Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs

Mustangs prepare for Super Regions on Saturday

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will compete at the NCAA Super Regional V Tournament this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. inside Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, S.D.

The NCAA Super Regional Tournament V features all 10 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams. The top three finishers at each weight class will qualify for the NCAA Championships, with the fourth-place finisher serving as an alternate in the class. The NCAA Championships will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, starting on Friday, March 10, and running through Saturday, March 11.

The Super Regional V Tournament will have seven teams that, as of Feb. 18, rank in the Top 25 according to the NWCA Rankings. The five-time national champion St. Cloud State University Huskies enter the tournament ranked No. 3 in the country behind last year’s national runner-up, No. 1 Central Oklahoma, and No. 2 Lander. UW-Parkside comes in ranked sixth, with Upper Iowa three spots behind at No. 9. UMary (No. 12), Augustana (No. 19), Northern State (No. 22), and SMSU (No. 23) all find themselves ranked in the top 25, with Minnesota State receiving votes for the national poll.

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Dykes top 10, SMSU and Steffen each fall in NWCA Poll

MANHEIM, Pa. – After concluding its dual season against St. Cloud State University this past Thursday, the Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team fell one spot to No. 23 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Poll released on Friday.

SMSU is one of seven NSIC schools ranked in the NWCA Top 25 with St. Cloud State leading the way, claiming the No. 3 spot in the rankings, Parkside comes in at No. 6, Upper Iowa is the final NSIC team in the top 10 at No. 9, UMary lands at 12, Augustana is ranked No. 19, while Northern State placed at No. 22.

Caden Steffen dropped one spot to No. 3 in the rankings at 184. The junior wrestler is 16-2 on the season and 3-1 in duals. Steffen has been named NSIC Wrestler of the Week twice this season, on Nov. 11 Steffen won the award after placing first at the Dakota Wesleyan tournament and he won the award again on Dec. 19 after placing first at the Midwest Classic.

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NWCA NCAA DII Rankings – February 17, 2023

MANHEIM, Pa.- Heading into the postseason, the Central Oklahoma Bronchos narrowly held onto the top spot in Division II wrestling, in the latest edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Jan. 20 by the Association.

Just two points separate the Bronchos from #2 Lander, with UCO coming in with 82 points and the Bearcats 80. Central Oklahoma has a poll-high nine ranked wrestlers, highlighted by the nation’s top heavyweight in Shawn Streck. St. Cloud State and West Liberty are tied for the third place spot (64 points), with defending National Champion Nebraska-Kearney rounding out the top five with 59 points.

Behind UCO’s nine ranked wrestlers, the Huskies of St. Cloud State have eight ranked individuals, highlighted by 2021 National Champion Abner Romero in the top spot at 174. Lander features seven ranked wrestlers, led by reigning National Champion Zeth Brower at the top of the 141 ranking.

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St. Cloud State 48, Southwest Minnesota State 0

Huskies win all ten bouts with seven bonus-point wins in regular-season finale

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 5 St. Cloud State Wrestling dominated No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday evening at Halenbeck Hall, winning all ten bouts with seven bonus-point wins en route to a 48-0 regular-season finale. The Huskies led 19-1 in takedowns and recorded three nearfalls to the Mustangs’ zero, recording four falls, a major decision and a tech fall alongside a forfeit at 133.

No. 7 Paxton Creese went to work right away in the first match of the night at 125, earning a fall of Ben Emrich. Creese built up a 6-2 lead through two and began the final period down, quickly winning a scramble to turn around into a reversal. The junior found himself in a great position and finished things off by sticking Emrich early in the third. Robby Horsman earned a forfeit win at 133, extending the lead to 12-0. No. 11 Alyeus Craig added a 5-3 decision over Hunter Pfantz at 141, wrestling strong on his feet to grind out the win.

Cameron Riggs went to work quickly at 149 in a match with Tyler Soltau, winning a quick scramble near the edge of the circle and dragging him down for two. Riggs rode out the first, then earned his escape in the second before adding two takedowns before the end of the period. The senior scored two more takedowns in the third to lock in a 12-4 major decision.

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Mustangs end dual season against No. 5 Huskies

MARSHALL, Minn. – The No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (1-5, 1-5 NSIC) will travel to St. Cloud for its final dual meet of the season on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS: SMSU has two wrestlers ranked in the NWCA rankings (Jan. 20). Caden Steffen leads the way for the Mustangs, ranking second at 184 pounds. Steffen is 16-2 on the season and 3-1 in duals. Steffen has been named NSIC Wrestler of the Week twice this season, on Nov. 11 Steffen won the award after placing first at the Dakota Wesleyan tournament and won the award again on Dec. 19 after placing first at the Midwest Classic. … Jacob Dykes entered the NWCA rankings at No. 11 after defeating the reigning national champion Darrell Mason by a 3-1 decision. Dykes was the first to defeat Mason since Mason joined division II and was named the NSIC Wrestler of the Week for his victory (Jan. 16) … SMSU has also been recognized for its team success, as the NWCA ranks the Mustangs at No. 22.

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