Mustangs head to SCSU Thursday, host Minot State Saturday

MARSHALL, Minn. — The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will continue loop play on Thursday as it travels to No. 2 St. Cloud State for a 7:00 p.m., dual at Pierz High School. The Mustangs will return to the PE Gym on Saturday for a 4 p.m., match with Minot State.

CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS — The Mustangs will enter the week with a 6-8 overall record, 2-2 in the NSIC, after recording a 1-1 record last weekend against Northern State and No. 8 Upper Iowa. The Mustangs started the week with a 29-19 win against NSU but fell 33-9 at UIU last Friday. SMSU is ranked No. 14 in the latest Super Region III rankings. Cole Wilson (285) is ranked third in the region and eighth in the national poll.

ST. CLOUD STATE — The Huskies—ranked No. 2 in the nation—will enter Thursday’s dual 12-1 overall, 4-0 in the NSIC and is riding a seven-bout win streak. SCSU’s lone loss was a 21-15 defeat to Notre Dame College on Jan. 9. Since starting conference action, the Huskies have scored 40-plus points in each dual. Last week SCSU defeated Minot State (50-0) and U-Mary (42-3).

SCSU has five wrestlers ranked in the national poll, including three ranked No. 1. Tim Prescott (125) ranks first with a 10-2 record and is riding a six-bout win streak. Jay Hildreth (149) ranks fifth with a 22-4 record and has won his last four duals. Clint Poster (165) is ranked No. 1 and carries a nine-bout winning streak and a 27-1 record. Clayton Jennissen (174) ranks fourth with a four-bout streak and a 22-5 record. Austin Goergen (285) is ranked No. 1 and is a perfect 25-0.

ST. CLOUD STATE HISTORY — Southwest Minnesota State will meet with St. Cloud State for the 45th time in a series that started back in the 1969-70 season. SCSU holds a 30-13-1 advantage and has won the last nine matches, including the last five in St. Cloud. SMSU’s last win in the series was a 24-18 victory in the 2005-06 season at St. Cloud.

MINOT STATE – The Beavers will enter the week 4-9 overall, 1-4 in the NSIC and will face Augustana University Friday night before SMSU Saturday. The Beavers opened conference play with an 18-16 win to U-Mary, but suffered four conference losses since to UIU, MSU, U-Mary and SCSU. Minot State is ranked No. 13 in the latest Super Region III poll and has one wrestler ranked. Mitch Eull (285) is ranked sixth in the Super Region III poll with an 18-7 record.

MINOT STATE HISTORY – SMSU will meet with Minot State for the sixth time in a series that started back in the 1970-71 season. SMSU played Minot State twice in the 1970’s, before resuming action in the 2012-13 season. SMSU holds a 4-1 advantage in the series and have won the last four. SMSU’s lone loss in the series is a 24-12 defeat in the 1972-73 season.

STREAKS — Seniors Cole Wilson and Kyle Begin both recorded 2-0 records last week against NSU and UIU to keep their winning streaks alive. Begin will start the week on an eight-bout win streak while Wilson will enter the week on a 10-bout run.

WRESTLER OF THE WEEK — Southwest Minnesota State senior heavyweight wrestler Cole Wilson was named the Wrestler of the Week by D2wrestle.com and by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after finishing 2-0 during the Jan. 22-23 weekend. It marked the third time Wilson has received NSIC Wrestler of the Week honors in his career and first of the season.

Wilson, a 285 pounder, from Faribault, Minn., recorded a 2-0 record against Augustana University and the University of Mary. Wilson started the weekend with a pin over No. 8 (NCAA DII) / No. 3 (Super Region III) Michael Lowman from Augustana at 6:54 for his sixth pin of the season. The heavyweight closed the weekend with a 1-0 decision over U-Mary’s Travis Smith.

UP NEXT — Southwest Minnesota State will host Minnesota State on Feb. 12, before traveling to MSU Moorhead on Feb. 13.

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