St. Cloud State Picked in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - St. Cloud State, the nine-time defending NSIC Champions, was the unanimous choice to win the league in the NSIC Preseason Wrestling Coaches' Poll. The Huskies had 81 points and all nine first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) to rank 13 points ahead of Upper Iowa, which was second with 68 points and the other first place vote. Augustana was third with 66 points while Minnesota State was fourth with 61 points. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside, which joined the NSIC this season as an associated member, ranked fifth with 45 points.  

St. Cloud State's Devin Fitzpatrick was voted by the league coaches as the preseason wrestler of the year. Fitzpatrick, a two-time All-American, is the reigning two-time NCAA DII Super Region V Champion at  165 pounds and a two-time All-NSIC selection.

NSIC wrestling schedule gets underway on Thursday, January 7 as team will compete in six duals for the 2020-21 season.

• 2020 and 2019 NCAA Division II Super Region champion at 165-pounds
• NCAA DII championships qualifier in 2020, 2019 and 2018
• A two-time NCAA Division II All-American at 165-pounds
• All-NSIC First Team in 2019-20 and All-NSIC Second Team in 2018-19
• Buena Vista Open champion at 165-pounds in 2019-20
• A three-time NWCA All-Academic award recipient 

NSIC TEAM PREVIEWS & WRESTLERS TO WATCH

Augustana University

10-4, 6-2 NSIC, T-2nd

Jason Reitmeier enters his 18th season at the helm of the Augustana Vikings wrestling program in 2020-21. His roster includes 23 returners from last year’s squad, seven newcomers and also returns eight out of the 10 starters from the NCAA Super Region 5 Tournament. The Vikings also return three national qualifiers in Brandon Carroll (2016-17), Steven Hajas (2019-20) and Hunter Burnett (2019-20) with Burnett being the lone All-American returning. Overall, Reitmeier’s squad is a great mix of youth and experience with seven freshmen, three redshirt freshmen, eight sophomores, two redshirt sophomores, three juniors, one redshirt junior and six seniors. 

Several Vikings are also on the verge of history at Augustana. Daniel Bishop is currently tied for first in career tech falls at Augustana with 22 while seniors Ethan Cota, Jebben Keyes and Jackson Sweeney are all within three wins of 50 for their careers at Augie. 

As a team, the Vikings are poised to build on their success from last season. Tabbed fourth in the 2019-20 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Vikings finished second in the conference with a 6-2 NSIC dual record and 10-4 overall record. At the NCAA Super Region 5 Tournament, Augustana took home third place with 96.5 team points. After a decade of five top-15 finishes at nationals, Augustana is in great shape to start off the new decade in similar fashion. 

• NWCA All-American at 141 pounds
• National Qualifier at 141 pounds
• All-NSIC Second-Team after going 9-2 in NSIC duals
• Earned a first-place finish at the Dakota Wesleyan Open 
• Earned NSIC Wrestler of the Week honors

University of Mary

6-7, 4-4 NSIC, 5th

The University of Mary wrestling team looks to get back on the mat with high expectations to start the 2020-21 season as the Marauders return two All-Americans. The Marauders finished 5th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference last year, posting a record of 6-7 overall and 4-4 in conference duals and earned votes throughout the year in the NWCA national rankings poll. Returning All-Americans Braydon Huber (157) and Phillip Springsteen (174) were both runners-up in the 2020 NCAA DII Super Regional at their respective weight classes. Huber also earned Second-Team All-NSIC honors  at 157 pounds. With Springsteen's All-American recognition last season, he becomes the first two-time NCAA DII All-American at UMary. Several other returners will also play key roles in UMary’s success this season, highlighted by a couple of returning 2020 Regional place winners in Dominic Tudor (285) and Laken Boese (133). Gerardo Jaime (285) is a returning NCAA DII National Qualifier from the 2019 season. Some other notable returners are Jeremy Leintz (125), Trevor Fauver (141), Devin Steidler (149) and Dante Springsteen (165). Head coach Adam Aho looks to push the Marauders wrestling program to new heights with a strong recruiting class featuring Jaden Verhagen (125), Drew Steidler (141), Sam Bruss (157), Aodhan Roche (157), Wyatt Lidberg (174), Jose Reyes (184) and Jack Barry (197).

• NCAA National Championships Qualifier
• Earned the 8th seed at the 2020 NCAA Championships
• 2020 NWCA All-American
• 2nd at 157 pounds at Super Region V Championships
• All-NSIC Second team

Minnesota State University, Mankato

10-3, 6-2 NSIC, T-2nd

The Minnesota State wrestling team will see 20 letterwinners return from last season’s team, including three Mavericks who qualified for the NCAA Championships last season. Veteran head coach Jim Makovsky enters his 32nd season of college coaching with an overall record of 312-139-4. Last season, Minnesota State finished with a 10-3 overall record, including a 6-2 NSIC record. Senior Kyle Rathman (149 lbs.) finished his junior campaign with a 16-4 overall record, including an 11-2 dual record as he went on to claim NWCA All-American honors. Rathman would advance to the NCAA Championships after finishing second at the NCAA Regionals. Junior Trevor Turriff (184 lbs.) posted an 18-6 dual overall record last season and would advance to the NCAA Championships after a second place finish at regionals. Senior Trenton McManus (125 lbs.) notched a 16-10 overall record last season and turned in a third place finish at regionals to advance to the NCAA Championships. Along with Rathman, Turriff and McManus, senior Matthew Blome (197 lbs.) has advanced to the NCAA Championships twice during his career with the Purple and Gold, which included an eighth-place finish and All-American honors as a freshman. Last season, Blome finished with a 15-7 overall record having just missed an invite to the NCAA Championships with a fifth-place finish at regionals. The Mavericks are scheduled to begin their 2020-21 season on the road as they take on the Minot State Beavers on Jan, 7, at 7 p.m. 

• Posted a 16-4 overall record last season, including an 11-2 dual record
• Won six major decisions, one tech fall and two falls
• Held #3 ranking in Division II last year at 149 lbs. before NCAA Championships were cancelled
• Has finished second at the NCAA Super Regionals at 149 lbs. the last two seasons
• Finished seventh at the NCAA Championships in 2019 and received an invite to the NCAA Championships in 2020
• Went 6-2 in NSIC matches last season

Minnesota State University Moorhead

2-9, 1-7 NSIC, T-9th

The MSUM wrestling team returns four placewinners from last year’s region tournament, plus will be boosted by the return of 2018-19 All-American Cole Jones, who sat out 2019-20 with an injury. Jones finished 3-2 at the 2018-19 national championships to earn All-American honors; he finished 29-10 that year. He has a 49-23 record as a Dragon. Junior Braydon Ortloff was a national qualifier in 2019-20 at 165 pounds; he finished third at region and had a 12-9 overall record. Mason Schulz (141), Evan Foster (174) and Steve Abbott (184) also return after placing at region last year. The Dragons are entering the 12th season under the direction of Head Coach Kris Nelson. 

• All-American at 125 pounds in 2018-19
• All-NSIC First Team in 2018-19
• Missed 2019-20 recovering from injury
• Had a 29-10 record in 2018-19, leading the team in wins

Minot State University

6-9, 1-7 NSIC, T-9th

The Minot State Beavers saw the graduation of senior Dean Arvalo, ranked No. 5 in the country, after he made the NCAA Tournament prior to the event being canceled. The Beavers earned a 23rd ranking nationally at the end of the regular season. 

Arvalo’s departure will provide an opportunity for key returners to step into the spotlight. This squad will be experienced and led by senior Jordan Will who is ranked No. 10 by FloWrestling.com’s preseason poll at the heavyweight (285 lb.) class. Will has posted a 33-6 career-record and is ready to go after rebounding from an injury sustained late in last season’s competition. 

MSU had a senior-heavy roster in 2019-20, but with (Jordan) Will, Keegan Berry, Nathan Baca, and Shadi Mitwalli returning, the Beavers hold high expectations entering 2021 within one of the toughest conferences in the country. 

