The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team heads into a critical stretch of the eight-dual Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule as the Mustangs (8-3, 2-0 NSIC) hit the road to battle MSU Moorhead on Thursday, Jan. 23, before heading to Fayette, Iowa to battle No. 8 Upper Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 26. SMSU will battle the Dragons at 7 p.m. from Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. UIU hosts SMSU in an afternoon showdown starting at 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
SMSU is coming off a 3-1 record at the Midwest Duals hosted by Nebraska-Kearney last weekend. SMSU opened the day with a 37-6 win over Newman University but fell 31-6 to No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney. SMSU rebounded with its biggest win in head coach Jesse Nelson’s seven-year tenure as the Mustangs put together a 22-20 upset win over No. 6 Fort Hays State. SMSU concluded the day with a 30-15 win over Bethany College (Kan.).
CHANGING 100
Justin Reinsma went 5-0 this week and became just the eighth wrestler in Southwest Minnesota State history to record 100 career wins. Reinsma’s 100th career win came in SMSU’s 31-6 loss to No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney at the Midwest Duals on Saturday. He defeated UNK’s Ryan Bauer by a 4-3 decision. Reinsma finished the week with two wins by decision, two by major decision and one win by fall. Reinsma is now 21-9 on the year and has eclipsed the 20-win mark each of the last three seasons. Reinsma led SMSU to its first dual victory over Augustana since the 1998-99 season on Tuesday when he defeated Morgan Engbrecht 6-4. Reinsma was one of five Mustangs to win their respective bouts versus the Vikings as SMSU went on to take the dual 15-14. Reinsma pushed his bout winning streak to six at the Midwest Duals as he won all four of his bouts on Saturday to lead SMSU to a 3-1 record on the day, including a 22-20 upset over No. 6 Fort Hays State. Reinsma defeated Newman University’s Kris Workman by a 10-0 major decision in SMSU’s 37-6 win over the Jets to open the day. Reinsma’s win over UNK’s Bauer was one of two bouts SMSU managed to win against the fourth ranked lopers. Reinsma continued his hot streak as he defeated FHSU’s Symon Seaton by major decision 11-1 to tie the team score at four after two bouts. Reinsma capped his busy day with a pin over Bethany College’s (Kan.) Ty Kolterman at 2:12. Reinsma now owns 102 career wins and passed SMSU’s Scott Dubbledee (101, 1979-84) for sixth on SMSU’s all-time wins list. Randy Dorn (1987-91) sits atop the list with 123 career wins.