MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (0-2) hosts Augsburg University (7-0) in a non-conference dual on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the PE Gym. Augsburg University, a DIII university located in Minneapolis, Minn., is a par† of the MIAC and is ranked No. 1, according to the NWCA, through Jan. 10.

CATCHING UP WITH THE MUSTANGS — The Mustangs dropped the second conference dual of the season on Thursday night at Northern State. SMSU fell 22-16 despite four Mustangs earning bout victories as Cortez Arredondo earned the first victory of the night with a 9-1 major decision victory over NSU’s Walker Carr. Kegen Finalsen kept it rolling with a 5-1 decision victory over Billy Holtan at 165 and Dru Kuchenbaker won over Jake Flakus with a medical forfeit at 5:32. The Mustangs dropped the next two bouts before Andrew Petersen finished the night with a victory over Harrison Townsend in sudden victory. Arredondo is ranked at No. 8 in the last NWCA DII Rankings released on Jan. 11.

AUGSBURG — Augsburg enters the dual undefeated at 7-0 this season and is ranked No. 1, according to the NWCA. Eight wrestlers are ranked in the top 10 with Lucas Jenske leading the way at the top spot at 165. Ryan Epps is ranked No. 2 157, David Flynn holds the No. 3 spot at 141, Victor Gliva, Sam Bennyhoff, and Lance Benick are at No. 4 at 125, 133, and 197. Tanner Vassar comes in at No. 5 at 174, and Alex Wilson closes out the rankings at No. 7 at 149. Head coach, Jim Moulsoff, is in his fifth year as head coach and his 12th year on the Augsburg staff. He has compiled a 55-12 record as head coach.

Augsburg at Southwest Minnesota State Live Video

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AUGSBURG HISTORY — Augsburg leads the series 25-3 dating back to the 1972-73. The last meeting occurred in the 2015-16 season with a 31-11 Auggie victory. Augsburg has won the last 23 duals with the last Mustang victory occurring in the 1987-88 season with a 19-18 final score.

HEAD COACH — Jesse Nelson is in his 12th season as head coach at SMSU in 2018-19. Nelson was named the fourth coach in the program history on Aug. 22, 2007. Nelson, the 2013-14 NSIC Coach of the Year, Nelson has a career dual record of 81-89-1, including 30-52 in conference matches. During his tenure, Nelson has groomed 20 national qualifiers–including three two-time qualifiers and three three-time qualifiers–along with 11 All-NSIC honorees.

UP NEXT — Southwest Minnesota State will be back in action hosting Upper Iowa and Augustana next weekend in conference matches. SMSU takes on Upper Iowa on Friday at 7 p.m. and Augustana on Saturday at 7 p.m., both in the PE Gym.

SMSU Probable Line Up:
 125 — Willie Meine, 4-10
133 — Brock Buysse, 5-9
141 — Riley Altenburg, 4-9
149 — Justin Haneke, 5-6
157 — No. 8 Cortez Arredondo, 17-4
165 — Kegen Fingalsen, 12-8
174 — Dru Kuchenbaker, 8-4
184 — Cole Hennen, 10-6
197 — Ben Thompson, 7-10
285 — Andrew Petersen, 16-6

Augsburg Probable Line Up
 125 — No. 4 Victor Gliva, 12-3
133 — No. 4 Sam Bennyhoff, 10-1
141 — No. 3 David Flynn, 10-1
149 — No. 7 Alex Wilson, 17-2
157 — No. 2 Ryan Epps, 17-1
165 — No. 1 Lucas Jeske, 4-0
174 — No. 5 Tanner Vassar, 7-3
184 — Solomon Nielsen, 13-3
197 — No. 4 Lance Benick, 13-2
HWT — Ethan Hofacker, 10-9

SMSU is also sending eleven wrestlers to the Ridgewater Open in Willmar, Minn. beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

125 — Ben Emrich – Unattached
125 — Hunter Pfantz – Unattached
133 — Justin Sampson – Unattached
141 — Lorenzo Diaz – Unattached
149 — Robert Shields
157 — Jordan Peterson – Unattached
157 — Kevin Bostwick – Unattached
174 — Hayden Voxland – Unattached
197 — Neil Hanson
197 — Jacob Dykes – Unattached
285 — Gage Wevley – Unattached

Check out Mustangs Wrestling at smsumustangs.com and on Twitter.

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