GUNNISON, Colo. – The Minot State men are heading west to start their new year.

The Beavers will be in action at the Western Colorado Open on Friday, then compete at Western Colorado's Tracy Borah Duals on Saturday to start the second half of their wrestling season.

Action starts Friday at noon (MT) with tournament action, then Saturday starting at 9 a.m. (MT) the Beavers compete in a dual tournament alongside Findlay, San Francisco State, Simon Fraser, and Western Colorado.

Minot State (3-1 duals) returns to action after a strong start to the season in the fall with dual wins over Dickinson State, Jamestown, and Saskatchewan, and a series of weight-class tournament wins from individuals Brendan Barnes (165), Jake Swirple (285), Cannon Potts (174), and Cayden White (184).

Leading the way has been Swirple, a sophomore who is 20-0 in his collegiate career, including a 6-0 record this season, while Potts is 10-1 this season, Barnes is 6-1, and White is 9-3.

This weekend's action provides the final non-conference action of the season for the Beavers and is a tune-up after the holiday break before Minot State starts a run of nine straight NSIC duals that begins at Augustana on Thursday, Jan. 12.