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A LOOK AT THE WEEKEND: After having the Thanksgiving weekend off, the Minot State wrestling team heads to Great Falls, Mont. for three dual meets against Chadron State, McKendree University and the University of Great Falls to begin the Battle of the Rockies on Friday. The team will then compete in the Battle of the Rockies Open the next morning beginning at 9 a.m.

RECORDS: The Beavers won their first two dual meets of the season two weeks ago when they traveled to the University of Jamestown to wrestle Jamestown and Waldorf College. Minot State has yet to wrestle a NSIC opponent so their conference record sits at 0-0 while they are 2-0 overall. McKendree University is currently 1-0 on the season, while Chadron State has not wrestled a dual meet and Great Falls is 4-1.

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. Brett Hunter is in his third year as the head wrestling coach at Chadron State and is the Eagles all-time winningest wrestler. He's compiled a 19-13 dual meet record in his first two years as the head coach. McKendree University is led by James Kisgen, who is in his 12th season as the head coach of the Bearcats. He's coached nine individual national champions and five runner-ups in the program's short history. The University of Great Falls is led by Caleb Schaeffer who is in his 8th season as the program's head coach. Schaeffer led the Argos to a second place finish at the 2013-14 NAIA National Championship.

RANKINGS: Minot State and Chadron State did not appear in any major rankings this week. The University of Great Falls comes in ranked as the No. 3 team in the NAIA in this week's Intermat wrestling poll. McKendree University came in ranked at the No. 8 team in NCAA Division II.

NOTING THE BEAVERS: Minot State was idle this past weekend as they enjoyed a short Thanksgiving break, but the previous weekend they competed in and won their first duals at the University of Jamestown. On Friday, Nov. 21, the Beavers defeated Jamestown by a team score of 35-15. Mitchell Eull (So., HWT, Buffalo, Minn.) and Tanner Crissler (Fr., 141, Belcourt, N.D.) headlined the day as they pinned their opponents in 1:19 and 2:17, respectively. Later in the day, the Beavers defeated Waldorf College by a score of 33-18. Jason Huger (Fr., 133, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) led the way for the Beavers in the second dual of the season pinning his opponent in 1:44. The following day, Minot State traveled to Moorhead, Minn. to compete in the Finn Grinaker Cobber Open hosted by Concordia College. Six different Beavers finished in the top five places of their weight divisions to end a successful weekend.

NOTING THE EAGLES: Like Minot State, the Chadron State Eagles have not faced competition since Saturday, Nov. 22 when they competed in the Nebraska-Kearney Holiday Inn Open. Eight different wrestlers on the team placed in the tournament. Jacob Anderson (149) and Cooper Cogdill (197) led the way for the team as both placed first in their respective divisions. The Eagles have yet to compete in any duals so this weekend will be their first test as they're set to compete in three dual meets.

NOTING THE BEARCATS: McKendree University, like Minot State and Chadron State, has not competed in an open or dual meet since Saturday, Nov. 22 when they wrestled at the Lindenwood University Open. Three Bearcats finished in the top six of their divisions at the open including John Vogt, who placed 5th in the 184 weight class, and Nick Haferkamp and Darren Wynn, who each placed 4th in their respective divisions. The Bearcats won their only dual meet of the season so far back on Nov. 11 when they defeated Missouri Baptist University.

NOTING THE ARGOS: The University of Great Falls is off to a good start in 2014 compiling a 4-1 record overall including dual meet wins over No. 14 ranked Simpson College and No. 5 ranked Montana State-Northern. The Argos' only loss came to No. 2 ranked Southern Oregon. In Great Falls' most recent dual against Simpson College, the Argos compiled and overall record of 6-4 to take the dual meet by a score of 29-21.

LUCKY NUMBER NINE: Mitchell Eull (So., HWT, Buffalo, Minn.) may have changed weight classes this year but he's adjusted well and is getting results for his hard work. In the latest Super Region II rankings released on Dec. 3, Eull is ranked as the No. 9 heavyweight wrestler in Region II. Eull is yet to lose a match in dual meets this year and has an overall record of 10-7.

SOLID START: The Beavers are off to their best start since becoming an NCAA Division II team as they sit at 2-0 in dual meets so far this season. The last time Minot State began their dual season with a 2-0 record was back in 2011 when they started 4-0 before picking up their first dual loss to longtime rival Dickinson State. Two years ago the Beavers began their season with a win but failed to win another dual the rest of the season.

BY THE NUMBERS
10: Mitchell Eull's 10 wins so far this season are just one shy of his total wins during his freshman campaign last season.

2: While the Beavers have yet to begin NSIC play, Minot State finds itself at the top of the standings in the conference with an overall record of 2-0. Upper Iowa is also 2-0 in dual meets so far this season.

11: December 11 marks the beginning of NSIC wrestling for Minot State as they welcome rival U-Mary to the Minot State Dome for a 7 p.m. dual meet.