The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team will compete in its second dual of the season, its first home match of the season. The Mustangs will welcome Morningside (Iowa) College to the PE Gym on Wednesday, Dec. 5, starting at 7 p.m.
MORNINGSIDE AT A GLANCE: Morningside enters the dual ranked No. 5 in the nation according to the first edition of the NAIA wrestling coaches’ poll. The Mustangs defeated Dakota Wesleyan 24-13 on Nov. 29 in its only dual match of the season thus far.
Morningside has nine wrestlers in the NAIA individual rankings, led by Brian Block, who is ranked No. 1 at 184 lbs. Kory Kistner is ranked second at 125, Kevin Olson is fifth at 141, Garret Lambrecht is 16th at 141, Jordan Langley is 13th at 157, Chad Morehead is 13th at 165, Joe Sievert is fourth at 174, Chris Bridgeford is 14th at 197, and Tyler Kacmarynski is 13th at heaveyweight.
SERIES HISTORY: Southwest Minnesota State is 4-1 all-time against Morningside. The two teams first met during the 1971-72 season, and last met a season ago. SMSU took the dual against the Mustangs, 26-12 on Dec. 7 last year. Morningside was ranked ninth in the nation in NAIA at the time. Travis Borchert, Justin Reinsma, Ethan Hildebrandt, Codie Lane, Blaine Miller, Andrew Rodas and Cole Wilson all won their matches in the dual to take the match victory.
RE-MATCH: Micah Larson will look to avenge last season’s loss by pin to Morningside’s Brian Block in the 197 pound bout. The only other tentative re-match could be at 149 if Codie Lane takes on Taylor Phipps. Lane defeated Phipps by a 7-6 decision a year ago.