THIS WEEK
• The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (3-3, 0-3 NSIC) will wrestle against four teams in a home dual tournament this weekend. 
• Minot State, Fort Hays State (Kan.), Upper Iowa, and Wisconsin-Eau Claire will be competing.
• SMSU begins the tournament with a conference dual versus (RV) Minot State (3-2, 0-2 NSIC) in the first round beginning at noon.
• The Mustangs continue action with a dual against (RV) Fort Hays State (3-1) in the second round scheduled at 1:30 p.m.
• SMSU has a bye in the third round before wrestling against No. 24/21 Upper Iowa (6-3) in the fourth round at 4:30 p.m.
• The Mustangs wrap up competition in the final round of the tournament against NCAA Division III opponent, No. 5-ranked UW-Eau Claire (11-1) at 6 p.m.
• All times are approximate. The next matches will begin as soon as both duals have been completed from the previous round.

TOURNAMENT COVERAGE
• Saturday's tournament will be broadcast on Flo Wrestling and will require payment or subscription for viewing.
• Live results and video broadcast links of all matches can be found at SMSUmustangs.com

SMSU IN THE NATIONAL RANKS
• SMSU has one individual ranked in the most recent (Jan. 15) Open Mat national ranks, with Sean Howk coming in at No. 20 this week.
• Howk is ranked for the second time this season.

SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU has a combined record of 18-27 against opponents competing this weekend.
• Saturday will be the 15th meeting between SMSU and MSU, with the Mustangs holding an 8-6 edge in a series that began in 1970. 
• It will be the sixth meeting between SMSU and FHSU on Saturday, with the Tigers holding a 4-1 advantage in a series that started in 2002.
• SMSU and UIU will meet for the 22nd time, with the Peacocks leading 17-4 in contests that began in 1991.
• The Mustangs will wrestle UWEC for the sixth time leading 5-0 in the all-time series. 

LAST WEEK
• SMSU defeated the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans last Thursday evening by a final score of 31-11.
• The Mustangs picked up six wins in the dual including three via forfeit due to weight complications, two by tech fall, and one sudden victory.
• Mason Buss represented SMSU at 174 pounds versus Jonathan Krogman where he cruised his way to a 17-1 tech fall in the second period.
• At 184, Adam Sylvester battled for the Mustangs on his way to a sudden victory win over No. 2-ranked Jessey Colas.

SMSU LEADERS
• No. 20 Sean Howk (11-4)
• Adam Sylvester (10-8)
• Mason Buss (10-9)
• Dylan Louwagie (8-7)

MINOT STATE NOTES
• MSU enters the week receiving votes in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top 25 Poll at 3-2 overall and 0-2 in NSIC duals and last competed on Jan. 11 earning a 37-7 road victory over Bismarck State College.
• MSU has one wrestler listed in the NWCA ranks and three in the Open Mat ranks.
• In the Open Mat, Wayne Joint is No. 17 at 133 pounds while Cannon Potts comes in at No. 15 at 197 pounds. Jake Swirple is the lone MSU wrestle ranked in both lists, sitting at No. 7/11 (NWCA/Open Mat).

FORT HAYS STATE NOTES
• FHSU enters the week receiving votes in the NWCA poll at 3-1 overall and last competed on Jan. 11 earning five place-winners at the Hastings Open.
• The Tigers are a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) and have a single wrestler ranked this week.
• At 197 pounds, Tereus Henry is No. 12 in the NWCA ranks and No. 9 in the Open Mat ranks.

UPPER IOWA NOTES
• UIU enters the week ranked No. 24 in the NWCA poll and No. 21 in the Open Mat poll at 6-3 overall and last competed on Jan. 10-11 on the NWCA National Duals, posting a 2-3 mark.
• The Peacocks are a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and have three wrestlers posted in the NWCA ranks and six in the Open Mat.
• At 141 pounds, Ryan Wehner is ranked No. 19 in the Open Mat, while Ethan Doty comes in at No. 9/11 in the 149-pound class.
• Lawson Losee sits at No. 6/5 in the 174-pound class and Colter Bye ranks No. 8/8 at 184 pounds, while in the Open Mat, Geoff Freeman is No. 12 at 197 pounds and Clay Ours is No. 17 in the 285-pound class.

UW-EAU CLAIRE NOTES
• UW-Eau Claire comes into the week at No. 5 in the Division III NWCA poll and No. 7 in the Open Mat poll at 11-1 overall and last competed on Jan. 10-11 at the Budd Whitehill National Duals posting a flawless 5-0 mark.
• The Blugolds, who are an NCAA Division III member part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC), have four wrestlers listed in the NWCA ranks and six in the Open Mat ranks.
• Izzy Balsiger is ranked No. 6/8 at 125 pounds and Zach Sato is No. 2/8 at 149 pounds, while Preston Carlisle is listed at No. 9 in the Open Mat at 165 pounds.
• In both rankings, Jared Stricker is No. 1 in the 174-pound weight class and at 184 pounds, Niall Schoenfelder ranks No. 8. Ian Pepple is No. 14 at 197 pounds in the Open Mat.

SMSU Probable Line-up (subject to change from dual-to-dual)
- 125 (Mustang Wrestling Club)
Carlo Arreola (3-6) or Preston Xayachak (5-7)
- 133 (Fort Pierre Livestock) 
Chase Hanson (5-10) or AJ Polansky (7-13)
- 141 (Tahnee Mara Concrete and Petroleum) 
Dylan Louwagie (8-7) or Chase Murphy (8-9)
- 149 (Lierman Excavating Co.)
Jake Messner (3-8) or Cade Lierman (4-8) or Chase Murphy (8-9)
- 157 (Wendinger Travel)
No. 20 Sean Howk (11-4)
- 165 (Kibble Equipment)
Caden Young (3-9) 
- 174 (Cottonwood Oil Co-op)
Elijah Sterner (7-7) or Mason Buss (10-9) or Noah Jensen (7-10)
- 184 (Army National Gaurd)
Adam Sylvester (10-8)
- 197 (Borch's Sporting Goods)
Kody Marschner (5-8)
- 285 (Countryside Golf Course)
Evan Thompson (0-10)