MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team is set to open the lid on the 2011-12 season on Saturday at the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D. The open meet is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Bison Sports Arena.
The Mustangs were picked to finish eighth in the 2011-12 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
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.
Reinsma, a 133-pounder from Slayton, Minn., finishd the 2010-11 season with a 28-14 record. He was one of two wrestlers to eclipse the 20-win mark on the season. Brian Rodas, who qualified for the national tournament in 2009-10, enters his senior season coming off a 10-4 record last season.
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 compete at the Concordia-Moorhead Open on Saturday, Nov. 19, before opening the dual portion of its schedule at home against St. Olaf on Nov. 30.