Mustangs, Mavericks set to Square Off
January 28, 2009
MARSHALL, MINN. - The Southwest Minnesota State
wrestling team will travel to No. 3-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato to
square off with the Mavericks in conference action at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Last time out: Division III and No. 9-ranked Concordia of
Moorhead had three wins by fall and a pair by major decision to defeat
SMSU 33-12 in non-conference action Jan. 22 in Marshall. Michal Barrie
(Westbrook, Minn.), David Albrecht (Woodbury, Minn.) and Carter Ash
(Milaca, Minn.) all picked up victories against the Cobbers.
Another ranked opponent: It will be SMSU’s second meeting with a
nationally ranked Division II program on Friday. MSU enters as the No.
3-ranked squad in the country. The Mustangs also met up with Augustana
on Jan. 16, which was ranked No. 18 at the time.
The series: The Mustangs and Mavericks have met 27 times, with
MSU leading the series 19-8. Last season, the Mavericks blanked SMSU,
serving the Mustangs a 49-0 loss in Mankato, Minn. Friday’s match will
be the first between the two squads as conference opponents. Standings:
SMSU’s 1-1 NSIC mark puts the team in a tie for third place in the
conference. St. Cloud State, Upper Iowa and Minnesota State Moorhead
are tied with the Mustangs for the No. 3 spot.
National news: Tyler Johnson (Harrisburg, S.D.) is ranked No. 7
at 184 pounds in the latest NCAA Division II national wrestling
rankings released Wednesday, Jan. 21, by the NCAA Division II Wrestling
Coaches Association. The spot is a jump up as the senior was ranked No.
8 in the first NWCA Poll released Dec. 2. He fell out of the top eight
in the Jan. 6 poll.
Up next: The Mustangs return home on Feb. 7 to host NSIC-foe St.
Cloud State in a Saturday matinee scheduled for 2 p.m. The remainder of
SMSU’s duals, excluding a postponed contest with St. John’s that has
yet to be announced, are conference contests.
