MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs snagged wins in the first four matches of the night and rode the early lead to a 23-17 win over Northern State Friday evening in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference wrestling action.
 
The Mustangs picked up a pin at 125 pounds, then rattled off three straight decisions to build up a 15-0 lead before NSU's Neil Sell pinned Josh Anderson in less than a minute and a half to put the Wolves on the board.
 
The two teams then traded major decision victories, with senior Donnie Bowden picking up the NSU win at 174 pounds.  Chad Gibson closed the gap to 19-13 with a tight 3-1 win over Andrew Rodas at 184 pounds, but the Mustangs rallied and sealed the team victory with a major decision at 197 pounds.
 
That didn't stop the Wolves' second-ranked Matt Meuleners from wrapping up a 14-4 major decision over SMSU's Cole Wilson.  The victory marked the 13^th straight for the junior.
 
NSU will take a quick break from conference action to host Dickinson State on Thursday, Feb. 2 in a 7 p.m. dual in Wachs Arena.

125 – Travis Borchert pinned Anthony Bruno at 4:31, SMSU leads 6-0
133 – Justin Reinsma dec. Ian Muirhead, 6-2, SMSU leads 9-0
141 – Ethan Hildebrandt dec. Terrence Fox, 12-5, SMSU leads 12-0
149 – Codie Lane dec. Gavin Larsen, 8-2, SMSU leads 15-0
157 – Neil Sell pinned Josh Anderson at 1:12, SMSU leads 15-6
165 – Jacob Begin major dec. Blake Lundgren, 12-1, SMSU leads 19-6
174 – Donnie Bowden maj. dec. Trent Molacek, 15-5, SMSU leads 19-10
184 – Chad Gibson dec. Andrew Rodas, 3-1, SMSU leads 19-13
197 – Martin Hagen maj. dec. Baker Haar, 11-3, SMSU leads 23-13
285 – Matt Meuleners maj. dec. 14-4 Cole Wilson, SMSU leads 23-17