Hello Mustang Fans!

The days have been quiet in the Southwest Minnesota State University Department of Athletics.

Our winter teams are approaching the end of a seven-day winter break with no practices, workouts or competition. They can begin practicing again Monday.

Coach Bigler on E:60

If you have not been able to watch the E:60 feature on the Bigler Family on ESPNU, here are the times it will be on the rest of this month: Dec. 27 (5:00 p.m.), Dec. 29 (11:00 p.m.) and Dec. 31 (6:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.).

It is a compelling feature that will touch your heart.

Gold Rush Raffle

Mark your calendars, the Gold Rush Raffle will be held Feb. 14 in the Conference Center Ballroom.

Last year, the Gold Rush Raffle raised a little more than $53,000. This year, the committee has set a goal of raising more than $75,000 with all proceeds going to aid the Mustang Booster Club’s effort to support SMSU Athletic Scholarships.

The Mustang Booster Club contributed $100,000 to athletic scholarships in 2012-13.

One change the committee has made is this year’s Gold Rush Raffle ticket prices, which will increase to $75. The $50 ticket price has been in place for 10 years, and the committee felt it was time to increase the price of the raffle tickets based on inflationary increases of expenses and the value Mustang Supporters find in the event and raffle.

Tickets will be available for purchase starting Jan. 1, 2014.

Check the SMSU athletics website, www.smsumustangs.com, for all the latest information on Mustang athletics and Gold Rush Raffle ticket information.

Upcoming SMSU Athletic Events

The SMSU men’s basketball team (7-5 overall, 4-2 NSIC) and women’s basketball team (2-8 overall, NSIC 0-6) will be in action next weekend. On Friday, the Mustangs welcome Northern State to the R/A Facility with the women’s game starting at 6 p.m., and the men’s game following at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Minnesota State-Moorhead comes to Marshall with the start times being 5 and 7 p.m.

The SMSU wrestling team (3-2 in dual meets) will host an NSIC dual match versus Minot State at 4 p.m. Jan. 11 in the P.E. Gym.

The SMSU wheelchair basketball team (3-9 overall) will have its next competition on Jan. 17-18 when it travels to Champaign, Ill., to compete in the University of Illinois Tournament. The Mustangs will battle Illinois, Arizona and Wisconsin-Whitewater that weekend.

The SMSU men’s and women’s indoor track and field team will compete for the first time at the Minnesota State Alumni Open hosted by Minnesota State University at 11 a.m. Jan. 11 in Mankato.

I would also like to wish everyone safe travels and a Happy New Year!

Go Mustangs!

Trivia Contest

Congratulations to Randy Johnson who provided the correct response to last week’s Mustang Hoofprints Trivia Question: Learfield Sports sponsors the Director’s Cup award each year in Division I, II, and III in support of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. The Director’s Cup is a program that honors institutions for maintaining a broad-based program and achieving success in both men’s and women’s sports. Following the fall sports season, where does SMSU rank out of the 311 members competing at the Division II level?

SMSU ranked 52nd out of the 311 members of Division II-based on the performance of the fall sports.

Trivia Question

Who was the first head coach for SMSU track and field?

The first person to email me at MustangHoofPrints@SMSU.edu with the correct answer to this question will receive an SMSU T-shirt.