BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team was picked to finish eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. St. Cloud State, ranked No. 1 in the country, was picked to win the league earning 55 points.
Upper Iowa was a close second earning 54 points, followed by Augustana (44), Minnesota State (32), University of Mary (20), MSU Moorhead (17), Northern State (11), and SMSU (7).
The points in the rankings were assigned from the top five individuals in each of the ten weight classes using the following point system: 1st = 10, 2nd = 7, 3rd = 4, 4th = 2 , 5th = 1.
In the individual NSIC rankings, Jake Begin (165 pounds) and Brian Rodas (285 pounds) earned the highest individual rankings for the Mustangs, both coming in at fourth in their respective weight classes. Travis Borchert was ranked fifth at 125 pounds. Justin Reinsma, coming off a 28-12 showing last season, was ranked fifth at 133 pounds. Micah Larson was also ranked fifth in the 184-pound weight class.
SMSU finished the 2010-11 season with an 8-4-1 record in dual meets, its highest win total since the 2002 season.
The Mustangs will begin competition on Nov. 12 at the Bison Open hosted by North Dakota State University. The following weekend SMSU will compete in the Auggie Open at Augsburg College on Nov. 19 before taking on St. Olaf in a dual meet on Nov. 30 in Marshall.
2011-12 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1 St. Cloud State 55 points
2 Upper Iowa 54
3 Augustana 44
4 Minnesota State 32
5 University of Mary 20
6 MSU Moorhead 17
7 Northern State 11
8 Southwest Minnesota State 7
SMSU Ranked Individuals
125 pounds
5. Travis Borchert
133 pounds
5. Justin Reinsma
141 pounds
6. Ethan Hildebrandt
149 pounds
6. Codie Lane
157 pounds
6. Blaine Miller
165 pounds
4. Jake Begin
174 pounds
7. Trent Molacek
184 pounds
5. Micah Larson
197 pounds
7. Martin Hagen
285 pounds
4. Brian Rodas
125
1 Kyle Pedretti Upper Iowa
2 Corey Ulmer MSU Moorhead
3 Dylan Wright St. Cloud State
4 TJ North Augustana
5 Travis Borchert SMSU
6 David Demo Minnesota State
7 Anthony Bruno Northern State
8 Hunter Menendez Mary
133
1 Jason Jeremiason Augustana
2 Trevor Franklin Upper Iowa
3 Drew Lexvold Minnesota State
4 Andy Pokorny St. Cloud State
5 Justin Reinsma SMSU
6 Ian Muirhead Northern State
7 Deven Loepp MSU Moorhead
8 Kyle Larson Mary
141
1 Robbie Fischer Minnesota State
2 Trevor Johnson Mary
3 Tyler Steinwand MSU Moorhead
4 Victor Coronado Upper Iowa
5 Benton Crow Northern State
6 Ethan Hildebrandt SMSU
7 Matt Leibforth St. Cloud State
8 Ryan Hartnett Augustana
149
1 Nate Herda Augustana
2 Tommy Abbott Minnesota State
3 Jacob Horn St. Cloud State
4 Jordan Rinken Upper Iowa
5 Tanner Beaman Mary
6 Codie Lane SMSU
7 Derek Lee MSU Moorhead
8 Bea Voegeli Northern State
157
1 Marcus Edgington Augustana
2 Jacob Horn St. Cloud State
3 Winston Robbins Upper Iowa
4 Tel Todd Minnesota State
5 Collin Engelhardt Mary
6 Blaine Miller SMSU
7 Kerron Williams MSU Moorhead
8 Neil Sell Northern State
165
1 Tad Merritt St. Cloud State
2 Taylor Nagel Mary
3 Tyler Kivel MSU Moorhead
4 Jake Begin SMSU
5 Blake Sorenson Upper Iowa
6 Tom Davies Augustana
7 Blake Lundgren Northern State
8 Cody Quinn Minnesota State
174
1 Shamus O’Grady St. Cloud State
2 Carl Serck Augustana
3 Wade Gobin Upper Iowa
4 Brendan Eichmann Minnesota State
5 Trent Sovde MSU Moorhead
6 Donnie Bowden Northern State
7 Trent Molacek SMSU
8 Tom Devito Mary
184
1 Mitchell Schultz Upper Iowa
2 Derek Skala St. Cloud State
3 Brady Anderson Mary
4 Jayd Docken Augustana
5 Micah Larson SMSU
6 Chad Gibson Northern State
7 Kody Kalkbrennar MSU Moorhead
8 Brandon Pederson Minnesota State
197
1 Carl Broghammer Upper Iowa
2 Pat Mahan Minnesota State
3 Lucas Munkelwitz St. Cloud State
4 Brian Schultz Augustana
5 Brandon Manderscheid MSU Moorhead
6 Kris McCleary Mary
7 Martin Hagen SMSU
8 Baker Haar Northern State
285
1 Matt Meulners Northern State
2 Jake Kahnke St. Cloud State
3 Zach Rosol Upper Iowa
4 Brian Rodas SMSU
5 Mike Roberts Augustana
6 Gerad Fugleberg MSU Moorhead
7 Nathan Haynes Minnesota State
8 Martin Patron Mary