MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will ring in the new year with back-to-back duals this week, wrestling against No. 7 Augustana before hosting top-ranked St. Cloud State.

SMSU begins the week on the road wrestling in Sioux Falls against the Vikings on Friday, Jan. 3, with start time scheduled for 5 p.m. 

The Mustangs close out the week on Saturday, hosting the Huskies in the PE Gym, with the dual slated to begin at 3 p.m.

SMSU NOTES
• Via the latest Open Mat rankings (Jan. 1), Adam Sylvester is the lone ranked wrestler for the Mustangs coming in at No.17 at 184 pounds. 
• Sylvester is 9-6 on the year with seven bonus point wins. In his lone conference bout, Sylvester defeated then-No. 17 Dante Roggio of UMary 6-3.

SERIES HISTORY
• Tomorrow will be the 40th meeting between AU and SMSU, with the Vikings holding the 34-5 edge in the all-time series.
• SMSU has earned just one victory over the Vikings since 1998.
• The Mustangs suffered a 24-13 loss to the Vikings a season ago.
• SMSU is 3-16 all-time on the road against AU.
• Saturday will be the 53rd meeting between SCSU and SMSU, with the Huskies holding the 39-12-1 edge in the all-time series.
• SMSU has earned just one victory over the Huskies since 2006.
• The Mustangs suffered a 44-3 loss to the Huskies a season ago.
• SMSU is 10-15 all-time at home versus SCSU.

LAST TIME OUT
• SMSU traveled to Indianapolis on Dec. 14-15 to compete in the 45th annual Midwest Classic. The Mustangs totaled eight wins at the meet, three of which came via major decision, one by tech fall, and one sudden victory.
• The invitational featured 44 Division II teams with 21 of the top 25-ranked teams in attendance. Over 50 ranked wrestlers competed at the event. SMSU finished 38th out of 44 teams.
• Sean Howk led SMSU as the only wrestler to make it to the placement rounds. Howk suffered a loss by fall to No. 19 Lane Ewing (UMary) in the championship bracket but then went on to earn four straight victories in the consolation bracket. 
• Elijah Sterner picked up a win via tech fall on his way to the fourth round of the consolation bracket before suffering a loss via injury default to Jakob Hurley (Tiffin).
• Adam Sylvester was another top performer for SMSU. He would also make his way to the fourth round of the consolation bracket, picking up a pair of wins by major decision before suffering a loss by fall to No. 11 Zeke Waltz (McKendree).

SMSU LEADERS
• Sean Howk (11-4)
• Jonah Anderson (11-7)
• Tate Condezo (9-4)
• Adam Sylvester (9-6)

AUGUSTANA NOTES
• Augustana holds a 1-3 record overall with its last bout on the mat coming two weeks ago in Lincoln, Neb., where AU fell in the Holiday Havoc duals to Nebraska-Kearney and Nebraska.
• Augustana is ranked No. 7 in the latest NWCA release on Dec. 23, 2024. The Vikings have five wrestlers ranked in the NWCA ranks.
• Jaxson Rohman sits at No. 2 in the 125-pound weight class while Cael Larson also ranks second at 149 pounds. Connor Simmonds has broken into the rankings and is No. 15 at 157 while at 184, Cade Mueller is ranked No. 3 and Max Ramberg is No. 5 at 197.

ST. CLOUD STATE NOTES
• For the third consecutive National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, the Huskies were tabbed the No. 1 ranked team in Division II.
• The Huskies hold 10 ranked wrestlers for the second straight poll after having nine in the preseason poll. SCSU is the only team in Division II to have a ranked wrestler at all 10 weight classes.
• Conor Knopick sits at No. 15 in the 125-pound weight class while Sam Spencer ranks No. 7 at 133 pounds and Alyeus Craig ranks No. 6 at 141 pounds. Colby Njos is the top-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds, Joel Jesuroga is No. 5 at 157 pounds, and Nick Novak is No. 2 in the 165-pound class. Bryce Dagel is in the rankings at No. 5 at 174 while at 184, Bryce Fitzpatrick is ranked No. 10, Dominic Murphy is No. 4 at 197, and La'Ron Parks is No. 2 in the heavyweight class.

SMSU Probable Line-up
- 125 (Mustang Wrestling Club)
Carlo Arreola (2-4) or Preston Xayachak (5-6)
- 133 (Fort Pierre Livestock) 
Chase Hanson (4-8) or AJ Polansky (6-12)
- 141 (Tahnee Mara Concrete and Petroleum) 
Dylan Louwagie (7-7) or Chase Murphy (8-7)
- 149 (Lierman Excavating Co.)
Jake Messner (3-6) or Chance Burns (2-6)
- 157 (Wendinger Travel)
Cade Lierman (4-5)
- 165 (Kibble Equipment)
Caden Young (3-6) 
- 174 (Cottonwood Oil Co-op)
Mason Buss (9-8) or Noah Jensen (7-8)
- 184 (Army National Gaurd)
No. 17 Adam Sylvester (9-6)
- 197 (Borch's Sporting Goods)
Kody Marschner (5-5)
- 285 (Countryside Golf Course)
Evan Thompson (0-7)

AU Probable Line-up
125 – No. 2 Jaxson Rohman or Chris Olsen
133 – Braiden Kort or Thurman Christensen
141 – Connor Whiteley or Alex Mentzer
149 – No. 2 Cael Larson or Davin Rose
157 – No. 15 Connor Simmonds 
165 – Payton Handevidt
174 – Coy Gunderson or Josh Wagener
184 – No. 3 Cade Mueller
197 – No. 5 Max Ramberg
285 – Max Balow

SCSU Probable Line-up
125 - No. 15 Conor Knopick or Dominic Ducato
133 - No. 7 Sam Spencer or Caleb Meekins
141 - No. 6 Alyeus Craig or Brandon Eusebio
149 - No. 1 Colby Njos or Nolan Throne
157 - No. 5 Joel Jesuroga or Colton Bornholdt
165 - No. 2 Nick Novak or Derek Johnson
174 - No. 5 Bryce Dagel or Logan Vaughan
184 - Tyson Meyer or No. 10 Bryce Fitzpatrick
197 - No. 4 Dominic Murphy or Nathan Fury
285 - No. 2 La' Ron Parks or Jadon Mims