Wrestling | 1/12/2017 9:58:00 AM

Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University wrestling team will be back on the mat this weekend from Kearney and the UNK Midwest Duals. The Wolves will face San Francisco State, CSU Pueblo, Colorado Mesa, and New Mexico Highlands in the one day dual style tournament. NSU will face SFSU at 9 a.m., followed by CSU Pueblo at 10:30 a.m., Mesa at 12 p.m., and NM Highlands at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Northern enters the week ranked No. 5 in Super Region Three and No. 7 in the country after the first rankings of 2017. Richard Casillas, Tyler Stenberg, Blake Perryman, Sean Havlovic, and Joe Gomez all received rankings both in the region and in the nation. The Wolves battled in some close matches with the Vikings, however fell 32-9 due to an open weight at 141 and an injury loss at 165. Northern's three wins came from Tyler Stenberg (5-0 over Bailey Neises), Tanner Olson (8-5 over Brent Havlik), and Joe Gomez (7-3 over Clayton Wahlstrom).
 
About San Francisco State
- The Gators enter the weekend 2-7 in dual action, including four loss to NCAA DI opponents.
- Matt Gamble (125) and Nathan Cervantez (133) have been strong from SFSU winning four of their last five matches.
- San Francisco is led by head coach Lars Jensen in his 34^th season leading his alma mater.
 
About No. 21 CSU Pueblo
- The ThunderWolves are 2-2 in duals this season with wins over Mercyhurst and Notre Dame from the National Duals.
- CSU finished fourth as a team from the national duals a weekend ago.
- Two wrestlers are ranked in the nation in No. 11 Kyle Fantin at 157 pounds and No. 3 JaCobi Jones Jr. at 165 pounds.
- Pueblo is led by head coach Dax Charles in his ninth season with the program
 
About Colorado Mesa
- The Mavs are unbeaten in duals this season, including wins over NSIC opponents Southwest Minnesota and Minnesota State.
- CMU has three wrestlers ranked in the nation in No. 12 Daniel Salazar at 141 pounds, No. 9 Payton Tawater at 157 pounds, and No. 12 Jason Buhr at 165 pounds.
- Mesa is led by head coach Chuck Pipher in his tenth season with the program.
 
About New Mexico Highlands
- The Cowboys are 0-4 in duals this season, including a 31-15 loss to Minnesota State.
- Five wrestlers have double-digit wins this season in Jacob Espana (18-15), Dan Gaylor (17-12), Reis Humphrey (17-12), Cody Marquez (14-12), and Kellen Pelzel (15-10).
- HU is led by head coach Doug Moses in his ninth season with the program.