MOORHEAD, Minn. — The MSUM wrestling team will travel to Minot on Thursday for an NSIC dual match-up with the Minot State Beavers. First match is set to begin at 7 p.m. from the Minot State Dome.
The Dragons are coming off a tough stretch last weekend, battling two ranked teams in 11th-ranked UMary and ninth-ranked Upper Iowa. MSUM fell in both duals, putting their record at 1-5 for the year with an 0-4 NSIC mark. However, MSUM has won 11 consecutive duals against the Beavers with last year’s match-up canceled.
Clayson Mele led the Dragons last weekend with a win over Upper Iowa’s Colby Lopez. In the decision victory, the sophomore gathered his 12th win of the season, which leads MSUM in 2022-23. Mele’s 11-4 win over Lopez came thanks to four takedowns and over two minutes of riding time. Samuel Grove also picked up a win on Saturday by forfeit. The Dragon 197-pounder now has five wins on his record this season.
Mele, Caleb Vacura, Gunnar Mogen and Parker Benz all have four wins by fall this season, which is tied for the team lead. Mogen also leads the Dragons with two technical falls in his sophomore campaign. Anthony Castro leads MSUM with two major decision wins this season to go along with two pinfall victories.
Kris Nelson is in his 14th season as head coach of MSUM.
Know Your Enemy
The Beavers sit at 5-5 in dual competition with an 0-2 mark in conference duals. In the latest NWCA poll (published December 23, 2022), the Beavers were not ranked, but received six votes in the poll. Minot State has had a flurry of duals so far in 2023, competing at the Tracy Borah Duals at the beginning of the month. That four-dual stretch saw the Beavers go 2-2 with wins over San Francisco State and New Mexico Highlands. Minot State dropped two duals in that same span to Western Colorado and Colorado State-Pueblo.
In NSIC action last weekend, Minot State fell to both Augustana (37-9) and 21st-ranked Northern State (32-10). Both of those dual losses came on the road. Ethan Wonser (141 pounds) and Shane Hansen (heavyweight) picked up wins for the Beavers against the Vikings. Against the Wolves, two more Beavers picked up wins in Nathan Baca (157 pounds) and Jake Swirple (heavyweight). The sophomore Swirple is currently the eighth-ranked heavyweight in the country according to the NWCA individual rankings. According to InterMat, Swirple is ranked 11th in the country at heavyweight.
Evan Forde is in his seventh season as head coach of Minot State.
MSUM Probable Lineup
125 – Clayson Mele (12-7, 2-2 NSIC)
133 – Thomas Carrillo (11-9, 2-2 NSIC)
141 – Hunter Hayes (2-8, 1-3 NSIC)
149 – Jacob Davis (2-5, 1-3 NSIC)
157 – Peyton Ringling (3-10, 0-4 NSIC)
165 – Jonas Anez (9-15, 0-4 NSIC)
174 – Anthony Castro (8-6, 1-3 NSIC)
184 – Caleb Vacura (4-10, 0-4 NSIC)
197 – Samuel Grove (5-8, 1-3 NSIC)
HWT – Andre Baguma (2-3) OR Airin Spell (3-4, 1-3 NSIC)
Minot State Probable Lineup
125 – Oscar Nellis OR Dylan McDonald
133 – James Davis OR Logen Fischer
141 – Ethan Wonser OR Isaac Ortega
149 – Kelby Armstrong
157 – Nathan Baca
165 – Brendan Barnes OR Austin Frantzich
174 – Cannon Potts OR Brody Mohr
184 – Cayden White OR Shane Hansen
197 – Dustin Swisher
285 – #8 Jake Swirple
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