MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 8 Minnesota State wrestling team defeated the UW-Parkside Rangers, 20-18, Thursday night at Taylor Center.
 
With the win, the Mavericks start the 2019-20 season with a 1-0 record, while UW-Parkside falls to 1-1.
 
The Mavericks fell behind 9-0 after the first two matches in the dual. At 125 lbs., UWP's Joe Arroyo won by an 11-1 major decision over MSU's Trenton McManus. A 20-5 tech fall win for Airk Furseth over Cole Gille at 133 lbs., gave the Rangers a 9-0 lead.
 
MSU got on the board at 141 lbs., when Louie Sanders defeated Pernevlon Sheppard by an 8-4 decision to make it 9-3. The Mavericks followed that with 8-3 and 9-6 decision wins by Kyle Rathman at 149 lbs., and Cooper Siebrecht at 157 lbs., respectively, to tie things up at 9-9.
 
The Rangers regained a 12-9 lead when Shane Gantz defeated Logan Saltou by an exciting 6-4 decision in sudden victory at 165 lbs.
 
A big 23-8 tech fall win for Zach Johnston at 174 lbs., gave the Mavericks a 14-12 lead, and they held onto the lead the rest of the night. At 184 lbs., MSU's Trevor Turriff won by pinfall over Sherman Dixon in 5:43 to extend the Maverick lead to 20-12.
 
The dual rounded out with Matthew Blome dropping an 8-7 decision at 197 lbs., and Max Villnow dropping a 4-2 decision in sudden victory at heavyweight.
 
The Mavericks head to break now before hitting the mats again Saturday, Jan. 4, when MSU hosts Western Colorado at 12:00 p.m. at Taylor Center.