MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (7-12, 3-4 NSIC) will host its final NSIC match this Saturday when they face MSU Moorhead (4-8, 1-4 NSIC) on Saturday at 3 p.m., in the PE Gym.
The Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons received votes in the NWCA’s Feb. 1 poll despite now ranking seventh overall in the NSIC with a 1-4 league record following Sunday’s 21-12 loss at U-Mary. The Dragons’ 2016-17 roster features Blake Bosch, the second-ranked wrestler in the nation for the 133 weight class in the Feb. 1 NWCA coaches’ poll. MSU Moorhead has lost five of six dual matches with its lone NSIC win coming over Northern State on Jan. 27.
MSU Moorhead leads the all-time series 20-25-1, but Southwest Minnesota State has won five of the last six meetings including a 22-21 victory last season which was decided by a total match points tiebreaker (SMSU held the 45-41 advantage in match points).
Kegen Fingalsen is 20-13 (6-1 NSIC) with three pins and three major decisions… Cole Hennen is 18-11 (3-2 NSIC) with eight tech falls, three pins, and two major decisions… Cortez Arredondo is 16-16 with two pins, three tech falls and one major decision … Jackson Ryan has posted a 14-11 mark with four pins and four major decisions.
LAST TIME OUT:
Southwest Minnesota State was unable to extend on a two-match win streak after a 24-12 loss at Minnesota State Mankato last Thursday night but rebounded nicely in a 25-14 win over No. 19 Northern State.
SMSU at Minnesota State Mankato- The Mustangs entered the match coming off of back-to-back conference wins last weekend, but SMSU was unable to recover from a dominant start from Minnesota State. The Mavericks won the first five weight classes including a major decision from Andrew McFall to begin the evening.
Kegen Fingalsen won his fifth consecutive dual with a 9-6 decision at 165 before Adam Cooling, who came into the night as the third-ranked wrestler at 174 in the country, defeated Cody Heitman by tech fall. Jackson Ryan won a close 5-4 decision at 197 which was followed by a win by fall from Quinn Bullard at 285, but it was too little too late for SMSU as the Mavericks improved to 6-0 in conference matches and 8-3 overall with the win.
SMSU at Northern State- After Taylor Curtis won a 5-2 decision at 125, Northern State was forced to forfeit the 133 weight class which was then followed by a 9-4 decision from Trent Butcher at 141. SMSU then went up 17-3 when Jake Slocum won by a 17-0 tech fall at 157. Coming out of an intermission, Kegen Fingalsen won his sixth straight dual in a 3-2 decision to put the Mustangs up 20-3. Trent Butcher won by an 18-0 tech fall at 184 to help the Mustangs’ secure their third Northern Sun win of the season.
Top Performers
-Kegen Fingalsen went 2-0 for a third straight weekend and has now won six straight duals
-Fingalsen is now 6-1 against NSIC competition
-Jake Slocum and Cole Hennen both won by tech fall in win over Northern State
NSIC STANDINGS (as of 2/6):
| SCHOOL | CONF | CPCT. | OVERALL | PCT. | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud State | 5-0 | 1.000 | 14-1 | 0.933 | W7 |
| Augustana | 4-0 | 1.000 | 11-5 | 0.688 | W5 |
| Minnesota State Mankato | 5-1 | 0.833 | 8-4 | 0.667 | L1 |
| Upper Iowa | 5-2 | 0.714 | 9-4 | 0.692 | L2 |
| Southwest Minnesota State | 3-4 | 0.429 | 7-12 | 0.368 | W1 |
| U-Mary | 2-4 | 0.333 | 6-7 | 0.462 | W1 |
| MSU Moorhead | 1-4 | 0.200 | 4-8 | 0.333 | L1 |
| Northern State | 0-5 | 0.000 | 4-10 | 0.286 | L5 |
| Minot State | 0-5 | 0.000 | 3-14 | 0.176 | L4 |
PRESEASON NSIC POLL
Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish tied for seventh in the NSIC preseason poll.
UP NEXT
The Mustangs will host their final home match and final NSIC dual of the season on Saturday at 3 p.m., in the PE Gym.