 141, scoring 10 first period points en route to a 16-0 tech fall victory. Robert Shields kept the momentum rolling, picking up two third period takedowns to help fuel a 5-3 victory.
 
Lucas Hodges would end the first half of the dual on a high note, picking up a takedown within a minute and sticking the pin with just over a minute left in the first period. 
 
Braydon Ortloff would try and get the Dragons back on track after the intermission, picking up a major decision at 165 to cut SMSU's lead to 20-8, but Carter Marx would pick up a 7-2 decision to end any hope for MSUM. 
 
Caden Steffen would follow Marx with a clinical 7-1 victory before a dominant 11-4 win by Dillon McEachran to lead 29-8 into the last bout. Jacob Dykes would close the dual with a dandy, winning in sudden victory, 3-1, to punctuate the Mustangs victory. 
 
"It was great to see the guys respond and bounce back from last week." Said Jackson.  "Their mentality has drastically improved and today we showcased what we are capable of when we focus on the little positions and stick with the basics. I can't wait for more wins with this team!"

The Mustangs' road map continues, going to Bismarck, N.D., to wrestle UMary on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m., before going to Minot, N.D., to face Minot State on Jan. 29 at 2 p.m.
 
No. 20 Southwest Minnesota State 32, MSU Moorhead 8
125 | No. 15 Jackson Stauffacher wins by forfeit, SMSU 6, MSUM 0
133 | Cole Jones wins by major decision (18-7) over Hunter Pfantz, SMSU 6, MSUM 4
141 | Luke Peterson wins by tech fall (16-0, 4:20) over Hunter Hayes, SMSU 11, MSUM 4
149 | Robert Shields wins by decision (5-3) over Jacob Thomas, SMSU 14, MSUM 4
157 | Lucas Hodges wins by fall (1:53) over Peyton Ringling, SMSU 20, MSUM 4
165 | Braydon Ortloff wins by major decision (17-4) over Elijah Sterner, SMSU 20, MSUM 8
174 | Carter Marx wins by decision (7-2) over Justin Dravis, SMSU 23, MSUM 8
184 | No. 4 Caden Steffen wins by major decision (7-1) over Gage Roaldson, SMSU 26, MSUM 8
197 | Dillon McEachran wins by decision (11-4) over Steven Abbott, SMSU 29, SMSU 8
285 | Jacob Dykes wins by decision (3-1, SV-1) over Samuel Grove, SMSU 32, MSUM 8