Berry (184 lb.) defeated a returning All-American at Mary, Phil Springsteen, in one of the biggest one-on-one wins for the wrestling program for last season. Nathan Baca, who returns for his junior season, is moving from 165 to potentially 157 and that will give him a chance to have a breakout season. Mitwalli returns as a junior (149 lb.) after having a solid year last year and looks to take off with another year under his belt.

• Had another remarkable season before injuring his knee
• Posted a 13-3 record
• Scored 61 total team points and 69 total match points
• Seven of Will's wins came via decision with another four by fall and one more via tech. fall

Northern State University

9-8, 2-6 NSIC, 7th

The Northern State wrestling team heads into year six under the direction of head coach Rocky Burkett after a 9-8 dual record in 2019-20. The Wolves tallied NSIC dual victories over MSU Moorhead and Minot State, as well as wins over nationally ranked opponents Fort Hays State, New Mexico Highlands, and UNC Pembroke. Northern spent a majority of the season ranked in the NWCA Top-25 or receiving votes, while Dayne Morton, Caden Moore, James Burks, and Marcus Placide each held national rankings during the year. Placide was named to the NSIC All-Conference second team at 184 pounds. Senior Walker Carr punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships at 157 pounds. The Wolves boast one of their largest rosters in recent years with 22 returners and nine freshman and transfers. 

• Went 27-7 overall and 6-2 in the NSIC 
• Won the Jimmie Invite and Finn Grinaker
• Placed third at the DWU Alumni Open
• Named to the NSIC All-Conference second team
• Spent time ranked nationally

Southwest Minnesota State University 

4-7, 3-5 NSIC, 6th

The Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling team will look to surprise skeptics in 2021 when a young—but talented squad—competes in six NSIC duals. The team returns eight individuals who competed in last season’s Super Region V tournament in Sioux Falls and has just one senior and six juniors on the 2021 roster. Headlining the list of returners is senior Jackson Ryan, who qualified for the 2020 NCAA Championships following a third-place finish at 197 in the NCAA Super Regional. Ryan finished the season with 22 victories, including a 5-2 record in NSIC duals. 

Sophomore Hunter Pfantz is also back at 125, following a season in which he won 18 matches, including a 4-1 mark in NSIC bouts, to earn second team All-NSIC honors. Sophomore, Justin Sampson at 141, finished with a winning record in NSIC bouts and recorded 11 victories overall a season ago. Sophomore Jordan Stauffacher, at 133, joined the team at winter semester last season and finished with a 5-1 record in NSIC matches. Another sophomore, Hayden Voxland at 174, won 15 matches a season ago and won four matches in NSIC bouts. Junior Robert Shields at 149, is another Mustang who made big strides a season ago after racking up 16 victories, including a pair in NSIC duals.  Junior Caden Steffen, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, should make an immediate impact at 184 pounds. Steffen recorded 36 victories in open tournaments during his two-year career at Minnesota. 

• National qualifier after finishing the season 22-7 and 5-2 in NSIC duals 
• Went 4-1 at the Buena Vista Open to earn consolation champ
• Went 3-1 at the NCAA Super Regional V
• Led the team in victories by decision with 10

St. Cloud State University

16-0, 8-0 NSIC, 1st 

The St. Cloud State University wrestling team looks to continue its success on the mats during the upcoming 2020-21 season.  The Huskies are the nine-time defending NSIC champions and the four-time defending NCAA DII Super Regional champions.  In 2019-20, SCSU posted a perfect 16-0 overall record and were 8-0 in the NSIC.  The 2020 NWCA Division II National Duals champ, St. Cloud State was the nation’s number one ranked NCAA DII team when the season was ended early due to the COVID crisis.  The Huskies will return five All-Americans to its roster this winter including senior Devin FitzPatrick (165), senior Jake Barzowski (157), junior Garrett Vos (133), junior Noah Ryan (197) and sophomore Joey Bianchini (141), who was named the NSIC Rookie of the Year in 2019-20.  SCSU’s roster will also include senior transfer Kameron Teacher, who was a two-time runner-up at 285-pounds during his tenure at the College of Notre Dame (Ohio).  SCSU will be led this winter by head coach Steve Costanzo, who received the 2019-20 NSIC Coach of the Year award.  The Huskies currently have won 64 consecutive dual meets dating back to Jan. 14, 2017.

