Mules head to Kearney, Neb. for the UNK Duals

Central Missouri Mules vs. No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers
9:00 a.m. - Mat 3
Central Missouri Mules vs. Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs
11:00 a.m. - Mat 3
Central Missouri Mules vs. Mary Marauders
1:30 p.m. - Mat 4
Central Missouri Mules vs. Minot State Beavers
3:30 p.m. - Mat 3
Live Results | Game Notes

Mules Return To Mat In 2015
Central Missouri opened the 2015 portion of the season hosting the UCM Duals in Warrensburg, Mo. The Mules fell in their first two duals, against St. Cloud State (40-6) and Findlay (29-15), but won their last match of the day over Indianapolis (28-14). Archie Williams (174) was the only Mule to walk away from the dual meet undefeated. He beat then-No. 8 Clayton Jennissen (St. Cloud) and Randy Caris (Findlay) by decision, before bumping up a weight class for a major decision over Tyler Scott (Indianapolis). 

The following weekend Central Missouri faced some of the top teams in Division II at the National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Mules fell to No. 1 Notre Dame (33-15), Augustana (21-16), and No. 14 Newberry (22-18). No. 2 Frank Cagnina (149) picked up three bonus-point wins, going undefeated on the weekend. First he had a win by fall over James Jenkins (Notre Dame) at 6:18, followed by two major decisions against Jacob Anderson (Augustana) and Seiji Borja (Newberry). 

Central Missouri in the Rankings
Cagnina holds the No. 2 spot in the most recent Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll.  

Cagnina is second to Maryville's Keenan Hagerty. The two met in the finals of the UCM Open on Nov. 16, Hagerty besting Cagnina with a nearfall in the third period of the match. Cagnina is 11-1 overall, and 4-0 in duals. He has the most wins by major decision (5) on the team, and is the only Mule to record a technical fall this season. 

Super Region Three now has seven nationally ranked teams, with six teams in the top 10. The region is also home to 34 individually ranked wrestlers. 

Of the MIAA squads, Nebraska-Kearny, Central Oklahoma, Lindenwood, and Fort Hays State are all ranked as a team, with 14 individually ranked MIAA wrestlers. Nebraksa-Kearney and Lindenwood maintained their previous rankings of No. 3 and No. 10. Central Oklahoma moved up from No. 11 to No. 8, while Fort Hays State also moved up from No. 19 to tie for No. 15. Central Missouri did not make the top 20, but received votes in the poll. 

Probable Line-Ups/Opponent Previews
Central Missouri Mules (2-6, 0-0 MIAA)
Wt.    Name    (Yr., Hometown, Record)
125    Malacai Collins (So., Warrensburg, Mo., 13-8)
133    Ryan Hodges (Jr., Shawnee, Kan., 0-0)
141    Zadac Lankford (R-Fr., Warrensburg, Mo., 11-8)
149    Frank Cagnina (Sr., Hillsdale, N.J., 11-1)
157    Logan Cairer (R-Fr., Oak Grove, Mo., 11-8)
157    Evan Young (R-Fr., Odessa, Mo., 7-7)
165    Josh Thomson (So., Peculiar, Mo., 17-7)
174    Archie Williams (Jr., Champaign, Ill., 10-7)
184    Mike Boyd (Jr, Odessa, Mo., 9-9)
197    Nick Lovejoy (So., Oronogo, Mo., 7-10)
285    DeQuence Goodman (Jr., Chicago, Ill., 1-2)

No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (1-4, 0-0 MIAA)
Wt.    Name    (Yr., Hometown, Record)
125    Connor Bolling (Jr., Central City, Neb., 17-8)
133    No. 1 Daniel DeShazer (Jr., Wichita, Kan., 20-5)
141    Keith Surber (R-Fr., O'Fallon, Ill., 6-5)
149    No. 7 Destin McCauley (So., North Sioux City, S.D., 8-3)
157    No. 4 Chase White (Jr., Lincoln, Neb., 5-5)
165    Devin Aguirre (Jr., Ponca City, Okla., 16-7)
174/184    Chace Bila (R-Fr., Chadron, Neb., 16-8)
184/184    Casey Powell (Jr., Catoosa, Okla., 12-12)
197    No. 1 Romero Cotton (Jr., Hutchinson, Kan., 3-4)
285    Ivan DeLeon (R-Fr., Katy, Texas, 15-12)

The Lopers opened the season with at several tournaments where they faced several Division I opponents, and still managed to place at least one wrestler at each competition. They recently competed at the Virginia Duals, where they lost to Bucknell (33-6), Old Diminion (39-6), Tennessee-Chattanooga (30-6), and Citadel (24-14).

No. 1 Daniel DeShazer (133) has placed at every tournament he has entered this year, finishing at the top of his weight class at the Northern Colorado Open, Nebraska-Kearney Open, and the York College Open. He also was third at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open and fifth at the Cliff Keen Invitational. Connor Bolling (125) beat Malacai Collins in the finals at the Nebraska-Kearney Open, adding first place finishes at the Northern Colorado Open, the York College Open, and the Viking Warrior Open. No. 7 Destin McCauley (149) and Ivan DeLeon (285) also took first at the Nebraska-Kearney Open, while Chace Bila (174) was second. Bila was first at the York College Open. Casey Powell (174) was first at the Viking Open, while No. 4 Chase White (157) and Romero Cotton (197) both took second, after forfeiting the championship match. 
 
Several of the probable starters for the Lopers are returning from last season, and have faced Central Missouri several times in their career, making a rematch more than likely. Aside from their match earlier this season, Collins also fell to Bolling at the MIAA Championships last season, but beat him at a dual. Both matches were decision wins. McCauley faced his only Mule opponent, Cagnina, at the MIAA Championships. Cagnina was able to pin McCauley in 0:25. Bila beat Mike Boyd at a tournament last season, winning the match with a 9-7 decision. Cotton had a major decision in his only match against a Mule opponent, and DeShazer was 1-2 against the Mules last year. 

Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (3-2, 0-0 NSIC)
Wt.    Name    (Yr., Hometown, Record)
125    Anthony Luft (Fr., Worthington, Minn., 7-4)
133    Jordan Biehn (Fr., Jackson, Minn., 13-4)
141    Trent Butcher (R-Fr., Chaska, Minn., 5-4)
149    John Weeding (So., Appleton, Minn., 3-8)
157    Patrick Kelley (Fr., Omaha, Neb., 11-5)
165    Jacob Begin (Jr., Anoka, Minn., 14-1)
174    Brody Goens (Jr., Chino Hills, Calif., 9-5)
184    Ahston Bartlett (R-Fr.,St. Peter, Minn., 3-4)
197    Tristan Ezell (Fr., Buckeye, Ariz., 7-6)
285    No. 5 Cole Wilson (Sr., Faribault, Minn., 17-2)

Jacob Begin (165) has been the rock of the Southwest Minnesota State line-up this season. He took third at the Dakota Wesleyan Open and first at the Augsburg Open, while also going undefeated in duals. Another Mustangs with an undefeated dual record is Cole Wilson (285), who took third at the Dakota Wesleyan Open, and was second at the Augsburg Open. The Mustangs beat St. Johns (35-9), Wisconsin-Eau Claire (40-8), and the University of Dubuque (27-15), but lost to Winconsin-La Crosse (30-15) and Augsburg (30-14). 

None of the wrestlers on the current Southwest Minnesota State roster have face a Central Missouri opponent. The last time the teams met was in the 2006-07 season. The Mules are 9-0 against the Mustangs in program history. 

Mary Marauders (1-3, 0-1 NSIC)
Wt.    Name    (Yr., Hometown, Record)
125     Open 
133     Hunter Menendez (Sr., Saint Rose, La., 8 - 8)
141     Alec Lindsey (So., South Heart, N.D., 3 - 9)
149     Dane Fischer (Fr., Bismarck, N.D., 0 - 0)
157     Paul Michaelson (Fr., Williston, N.D., 6 - 6)
165     Riley Nagel (Jr., Victor, Mont., 7 - 5)
174     Kyle Schultz (Fr., Embden, N.D., 3 – 5)
184     John DeVito (Sr., Glendale, Ariz., 16 – 6)
197     Tom DeVito (Jr., Glendale, Ariz., 8 - 5)
285    Travis Smith (Jr., Ripon, Calif., 9 – 11) 
285    Jonah Westbury (So., Lindstrom, Minn., 2 - 4)

John DeVito (184) was the lone placewinner for the Marauders at the first three tournaments of the season. He was fourth at the Bison Open, sixth at the Dakota Wesleyan Open, and third at the Cobber Open. Travis Smith (285) is the only other member of Mary's squad to place in a tournament. He took sixth at the Dragon Open. 

Mary fell to the University of Jamestown (25-18) and Concordia-Moorehead (39-12). The team is 1-1 against Minot State this season.

Last year the Mules beat the Marauders at the UCM Duals, by a score of 39-3. Three of the Mary starters from last year are still in their probable line-up. Collins pinned Hunter Menendez at 5:42, Boyd also had a win by fall over Riley Nagel at 5:45. Jacob Clark (285), who is redshiring this season after undergoing off-season surgery, had a decision win over Jonah Westbury. 

Minot State Beavers (4-5, 2-1 NSIC)
Wt.    Name    (Yr., Hometown, Record)
125    Anthony Battle (So., Wahiawa, Hawaii, 4-12)
133    Jason Huger (R-Fr., Mt. Pleasant, S.C., 6-8)
141    Tanner Crissler (Fr., Belcourt, N.D., 10-9)
141    Colton Nichols (R-Fr., Holiday, Fla., 2-9)
149    Cody Haugen (R-Fr., Minot, N.D., 13-10)
149    Zachary Cummings (So., Birmingham, Ala., 3-10)
149    Dimitri Grivas (R-Fr., Holiday, Fla., 2-7)
157    Devin Combs (Fr., Marianna, Fla., 6-16)
165    Ricard Avakovs (Jr., Riga, Latvia, 7-4)
174    Jon Wilson (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo., 1-4)
184    Kobina Henriques (Sr., Miami, Fla., 3-13)
197    Taylor Barstad (R-Fr., Velva, N.D., 1-13)
285    Mitchell Eull (So., Buffalo, Minn., 20-10)

The Minot State line-up is anchored by their best wrestler, Mitchell Eull at heavyweight. Eull placed at the South Dakota State Open, the North Dakota State Open, and the Concordia College Open. Eull is 7-2 in duals, and has the most wins, pins, and team points of the Beavers. 

Minot beat the Universityof Jamestown (35-15) and Waldorf College (33-18), before dropping three straight duals to McKendree (40-12), Northwest College (30-18), and Chardron State (30-9) at the Argo Duals. The Beavers split their next four duals, with a win and a loss to Mary, a loss to Minnesota-Mankato (39-7), and a win against Northern State (27-18) most recently. 

Central Missouri also faced Minot State at the Central Missouri Duals last season. The Mules won the dual 27-12, Collins and Boyd both had pins in their matches. None of the current Minot wrestlers listed on their probable line-up participated in the meeting last season.