MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will hold its annual Brown and Gold dual this Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the PE Gym in preparation of the 2019-20 season.
Jesse Nelson begins his 13th season as head coach of the Mustangs begins the season with an overall record of 82-95-1 at the helm of the SMSU wrestling program.
SMSU finished last season 1-8 overall with a conference mark of 1-7.
The 2019-20 roster features a total of 32 athletes, including six seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, eight redshirt freshmen and 10 true freshmen. The Mustangs return four wrestlers who competed at the NCAA Super Regional last February.
Senior Cole Hennen was named an NSIC “Wrestler to Watch.” At 184 pounds, Hennen is a three-year conference wrestler with an overall record of 51-36 and is 13-9 in the NSIC. Hennen finished fourth a season ago at the Super Regional finishing 2-2, and has placed at two of the three Super Regionals he has competed in. He recorded two victories in conference matches last season, both decision victories at Minnesota State and in SMSU’s lone conference victory versus MSU Moorhead.
Amongst Hennen, are experienced seniors, 133-pounder Brock Buysse and heavyweight, Andrew Petersen. Buysse went 5-17 a season ago and 1-7 in NSIC and Petersen racked up 18 bout victories and went 3-5 in NSIC matches.
Sophomore Ben Emrich at 125, also competed in the NCAA Super Regional going 1-2. Emrich finished 12-13 overall as a true freshman and tied for a team-high wins by fall with seven.
Southwest Minnesota State opens the 2019-20 season on Nov. 9 at the Dakota Wesleyan Open. SMSU will open conference duals on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at St. Cloud State at 7 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall and will have the home opener on Friday. Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. versus Northern State.
Check out Mustangs Wrestling at smsumustangs.com and on Twitter.