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THIS WEEK: The Beavers return home to host their second Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual, as they host Minnesota State University-Moorhead on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the MSU Dome.

RECORDS: MISU is 1-11 overall, 0-4 in the NSIC. Minnesota State University Moorhead is currently 6-3 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC.

COACHES CORNER: Robin Ersland is in his 3rd season as the Minot State head coach and sports a 10-16 overall record with the Beavers. Ersland, a NCAA Division II Hall of Fame inductee, is 217-269-7 overall in a stellar career. Minnesota State University-Moorhead is coached by Kris Nelson. Nelson is in the middle of his fourth season at the head of the Dragon's wrestling program, compiling a 21-31 overall record during his tenure. Nelson began his coaching career with North Dakota State University as an graduate assistant in 2002. Nelson also competed for NDSU and he competed well. He an NCAA Division II All-American and National Champion at 133 pounds for the Bison in 2000. Nelson is a native of Lisbon, N.D.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: MISU provides live video and live stats at msubeavers.com/stayconnected. Minot State Athletics also is active on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube with all feeds accessible through the home page.

RANKINGS: Minot State was not ranked in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Top 25 Poll. Minnesota State University-Moorhead received no votes in the most current poll, although they have been ranked earlier in the season.

RECENT HISTORY: The Beavers are coming off their longest NSIC road trip of the season as they faced No. 9 Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. on Jan. 19 and No. 5 Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa on Jan. 20. Against the Mavericks, MISU suffered its worst loss in program history, 54-0. Minot State competed well against a very talented Upper Iowa team, but just didn't have enough as they lost their 11th straight dual 40-11. The Dragons kicked off their NSIC season with a win against Northern State, as they beat the Wolves 30-16 in Moorhead, Minn. The following night, MSUM travelled to St. Cloud, Minn. to face a top 10 team in St. Cloud State. The Dragons fell to the Huskies 34-3.

OVERALL SERIES: Since reinstating the wrestling program in 2010, Minot State has faced Minnesota State University-Moorhead twice, losing the Dragons 24-10 in 2011 and 9-30 in 2010.

NOTING THE DRAGONS: Coming off a disappointing 2-10 overall campaign in 2011-12, Minnesota State University-Moorhead wrestling is off to a solid start in 2012-13. With a 6-3 start, the Dragons are off to their best start in a dual season in over five years. A big part of their strong start is the 3-1 performance at the Grand Canyon University duals in Phoenix, Ariz. Minot State was at GCU duals as well, but they went 0-4 in their duals. MSUM's arguably has a new-comer as their best wrestler in Philippe Walker. Walker is a junior college transfer from Minnesota West. During his second year at Minnesota West, Walker finished seventh at 133 pounds at NJCAA National Tournament. In his first year with the Dragons and at the NCAA Division II level, he is 14-7 overall.

MISU STRETCHES ITS LIVE COVERAGE: Minot State University, in conjunction with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, has partnered with Stretch Internet to provide live video feeds for all home contest, all away NSIC games and select non-conference away games. Stretch Internet is an industry leader is live streaming video and offers live chat and On Demand replay video for select games. Log on to msubeavers.com/stayconnected for more information and to view live video.

COMMON OPPONENTS: Minot State and Minnesota State-Moorhead have faced two common opponents throughout the 2012-13 season. Both teams have lost to No. 3 St. Cloud State; the Beavers lost 49-0 while the Dragons lost 34-3. Also, both MISU and MSUM have faced No. 6 Grand Canyon University; the Beavers lost 45-6 while the Dragons nearly pulled the upset, but fell 22-19.

SNAPPING THE STREAK: Minot State is currently on a eleven match losing streak dating back to Dec. 5th against the University of Mary. The Beavers lost that contest 28-16 at home. During those elven duals, MISU has given up an average of 43.8 team points to their opponents. MISU also goes in with a two match losing streak to Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

DOME SWEET DOME: The Beaver wrestling team will compete in their first home dual since Dec. 5 when they lost to University of Mary 28-16. Minot State is 1-1 at home this season, their lone win coming on a 44-0 drumming of University of Regina on Nov. 29.  

OVERCOMING A HOLE IN THE LINEUP: Injuries and departures have left the Minot State roster looking thin compared to the preseason. One weight class that the Beavers haven't been able to fix is 125 pounds. In every dual this season, MISU has left 125 pounds open, giving an automatic six points to their opponents (except against Regina, as both teams were open at 125 pounds).

UPPERCLASSMEN RETURN: Junior Matt Fetterley (174, Muskegon, Mich.) and senior Cody George (185, Clancy, Mont.) are both probable against the Dragons Thursday night after both did not compete in the team's latest road trip. George has been bothered by injuries most of the season, but is hopeful to make a strong final run in the NSIC regular season. Fetterley sat out due to illness, but all signs show that MISU's wins leader will be back on the mat at 174 pounds.

SIDE DOESN'T MATTER: Due to a thin roster, coach Ersland has had to put some of his athletes in unfavorable situations, sometimes wrestling two or three weight classes up. Ricard Avakovs (Fr., 149/157, Riga, Latvia), who was planning on wrestling at 149 pounds for the Beavers, was put in an even bigger hole as he wrestled 184 pounds (four weight classes difference) against No. 5 Upper Iowa. The size made no difference, as Avakovs dominated his match, winning by techical fall, 19-2. He not only showed speed, but strength as he collected four takedowns in his second win of the season.

BARTZ STRIKES AGAIN: With a pin against Upper Iowa's Jeremy Brazil on Jan. 20, Bobby Bartz (So., 285, Harvey, N.D.) recorded his fourth win by fall this season. With that pin, Bartz ties teammate Matt Fetterley for the team lead in wins by fall. Bartz now also leads the team in team points as he has notched 30 points for Minot State over the 2012-13 season.   

NEW FACE: The winter break brought one new face to the Minot State wrestling team. Eric O'Neill (Fr., 165, Winter Springs, Fla.) has begun competition with the team. He was a two-time State Champion in Florida and a three-time State Qualifier. O'Neill has wrestled in two matches, losing both at the Grand Canyon Duals (January 5th).