SMSU at Augsburg Open This Weekend
November 20, 2008
MARSHALL, MINN. - The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling
team travels to Minneapolis, Minn., to take part in the Augsburg Open
at 9 a.m. on Saturday. SMSU is 1-0 (0-0 NSIC) on the season after
picking up a dual win against Sioux Falls (S.D.) last Wednesday.
Change of venue: SMSU was originally scheduled to compete in the
Kaufman/Brand Open on Saturday in Omaha, Neb. But the Mustangs opted to
stay a bit closer to home and head to the Twin Cities for the Augsburg
Open. The change of venue does not, however, equal a less taxing
tournament. Both opens include reputable wrestling programs.
Feels like the first time: SMSU’s 31-10 rout of Sioux Falls last
Wednesday was SMSU’s first dual win since the 2006-07 season and the
first for head coach Jesse Nelson. SMSU started the contest strong,
rattling off wins in its first six matches of the evening. The Mustangs
dropped three of the next four matches, but the decisive lead was
already intact.
Northern Exposure: The Mustangs placed three in a talent-filled
Bison Open Saturday at North Dakota State. The tournament included
Division I schools like NDSU and Minnesota, but SMSU held its own and
was able to have a successful trip up north.
- Jordan Rozeboom (Mason, Mich.) and A.J. Jenniges (Wabasso,
Minn.) tied for fifth place at 133 pounds. Rozeboom lost his first
match of the day to NDSU's Kirk Anderson but went 4-1 in the
consolation bracket to reach the fifth-place match. His only other loss
of the day came against NDSU's Tyler Steinwand. Jenniges, wrestling
unattached, won his first match of the day, taking an 8-5 decision from
Thane Antack (unattached). He lost his next match to NDSU's Steinwand
but picked up victories in his next two bout and finally losing a 7-5
decision to Aaron Wilcox (unattached) to reach the fifth place bout.
- Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.) grabbed a sixth-place
finish at 184 pounds. Johnson opened his day with a loss to Luke
Munkelwitz of St. Cloud State; however, the senior put together four
straight wins in his ensuing bouts. Johnson lost his next two matches
to take the sixth-place finish in the open.
Jesse’s class: This will be head coach Jesse Nelson’s first true
recruiting class. Hired in August 2007, Nelson had virtually no time to
recruit for the 2007-08 season. However, he has brought in 16 freshman
and five transfers to compliment 13 returners. The squad is young, but
what they lack in experience, they make up for in athleticism.
Fillin’ it out: A full roster this year means the Mustangs will
not have to forfeit weights in dual action. Due to a thinned out roster
last season, the Mustangs had to forfeit several weights throughout the
year, especially in the heavyweight category where SMSU had no wrestler
to fill the spot at any point during the season. The story, however, is
a little different in 2008-09. The Mustangs will not only fill out
every weight, they will be three wrestlers deep at some of the weights.
A new face: Assistant coach Jake Avre begins his first season as
Nelson’s top assistant in 2008-09. Avre wrestled for the University of
Minnesota during its 2001 and 2002 Big Ten and national championship
seasons and brings an impressive resume of coaching experience at the
high school and club level to SMSU.
Take me to your leaders: The Mustangs captains for the 2008-09 campaign are Tyler Johnson, Michal Barrie and C.D. Johnson.
New-look NSIC: The newly expanded NSIC adds three more dual
dates for SMSU this season. The addition Minnesota State, St. Cloud
State and Augustana brings the conference to eight teams. SMSU was
picked to finish seventh in the NSIC wrestling preseaon coaches poll.
Next dual action: SMSU won’t hit the mat in dual action again
until Dec. 9 when the Mustangs travel to Augsburg for a 7 p.m. contest
against the Auggies. The first conference dual of the year is on Jan.
10, 2009, in Bismarck, N.D., against Mary.
