A LOOK AT THE WEEK: Minot State will travel to Upper Iowa and Minnesota State this weekend to wrestle in three duals. First, on Saturday, December 10, the Beavers will challenge the Peacocks at 2 p.m. Then, on Sunday, December 11, they will face Truman State and Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

RECORDS: The Beavers are 1-2 after facing three top 25 teams last weekend, defeating No. 19 Simon Fraser. Upper Iowa is 2-0 after defeating Truman State and Mary. Truman State is 4-1 after going on a four-dual win streak after its initial loss to UIU. Minnesota State has yet to compete in a dual this season. They will wrestle Truman State before facing the Beavers.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State head coach Evan Forde is in his second season at the helm of the wrestling team. He is the eighth coach in MSU history and the second coach since the reinstatement of the team and the move to NCAA Division II. Forde is 5-16 overall in his career. Heath Grimm is in his 17th season as the head coach of Upper Iowa. With an overall record of 147-40-3, 51-11 NSIC, Grimm has coach six national champions, 68 national qualifiers and 39 All-Americans. Davis Schutter is in his 26th season at Truman State. He has coached one national champion, 39 national qualifiers and 12 All-Americans. Jim Makovsky is in his 23rd season as the coach of Minnesota State. Makovsky has an record of 253-107-3 at Minnesota State with an overall record of 276-126-4.

RANKINGS: Upper Iowa and Minnesota State are ranked No. 5 and No. 19, respectively, in the November 3 NWCAA Coaches Poll.

ALL-TIME AT A GLANCE: The Beavers are 0-4 against both Upper Iowa and Minnesota State. Minot State and Truman State have never competed against each other in a dual.   

LAST TIME OUT: Last season, the Beavers wrestled Upper Iowa and Minnesota State in their first two NSIC competitions as well. In those duals, Minot State won just three individual matchups, all three by returning athletes. With injuries, however, it looks like Cody Haugen will be the only returning winner from these matchups from last season. Haugen won the Beavers lone match in the dual against Minnesota State last year with a 3-1 decision.

NOTING THE BEAVERS: With a 22-21 victory over No. 19 Simon Fraser last week, Minot State won its first dual over a ranked opponent in MSU's Division II history. Jered Sublet won his match at 141 by major decision, playing a key role in the Beavers victory. Sublet also earned a third place finish at the Battle of the Rockies, along with Carlos Toledano, winning six-straight to go 7-1 last weekend.

NOTING THE PEACOCKS: Upper Iowa is 2-0 with wins over Truman State and Mary. In each of those duals the scored over 35 team points. In those two duals, the Peacocks lost just three individual matches. UIU is the second ranked team in the d2wrestle.com Super Region III poll, which came out December 8. Upper Iowa has three individuals ranked either No. 1 or 2 in their weight class. At 125, Maleek Williams is ranked No. 2 while Damian Penichet is the top ranked wrestler at 149 and Ryan Parmely, at 197, is No. 2.

NOTING THE BULLDOGS: Unlike Minot State's other two opponents, Truman State has competed in more duals than tournaments this season. With a 4-1 record in duals the Bulldogs have only competed in one tournament. So far this season the Bulldogs have actually been outscored 96-91 due to a 38-3 loss to Upper Iowa.

NOTING THE MAVERICKS: Minnesota State has wrestled in four tournaments so far this season, most recently at the Wisconsin Open hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Two Mavericks won the championship at the event with Adam Cooling (174) and Matthew Blome (184) going undefeated. Blome, a freshman has a 14-1 record so far this season.

SUPER REGION III: Minot State is the No. 12 team in the December 8 d2wrestle.com Super Region III poll. The Beavers have three individually ranked players to earn them the 12th spot. Despite suffering an injury early in the season Mitchell Eull is the sixth-ranked wrestler at heavyweight. At 157 and 174, Shane Sheppard and Carlos Toledano are both ranked eighth in their weight classes.

BY THE NUMBERS

9: Wins recorded by Cody Haugen this season, which leads the team. Two others have eight wins each.

13: Individuals who have a record at or above .500 so far this season. Carlos Toledano leads the team with a win percentage of .700.

21: Times the Beavers have won a match by fall this season. Adrian Avena, Jacob Belland and Cody Haugen each have three.