MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University third-year head wrestling coach Chayse Jackson announced on Thursday eight high school and two transfer standouts have recently signed letters of intent to continue their academic and wrestling careers at SMSU.
Joining the program for the 2023-24 season include high school seniors Carlo Arreola from Chula Vista, Calif., Chance Burns from Grafton, N.D., Mason Buss from Florence, Ore., Chase Hanson from Fort Pierre, S.D., Cade Lierman from Colon, Neb., Kody Marschner from Braidwood, Ill., AJ Polansky from Belleville, Kan., and Caden Young from Clintonville, Wis., along with transfers Lorenzo Paez from Racine, Wis., and Adam Sylvester from Minneapolis, Minn.
“We are bringing in a wealth of experience from across the country with talented freshmen and transfers rounding out the class,” Jackson said. “I am extremely excited about this year’s class. They have a lot of potential, with several of them expected to find their way into our lineup in their first year. Each of these athletes have the mindset to be successful on the mat and in the classroom. I can’t wait to get them on campus and see them progress over the next few years.”
Arreola is a 2023 graduate of Granite Hills High School and is expected to compete at 125 pounds for SMSU. He was a two-time state qualifier and finished his senior season with a record of 27-8. A CIF champion, Arreola was ranked No. 11 in state of California as a senior and was also a two-time Masters place winner and two-time Fargo qualifier.
Burns is a 2023 graduate of Grafton High School and will compete at either 133 or 141 pounds for the Mustangs. He was a four-time state place winner and ended his career as the program’s all-time leader in victories with 185. Burns, who closed his senior season with a 41-7 record, was also an all-region honoree in both football and baseball.
Buss is expected to compete at 197 pounds for SMSU and is a 2023 graduate of Siuslaw High School. He capped 32-0 senior season with a 3A state championship at 195 pounds. Buss was a four-time state qualifier, three-time state place winner and two-time finalist. A four-year letter winner, Buss closed career with 131 victories.
Hanson is a 2023 graduate of Stanley County High School and will compete at 125 or 133 for SMSU. A 2022 Class B state champion at 120 pounds, Hanson finished third at the 2023 state meet. He was a four-time state place winner and finished his career with 159 victories.
Lierman, a 2023 graduate of Bishop Neumann High School, will compete at 141 pounds for SMSU. He was a conference and district champion as a senior and finished as state runner-up in Class C at 138 pounds. A three-time state qualifier and place winner, Lierman also finished third place at the state meet during his career and was selected to compete at Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star duals.
Marschner is a 2023 graduate of Reed-Custer High School and is expected to compete at 197 or 285 pounds for SMSU. He was a two-time state place winner and three-time all-state honoree, while closing his career with 147 victories. A Greco state champion, Marschner was also an all-state football player at defensive lineman and guard.
Polansky is a 2023 graduate of Republic Country High School and will vie for a spot at 125 pounds for the Mustangs. He was a state champion as a senior at 120 pounds closing with a 43-6 record with 26 wins by fall. A four-time state qualifier, two-time state place winner and four-time regional champion, Polansky closed his career with 154 victories, including 88 by fall.
Young is a 2023 graduate of Shawano Community High School and will compete at SMSU at either 165 or 174 pounds. He was a Division I state runner-up at 170 pounds as a senior and was a two-year state qualifier. A four-time all-conference honoree, he closed career with 129 victories. Young placed fourth at U20 Greco World team trials, was a two-time Greco state champion and was a Fargo finalist.
Paez is a transfer from Itasca Community College where he competed for two seasons and was a 2022 NJCAA national qualifier. A 2021 graduate of Horlick High School, Paez is expected to compete at 133 pounds for SMSU.
Sylvester spent two seasons at Augsburg University and is expected to battle for a spot at either 174 or 184 pounds for SMSU. He finished 18-7 as a freshman with six wins by fall, while recording a 22-5 mark during the 2022-23 season with four wins by major decision, one by fall and two by tech fall. He won the North Central (Ill.) Invite at 174 and was a NWCA Scholar All-American during the 2022-23 season. Sylvester is a 2021 graduate of Totino-Grace High School where he captured the 2021 Class 2A state championship at 170 pounds with a 28-0 record. A four-time state qualifier and two-time state place winner, he closed his career with 157 victories and was a four-time all-conference honoree.
SMSU, located in Marshall, is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
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