ST. CLOUD — The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team (0-1, 0-1 NSIC) opened the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual season with a 42-0 loss to two-time defending national champion, St. Cloud State (4-0, 1-0 NSIC), on Wednesday night in Halenbeck Hall.

The Huskies open NSIC matches to go 1-0 in conference matches while advancing record to 4-0, while SMSU suffered the first dual loss of the season for a 0-1 record.

St. Cloud State is currently ranked second in the nation and has now amassed 69 consecutive NSIC matches dating back to Jan. 27, 2011.

SMSU faced SCSU’s seven nationally-ranked wrestlers in the night’s match as the dual opened at the 141-weight class as SCSU’s No. 11-ranked Garret Aldrich earned a major decision (16-3) victory over SMSU’s Justin Sampson.

SCSU proved its strength in the line-up throughout the dual, earning all 10 bout victories. Seven of the 10 wrestlers were ranked and SMSU didn’t face an unranked opponent until 197 in the bout.

SMSU’s heavyweight, Andrew Petersen, came just four seconds away from the lone bout victory for the Mustangs as SCSU’s Ezayah Oropeza claimed the victory by decision in the final four seconds of the bout.

Southwest Minnesota State (0-1, 0-1 NSIC) will travel to the Augsburg open this Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. in Minneapolis.

Results

141: SCSU’s No. 11 Garret Aldrich wins by major decision over Justin Sampson (MD 16-3) SMSU 0, SCSU 4.

149: SCSU’s No. 2 James Pleski wins by decision over Robert Shields (Dec 5-2) SMSU 0, SCSU 7.

157: SCSU’s No. 1 Jake Barzowski wins by decision over Nathan Moore (Dec 10-3) SMSU 0, SCSU 10.

165: SCSU’s No. 4 Devin Fitzpatrick wins by fall over Kevin Bostwick (Fall 1:58) SMSU 0, SCSU 16.

174: SCSU’s No. 3 Kolton Eischens wins by fall over Hayden Voxland (Fall 2:30) SMSU 0, SCSU 22.

184: SCSU’s No. 7 Tyree Overton wins by decision over Cole Hennen (Dec 7-4) SMSU 0, SCSU 25.

197: SCSU’s Noah Ryan wins by major decision over Ben Thompson (MD 13-4) SMSU 0, SCSU 29.

285: SCSU’s Ezayah Oropeza wins by decision over Andrew Petersen (Dec 5-4) SMSU 0, SCSU 32.

125: SCSU’s Robby Horsman wins by fall over Patrick Baumgardner (Fall 1:53) SMSU 0, SCSU 38.

133: SCSU’s No. 4 Garrett Vox wins by major decision over Brock Buysse (MD 12-2) SMSU 0, SCSU 42.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications