MINOT, N.D. – Senior Day: The Beavers wrap up the regular season at the friendly confines of the MSU Dome.
It's been a strong season for the Minot State men's wrestling team which competes in one final dual before heading to the NCAA Super Region V Tournament later this month, and it'll be a big one as the No. 5-ranked St. Cloud State Huskies head to town.
Senior Day action gets underway at 2 p.m. at the MSU Dome.
While the Huskies (12-1 duals, 5-1 NSIC) present a big challenge as they have wrestlers ranked nationally in seven of the 10 weight classes, the Beavers (8-8, 3-5) have been rolling this winter, winning back-to-back duals on the road last weekend and picking up first-ever victories over Minnesota State Moorhead and Minnesota State, Mankato, as well this season.
Leading the way for Minot State has been
Oscar Nellis at 125 pounds, one of six seniors set to be honored on Saturday. Nellis is 14-3 on the season and will square off against the Huskies' Paxton Creese, who is ranked No. 7 in the nation.
One of six seniors, Nellis will be joined by teammates
Nathan Baca (157),
Austin Frantzich (165),
Joey Lopez (197), Alex Sandoval Jr. (174), and
Dustin Swisher (197) in being honored for Senior Day.
Baca (10-7) is slated to wrestle No. 2-ranked Nick Novak or Blake Legred, and Swisher (14-9) is scheduled to wrestle No. 10-ranked Dom Murphy.
Also having a strong winter is
Kelby Armstrong who improved to 7-1 on the season with back-to-back wins last weekend. Armstrong is slated to wrestle against No. 8-ranked Joey Bianchini at 149 pounds.
At 174 pounds, the Beavers have gotten a standout season from
Cannon Potts who is 12-4, as well. He will either wrestling No. 1-ranked Abner Romero or Bryce Dagel.
And adding an 11-5 effort this winter at heavyweight is Minot State's
Jake Swirple who himself is ranked nationally. No. 9-ranked Swirple will take on Elijah Novak.
Benefitting the Beavers might be the fact that St. Cloud State will be putting in a busy weekend wrestling at No. 14-ranked Mary on Friday night before heading north to Minot.
