MANKATO, Minn.- Minnesota State (8-4, 5-1 NSIC) will host the Northern State Wolves Thursday evening before traveling to take on Augustana in its final NSIC dual.
The Mavericks will host Northern State at Taylor Center Thursday, at 7:00 p.m. on Senior Night. Minnesota State seniors will be recognized prior to the start of the dual for their contributions to the team and their successes as student-athletes. The Mavericks have been impressive in front of the local audience at Taylor Center this season holding a 5-0 record at home.
The latest regional and national polls have seen individual Mavericks gain recognition. Redshirt-freshman Andrew McFall is ranked 12th nationally at 125, and senior Adam Cooling is third at 174. Sophomore Paul Selman (8th), redshirt-freshman Louie Sanders (5th), sophomore Daniel Close (7th), junior Corey Abernathy (5th), and freshman Matthew Blome (5th) are all ranked regionally for Minnesota State.
The first dual of the week will see the Mavericks take the mat against the #19 Northern State Wolves. The Wolves hold an overall record of 4-10 and are 0-5 in NSIC duals. The Northern State roster boasts several nationally ranked wrestlers in Tyler Stenberg at 149 (11th), Sean Havlovic at 165 (8th), and Joe Gomez at 197 (4th). Blake Perryman is ranked sixth regionally for the Wolves at the 157 weight class. In the the last dual between Minnesota State and Northern State, the Mavericks came away with a 33-6 win, taking eight out of 10 weight classes including wins by current Mavericks senior Trevor Schultz, sophomore Paul Selman, senior Brad Maas, and senior Adam Cooling.
On Saturday the Mavericks will travel to South Dakota to take on the Vikings. Augustana currently holds an 11-5 record, and is 5-0 in conference duals, and is currently receiving votes in the national coach's poll. The Vikings will have a conference match-up prior to facing the Mavericks when they wrestle MSU Moorhead on Friday. Augustana has wrestlers ranked in eight weight classes regionally while Junior Aero Amo is ranked fifth nationally at 184. Minnesota State and Augustana duals have yielded close results in the last two seasons with the Vikings winning in 2014-15 by a 19-18 score, and the Mavericks having the edge last season with a 19-16 victory.
After competing in this week's duals, The Mavericks will not wrestle again until the NCAA DII Super Region 3 Championships in Moorhead, Minn. February 24-25.
For live video vs. Northern State University, click HERE.
For live video vs. Augustana, HERE.
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