Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs

NSIC Cancels Fall Competition & Championships; Suspends All Sports Competition Through December 31

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – In light of the NCAA Board of Governors’ decision to direct all institutions and conferences to meet specific requirements to conduct fall sports and the NCAA Division II Presidents Council’s announcement that all NCAA Division II fall championships are canceled, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s Board of Directors has canceled NSIC fall competition & championships, and has suspended all athletic competition through December 31, 2020.

The NSIC recognizes the value an NCAA championship experience provides for student-athletes and that was a factor in the analysis. However, health and safety concerns prevailed in the league’s decision. Additionally, current recommendations for testing, exposure, and quarantine make it very difficult for a season to be successfully completed at an institution or across the conference without severe disruptions.

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SMSU Adds Transfer To 2020-21 Signing Class

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head wrestling coach Jesse Nelson announced today that Caden Steffen, a native of Zumbrota, Minn., has transferred from the University of Minnesota and will continue his academic and wrestling career at SMSU.

“Caden will be a great addition to the program,” Nelson said. “Caden’s dedication to the classroom and mat will fit our team goals. We are very excited to have him on board.”

Steffen competed the past two seasons at 184 pounds for the Gopher wrestling program, compiling 36 victories during open tournaments. He finished 17-6 during the 2018-19 season with four wins by fall, five by major decision and one by tech fall. He closed with a 19-10 record in 2019-20, which included a third place finish at the Last Chance Open. Steffen recorded with one win by fall, three by major decision and one by tech fall last season.

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Mustangs add six more signees for 2020-21 season

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head wrestling coach Jesse Nelson announced the signing of six student-athletes who will continue their academic and wrestling careers at SMSU.

The six newcomers joining the 2020-21 roster include Nye Becker (Browerville, Minn.), Isaac Dixon (Spirit Lake, Iowa), Miles Fitzgerald (Dunnell, Minn.), Tallin Johnson (St. James, Minn.), Caleb Pesta (Long Prairie, Minn.) and Luke Peterson (Farmington, Minn.).

The six signings join Jace Paplow from Dundee, Minn., who signed with SMSU this past November.

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NWCA Division II Coaches Group Announces 2020 All-America Teams

Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced the 2020 Division II All-American teams. Each year the NWCA recognizes the outstanding work of the DII Student-athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championship, however, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the championships were canceled.

All-American honors were based on each wrestler’s overall body of work through the super-regional tournaments and up to the national championships.

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2019-20 NSIC Winter All-Academic Teams Announced

BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced that 50 wrestlers have earned NSIC All-Academic honors for the 2019-20 winter athletic season; 22 wrestlers were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence, while 28 earned NSIC All-Academic Team honors.

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NCAA Update on COVID-19 and the NCAA DII and DIII Wrestling Championships

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and the NCAA COVID-19 advisory panel. Based on their advice and NCAA President Mark Emmert’s discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, the decision has been made to conduct upcoming championship events with only essential staff and limited family attendance.

This includes the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday and Saturday.

Both tournaments will be streamed live on ncaa.com.

Mustang’s Ryan receives preliminary round draw

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The NCAA Division II wrestling committee has announced the brackets for the 2020 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D. The two-day championship will be held on March 14-15 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

Southwest Minnesota State University’s 197-pounder, Jackson Ryan, will compete in the preliminary round facing Wade French (23-3) from Chadron State.

Ryan, a native of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., went 3-1 last weekend at the NCAA Super Regional V in his first appearance. Ryan, who earned a medical red-shirt last season after sustaining an injury to his knee.

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