FULL PDF RELEASE

A LOOK AT THE WEEK: After defeating the U-Mary Marauders last Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opening dual, the Beavers square-off against U-Mary again, this time in Bismarck, N.D. While this week's dual will not count on each teams' conference record, it's sure to be just as competitive. The dual is set for 7 p.m. with pictures with Santa Claus beginning at 6 p.m.

RECORDS: The Beavers' win against U-Mary last week moved their overall dual record to 3-3 while their NSIC record improved to 1-0 in the first dual of the season. U-Mary fell to 0-3 overall on the season and 0-1 in the NSIC.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State head coach Robin Ersland is in his fifth season at the front of the Beaver wrestling program. Ersland, a 2010 inductee into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, has a career record of 220-285-7 in 31 seasons as a head coach. He has coached ninety-nine NCAA Division II National Qualifiers and forty-seven Division II All-Americans. At Minot State, Ersland has compiled an overall record of 13-35. Adam Aho is in just his second season with the U-Mary wrestling program. A relatively young head coach, Aho graduated from North Dakota State from 2009 and was a four-year starter with the Bison. Aho went on to be an assistant coach at Minnesota State from 2011-2013 where he coached four All-Americans and six All-Conference players.

RANKINGS: Neither Minot State nor U-Mary appeared in the latest national or regional rankings released by the NCAA.

NOTING THE BEAVERS: Dating back to last season, the Beavers are on a three-dual winning streak as they picked up their first NSIC dual win of the season last Thursday against U-Mary. Minot State got off to a quick start in the dual as Anthony Battle (125, So., Wahaiwa, Hawaii) won the first match by forfeit. Josh Douglas (Sr., 133, Kissimmee, Fla.) quickly added four more points to the Beavers lead with a major decision win in the 133 weight class. Tanner Crissler (Fr., 141, Belcourt, N.D.) and Cody Haugen (Fr., 149, Minot, N.D.) each recorded pins giving the Beavers four straight wins to start the dual which ultimately turned out to be enough. Jon Wilson (Sr., 174, Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Tobias Baker (Fr., 197, Sarasota, Fla.) each recorded wins in the dual for the Beavers as well. Minot State ended the dual with 31 team points while U-Mary ended with 12.

NOTING THE MARAUDERS: Despite losing to Minot State this past Thursday, the Marauders managed to win four individual matches against the Beavers at the MSU Dome. Paul Michaelson had the best performance for the Marauders when he defeated Devin Combs of Minot State 8-1 in the 157 weight class. Also recording wins in the dual against the Beavers were Riley Nagel, John Devito and Travis Smith. This Thursday's dual against Minot State marks the last date of live competition for the Marauders for an entire month. Their next dual this season is not scheduled until Jan. 17 when U-Mary travels to the Nebraska-Kearney Duals.

EMPHATIC RETURN: Although Jon Wilson (Sr., 174, Colorado Springs, Colo.) hadn't wrestled against an opponent since the Beavers traveled to the Daktronics Open at South Dakota State on Nov. 2, the senior co-captain found a way to pull out a victory against U-Mary this past weekend when he wrestled Kyle Schultz in the 174 weight class. Wilson injured his shoulder during the Daktronics Open and has been hampered by the shoulder ever since. Thursday marked Wilson's first victory of the 2014-15 season.

BREAKING THE STREAK: Coming into the dual against U-Mary last Thursday, Minot State's Mitchell Eull (So., HWT, Buffalo, Minn.) boasted an undefeated dual record (5-0) but that came to an end when he squared off with U-Mary's Travis Smith in the final match of the evening. Smith came away with a close 2-1 victory over Eull. Three of Eull's five victories in duals this season have come by fall.

TAKEDOWN SOME NOTES: Even though Ricard Avakovs (Jr., 157, Riga, Latvia) missed the previous dual against U-Mary due to an injury he sustained on the team's trip back from Great Falls, Mont., Avakovs still leads the Beavers with 16 takedowns so far this season. Avakovs also is third on the team in team points (14) and also has the third-most wins for the Beavers (6).

BISMARCK OR NORTH POLE?: While this week's dual doesn't have as much on the line due to the fact of it not being an NSIC dual, an appearance by Santa Claus will surely create a large buzz surrounding the event. Santa will be inside the McDowell Activity Center beginning at 6 p.m. and will stick around until through the intermission. Fans are encouraged to enjoy hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes along with a social at Reza's Pizza following the event.

BY THE NUMBERS
0: Last week the Beavers began the stretch of their season that includes nothing but dual meets from here on out. Minot State has zero open tournaments remaining in the 2014-15 regular season.

1: Josh Douglas' major decision against U-Mary this past Thursday is the lone major decision for Minot State all season.

4: Coming into the team's dual meet against U-Mary this Thursday, the Beavers have four wrestlers that each have double-digit takedowns. Avakovs leads the way with 16 while three others have 10 apiece.