Upcoming Match:
SMSU is off until Feb. 2 when it travels to St. Cloud State for a 7 p.m. dual.
Mustang Update:
The University of Mary edged Southwest Minnesota State University 21-16 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual on Saturday afternoon in Marshall.
SMSU forfeited two matches at 149 and 285, while both teams forfeited
at 125. Despite giving up 12 points, SMSU actually won five of
the seven matches that were wrestled. Tyler Johnson began the
afternoon winning a 6-4 decision at 184 over Kurt Wiedrich.
Johnson was aided by 2:52 of riding time in the match.
After a Mary pin at 197 and a forfeit at heavyweight, the Mustangs
gained three more points, cutting the Mary lead to 12-6 at 133 when Ed
Reno picked up a 7-2 decision over Cody Schmidt. Reno dominated
most of the match, with 3:58 of riding time from two takedowns and one
reversal.
L.J. Franzoni lost 9-5 at 141 for the Mustangs and SMSU forfeited the
149 match, falling behind 21-6 going into the final three
matches. But SMSU kept fighting, with Logan McAlpin winning 11-8
at 157. The first three minutes of the match were very active,
with McAlpin leading 9-4 after two near falls, a takedown and a
reversal. C.D. Johnson won 9-4 at 165 over Devin Nagel, aided by
two takedowns. The final match of the day was won by Greg Frank
by an 11-3 major decision at 174. Frank led 8-1 after two rounds
and had 2:58 of riding time.
Head Coach Jesse Nelson:
Jesse Nelson is in his first year as head coach at SMSU and has a dual
record of 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC. He takes over for John
Sterner, who resigned over the summer. Nelson previously spent
five years at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn., where he led
Ridgewater to five top-five national finishes in five years as the head
coach.
SMSU Picked Fourth in NSIC:
The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team has been picked to finish
fourth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches
Poll for the upcoming season. Upper Iowa was picked first and
received 74 points. SMSU received 25 points.
Individually, SMSU did not have any individuals picked to finish first
in the conference, but had one second-place and four third-place
wrestlers. Sophomore Luke Giese was picked to finish second at
149 by the NSIC coaches. Those picked to finish third include
seniors Kurt Smith and Ryan Reed at 125 and 133, respectively,
sophomore C.D. Johnson at 165 and junior Tyler Johnson at 184.
Tyler Johnson was picked behind two returning national qualifiers.