MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team opens its 2013-14 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season on Saturday at Northern State. The dual, which will be held at Aberdeen Central High School in Aberdeen, S.D., begins at 6 p.m.
The Dragons are 3-4 in duals on the year after going 1-3 at the Grand Canyon Duals on Saturday. One of the losses came to a Division I school (Grand Canyon) while the other two came to two nationally-ranked Division II schools (Colorado Mesa and Cal Baptist).
MSUM was picked to finish sixth in the NSIC according to a preseason poll of the league’s coaches, while Northern State was picked to finish seventh.
At the Grand Canyon duals, MSUM was led by junior Michael Joseph, who was 3-1 on the day at 174 pounds. Going 2-2 on the day for MSUM were senior Matt Lewellen (184), freshman Tyler Schlosser (197) and junior Gerad Fugleberg (285), who won two matches by forfeit.
Joseph leads MSUM with a 22-9 record, while Lewellen is 20-9. Schlosser is 11-9 at 197 pounds for the Dragons.
Kris Nelson is in his fifth season as MSUM’s head coach.
About Northern State
The Wolves, who will face Jamestown in a nonconference match prior to facing MSUM, are 1-1 in duals so far. They lost their last dual 28-9 at Chadron State on Dec. 14, 2013.
Junior Anthony Bruno (125 pounds) leads the Wolves with a 14-7 record, while Joe Gomez (197) and Sean Havlovic (157) are 13-7 on the year.
Pat Timm is in his 13th season as Northern’s head coach.
Youth movement
With some injuries and with senior Angel Vega redshirting, MSUM has had the chance to showcase some of its young wrestlers. At the Grand Canyon duals, MSUM’s lineup featured four true freshmen and a redshirt freshman along with three juniors and two seniors.