BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team was picked to finish 10^th out of 11 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, released by the league office on Thursday.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside was selected to top the conference, earning 93 points and five first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team). Minnesota State earned 89 points and two first place votes finishing second. Defending NSIC champions St. Cloud State were picked third with 82 points and two first place votes. The top five is rounded off by Augustana, earning 75 points and two first place votes, and UMary earning 70 points.
 
Defending NCAA DII national champion Jacob Strausbaugh was voted as the preseason wrestler of the year. Strausbaugh won the national championship at 133 lbs. but will wrestle at 149 lbs. this season.
 
The Mustangs are coming off a 3-12 season in 2025-26, with a 2-8 NSIC record, earning wins over Minot State and Jamestown. Head coach Chayse Jackson in his sixth season leading SMSU returns 18 letter winners from last season's team.
 
"This year's team features one of the hardest working and most energetic groups that I've had the pleasure to coach," said Jackson. "They are also some of the first recruits that I brought to campus, and they are finally coming into their right as upperclassmen. I'm looking forward to seeing them go out and compete and go out and battle with everybody in the conference this season. And I truly think it is their attitude and effort that make them stand apart from the rest of the field."
 
125 lbs. wrestler Dylan St. Germain was selected as a 'Wrestler to Watch' this season. The Eagan, Minn., native had a record of 13-9 overall and a 2-2 conference dual record, with seven wins by fall.
 
"In just one year, and as a redshirt, Dylan St. Germain has emerged as a leader within our program, both on and off the mat," quoted Jackson about St. Germain. "He is constantly asking the staff and the coaches what more he can do to be become a better wrestler and a better person. On the mat he also proved himself very quickly scoring over 50 team points in just five events and finding a fall in almost half of his matches while boasting a 60% win percentage. He's a dynamic and technical wrestler that competes from whistle to whistle, and I'm truly excited to see him back on the mat again!"
 
The Mustangs also return several key wrestlers to this season's squad. Third-year wrestler Tate Condezo is back after winning 23 matches at 157 lbs. last season, including a 4-4 record in NSIC duals and nine wins by fall. Xander Kenworthy, a winner of 16 matches last season, will wrestle at 197 lbs. this season. Kenworthy won three conference matches and tallied eight wins by fall. Bronson Richins enters his second season at SMSU after winning 11 matches last season at 141 lbs. Dylan Louwagie, after taking a redshirt year last season, returns for his third season at SMSU. Louwagie won six matches last season, and 11 as a true freshman.
 
The Mustangs kick off the 2026-27 season on Saturday, Oct. 24, in the annual Brown & Gold Dual. The exhibition will begin at 12 p.m. inside the PE Gym. SMSU begins the regular season competing in the RCTC Yellowjacket Open on Nov. 7 and make their home regular season debut in a tri-dual against Itasca C.C. and Saint John's on Nov. 18. The Mustangs begin NSIC action against St. Cloud State on Dec. 6.