• 2020 and 2019 NCAA Division II Super Region champion at 165-pounds
• NCAA DII championships qualifier in 2020, 2019 and 2018
• A two-time NCAA Division II All-American at 165-pounds
• All-NSIC First Team in 2019-20 and All-NSIC Second Team in 2018-19
• Buena Vista Open champion at 165-pounds in 2019-20
• A three-time NWCA All-Academic award recipient 

Upper Iowa University

12-5, 5-3 NSIC, 4th

The Peacock wrestling team returns a pair of NCAA Division II National Qualifiers from last year’s squad. All-American Chase Luensman returns for his second season on the mat and Dalton Hahn, a two-time NCAA National Qualifier, is back for his fourth season with the Peacocks. Additionally, Upper Iowa returns seven wrestlers that won 20 or more matches in 2019-20. The group of seven includes Tate Murty, Donny Schmit, Mac Spotts, Jordan Baumler, Jacob Niichel and two more Peacocks that wrestled unattached a season ago. Myron Crawford and Spotts were just one win away from earning a berth into the NCAA Division II Championships last season and Phil Ihde was a starter at 125 prior to an injury.

UIU placed second at the NCAA Super Region V Championships and qualified five for the NCAA Championships including three seniors; Nick Baumler, Justin Folley and Triston Westerlund. The Peacocks finished the year with a 12-5 record in duals and a 5-3 mark in the NSIC and extended their streak of placing at the NWCA Dual Meet Championships to nine-straight years thanks to a seventh-place effort. Upper Iowa is excited to get on the mat in the upcoming season and battle toward the ultimate goal of hoisting an NCAA trophy in mid-March. The Peacocks will open their season with a home dual against the Wolves of Northern State University on Thursday, Jan. 7.

• Posted a mark of 30-9 as a true freshman at 149 pounds
• Earned an NCAA Division II All-American honor after qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships
• Claimed runner-up honors at the NCAA Super Region V Tournament
• Registered 12 bonus-point wins with three falls, four tech falls and five majors
• Earned NWCA Division II Scholar All-American honors

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

7-6

Parkside wrestling, who was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC, is set to open the 2021 season on Thursday, Jan. 9 under the direction of third year head coach Dr. Corey VanGroll ‘09. The Rangers officially joined the NSIC in November as an associated member, one year earlier than previously announced.  

The Rangers went 7-6 last season and sent three wrestlers to the NCAA II Championships in Joe Arroyo (125), Airk Furseth (133) and Shane Gantz (165). While the two-time All-American Furseth graduated, the NCAA II Super Region V Champion Arroyo returns for his senior season after going 24-8 last year and Gantz returns as a junior after going 18-9 last season.  

Other leading returners for the Rangers include redshirt-junior Nathan Hensley (20-15), senior Rodsean Graham (16-16), sophomore Sherman Dixon (7-7), redshirt-freshman Torry Early (7-6), redshirt-sophomore Lucas Schevikoven (12-5) and redshirt-sophomore Nate Lloyd (10-17). Hensley and Graham each finished sixth at the NCAA II Super Region V while the Rangers finished in fifth place as a team.  

In 2021, Parkside will have home duals with Augustana (Jan. 9), Southwest Minnesota State (Jan. 21) and St. Cloud State (Feb. 4). The Rangers will hit the road to face Northern State (Jan. 14), Upper Iowa (Jan. 28) and Minnesota State (Feb. 11). Last year, Parkside faced Augustana (L, 20-15), Minnesota State (L, 20-18) and MSU-Moorhead (W, 28-13).  

• Finished 24-8 overall at 125-pounds in 2019-20 with four technical falls and 12 major decisions
• Finished as the NCAA II Super Region V Champion
• He was a 2020 NCAA Division II National Qualifier