MANKATO, Minn. – No. 13 Minnesota State wrestling begins dual season with a trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Mavericks will face University of Sioux Falls on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., then Augustana on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
 
Minnesota State wrestling was ranked No. 13 in the NWCA NCAA Division II Men's Coaches' Rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 20. The Mavericks finished last season 8-5 overall, including 5-4 in NSIC duals. MSU qualified three wrestlers to the NCAA Division II Championships. All three (Drake Hayward, Colton Hush and Caleb Meunier) returned this season.
 
Among individuals, Chase Beckett is ranked No. 12 at 133 pounds. Hush is ranked No. 13 at 141 pounds. Walker Bents is ranked No. 9 at 149 pounds. Meunier is ranked No. 6 at 157 pounds. Kole Marko is ranked No. 14 at 165 pounds. Hayward is ranked No. 3 at 174 pounds. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has the most ranked wrestlers in the country with 27.
 
Head coach Jim Makovsky is in his 33^rd season at the helm. He holds a 313-145-3 record at Minnesota State. The Mavericks finished 8-5 last season, including 5-4 in the NSIC and 4-1 away from home.

The Mavericks have seen competition in four invites this fall. Bents, Meunier and Hayward won at their respective weight classes at the Pointer Open on Nov. 1 to repeat as champions from 2024. Most recently, Beckett and Callen Smithpeter each took second place at the Augsburg Invite on Nov. 23 in Minneapolis.
 
SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS
The Mavericks defeated Sioux Falls 37-6 on Dec. 13, 2024 in Sioux Falls. Makovsky praised the performances of Jacob Fitzpatrick, Walker Bents, Evan Farley, and Jesus Gonzalez, all new to the squad last fall.
 
The Cougars are 0-0 with competition in three invites since Nov. 2. Three USF wrestlers placed at the Augsburg Invite on Nov. 22. Jordan Oehme took second place with a 3-1 record at 141 pounds. Cooper Sanders earned third place at 157 pounds and went 3-1. Luke Swanson finished 3-1 for second place at 154 pounds.
 
Head coach Matt Meuleners is in his third season. He oversaw marked improvement last fall as the Cougars finished 6-11 overall. USF was 2-12 overall a year prior in the team's first NCAA Division II season.
 
SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
The Vikings are 0-2 and have competed in a pair of invites. The Vikings fell 46-0 to NCAA Division I and No. 17 ranked South Dakota State on Nov. 14 in Brookings, South Dakota. Augustana also lost to No. 11 Central Oklahoma 28-12 at home.
 
Last season, the Vikings finished 10-8 overall, including 7-2 in conference duals. Action came down to the final weight class between Minnesota State and Augustana last season in Mankato (Feb. 8). The Vikings came back to win 19-17 after Max Balow won by decision over Smithpeter 5-1 at 285 pounds. Current Mavericks to notch wins in the meet included Chase Beckett, Colton Hush, Caleb Meunier, Drake Hayward and Evan Farley.