No. 13 Minnesota State Wrestling Gears Up for Dual Season Opener in South Dakota
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Minnesota State University wrestling, currently ranked No. 13 nationally by the NWCA, will launch its dual season this weekend with a two-match road trip to Sioux falls, South Dakota, facing the University of Sioux Falls on Friday, December 5th at 7 p.m. and Augustana University on Saturday, December 6th at 2 p.m.
The Mavericks concluded the 2023-24 season with an 8-5 overall record, achieving a 5-4 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) duals. Notably, minnesota State qualified three wrestlers – Drake Hayward, Colton Hush, and Caleb Meunier – for the NCAA Division II Championships, and all three return for the current season, bolstering the team’s competitive strength.
Individual Rankings Highlight Maverick Talent
Several Minnesota State wrestlers boast notable individual rankings. Chase Beckett currently holds the No. 12 spot at 133 pounds, while Colton Hush is ranked No. 13 at 141 pounds. walker Bents is a strong contender at 149 pounds, earning a No.9 ranking.Caleb meunier is positioned at No. 6 in the 157-pound class, and Ugly Marko checks in at No. 14 for 165 pounds. Leading the charge is Drake Hayward, ranked No. 3 at 174 pounds. The NSIC itself is a powerhouse in collegiate wrestling, currently leading the nation with 27 ranked wrestlers.
Makovsky Enters 33rd Season at the Helm
Leading the Mavericks is head coach Jim Makovsky, who is embarking on his 33rd season. He has amassed an impressive 313-145-3 record during his tenure at Minnesota State. Last season, the team demonstrated resilience, going 4-1 in away matches. This fall, the Mavericks participated in four invitationals, with Bents, Meunier, and Hayward each securing victories in their respective weight classes at the Pointer Open on November 1st, repeating their championship performances from the previous year. More recently, Beckett and Callen Smithpeter achieved second-place finishes at the Augsburg Invite in Minneapolis on November 23rd.
Scouting Sioux Falls: A Familiar Opponent
Minnesota State previously defeated Sioux Falls by a decisive 37-6 margin on December 13,2024,in Sioux Falls. Makovsky highlighted the promising performances of Jacob Fitzpatrick, walker bents, Evan Farley, and Jesus Gonzalez, all newcomers to the squad last fall.
The Cougars currently hold a 0-0 record, having competed in three invitationals since November 2nd. At the Augsburg Invite on November 22nd, three USF wrestlers earned placements: Jordan Oehme finished second at 141 pounds with a 3-1 record, cooper Sanders secured third place at 157 pounds (also 3-1), and Luke Swanson achieved a second-place finish at 154 pounds with a 3-1 record.
Head coach Matt Meuleners is in his third season, having overseen significant improvement within the program.The Cougars finished 6-11 overall last season,a marked improvement from their 2-12 record in their inaugural NCAA Division II season.
Scouting Augustana: A Challenging Matchup
Augustana enters the weekend with a 0-2 record, having faced tough competition in a pair of invitationals. The Vikings suffered a 46-0 defeat to NCAA Division I opponent and No. 17 ranked South Dakota State on November 14th in Brookings, South Dakota, and later lost to no. 11 Central Oklahoma 28-12 at home.
Last season, Augustana finished with a 10-8 overall record, including a 7-2 mark in conference duals. Their match against Minnesota State on Febuary 8th in Mankato was particularly dramatic, with the Vikings securing a narrow 19-17 victory after Max Balow defeated smithpeter 5-1 at 285 pounds. Despite the loss, several current Mavericks recorded wins in that meet, including chase Beckett, Colton Hush, Caleb Meunier, Drake Hayward, and Evan Farley.
