Mat Points
• Central Missouri Mules Wrestling is back in action this weekend at the Maverick Duals in Mankato, Minn on Saturday, Jan. 6. The Mules will battle three teams in Minnesota State-Mankato, Southwest Minnesota State, and Wisconsin- Parkside.
• UCM is 2-2 in dual competition with wins over Truman State and Ouachita Baptist. UCM's two losses are against Missouri and Missouri Valley College.
• The Mules have fared well in their four tournaments this season with 22 overall placewinners and two champions.
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John Feeney enters the 2018 calendar year nationally ranked at 125 pounds for UCM. He is ranked No. 12 with a 7-5 record, after earning at eighth place finish at the Midwest Classic.
• In the latest national rankings, the Mules are receiving one vote and in Super Region III they are ranked No. 13.
Series History
Central Missouri vs. Minnesota State: 0-4-0
The Mules are still looking for their first win against the Mavericks. They are 0-4-0 all-time in the two teams short history. This will be the first meeting between UCM and Mankato since the 2011-12 season at the NWCA National Duals. UCM had two wins by decision, but ultimately fell to Mankato 35-6.
Central Missouri vs. SW Minnesota State: 9-2-0
The Mules have the advantage against the Mustangs with a 9-2-0 record, but the Mustangs did grab their second win over the Mules a season ago. SMSU defeated UCM 31-11 at the Nebraska-Kearney Midwest Duals. The Mustangs only other win against the Mules came in the 2014-15 season, 31-16.
Central Missouri vs. Wisconsin-Parkside: 2-7-0
The Mules will have a tough challenge against the No. 2-ranked Rangers. The two teams last met in the 2010-11 season with the win going to UCM. It was a close dual the whole way through, but UCM ultimately earned an 18-15 win over Wisconsin-Parkside. The Mules other win was in the 1997-98 season, 29-12.
Scouting the Competition
#20 Minnesota State- Mankato
• The Mavericks have had a solid season so far with a 3-0 record in dual competition. They've had 37 placewinners in four tournaments as well.
• In the 2017-18 NSIC Coaches' Preseason Poll, the Mavs were picked to finish tied for third. Currently, they are ranked No. 20 in the latest NWCA Top-25 poll.
• Senior Corey Abernathy and sophomore Matthew Blome lead the way for Mankato. Abernathy is ranked fifth nationally at 184 pounds with a 10-1 record. He is 3-0 in dual competition this season.
• Blome is 8-2 for the Mavs this year and ranks fifth nationally at 197 pounds. He is also 3-0 in duals and is 4-0 against division two opponents.
Southwest Minnesota State
• The Mustangs have seen the most dual action among the four teams with five entering this weekend. They have a 3-2 record, with a 0-1 mark in Northern Sun duals.
• SMSU was picked finish eighth in the NSIC Coaches' Preseason Poll. Regionally, SMSU sits 11th, two spots ahead of UCM.
• Three Mustangs have 10-plus wins this season. Junior Justin Haneke leading the way at 12-6 at 141 pounds with five wins coming via pin.
• Second on the team in wins for SMSU is sophomore Andrew Peterson with a 11-6 mark at 285 pounds. Two of his wins are by way of pinfall.
• Junior Cortez Arredondo is the final double figure winner. He is 10-5 at 157 pounds for the Mustangs with three pins.
#2 Wisconsin- Parkside
• The Rangers are one of the surprising teams this season. They started the season unranked and now sit at No. 2 in the latest NWCA top-25 team rankings. A bit help to the team's ranking is having seven individuals nationally ranked entering the New Year.
• Leading the way for Parkside is two-time defending national champion Nick Becker who is the top ranked wrestler at 174 pounds. He is 5-0 this season and was the 174 pound champion at the Midwest Classic back in December.
• Other nationally ranked Ranger wrestlers are Airk Furseth (133), Frank Yattoni (149), and Pernevlon Sheppard (157) all at No. 3, respectively. Joseph Arroyo (125) and Anothony Cheloni (141) sit eighth nationally, while Conner Price (184) checks in at 12th, in their respective weight classes.
UCM Probable Lineup
125:
John Feeney or
Tyler Flood
133:
Daide Agnew
141:
Zachary Schridde or
Carson Meek
149:
Dominic Nobile
157:
Kaleb Warner or
Kaleb Brooks or
Shea Conley
165:
Jesse Reser
174:
Allan Person or
Martin Brunnert
184:
Braden Best
197:
Zach Benner or
Dominique Hampton or
Noah McGinnis
285:
Chase Miller or
Ryan Morris
Up Next
• The Mules will have a short break following the Maverick Duals. They will be back in action Tuesday, Jan. 9, and Wednesday, Jan. 10, as MIAA dual action begins. UCM will be at Newman on Tuesday and at Central Oklahoma on Wednesday. Mat action for both duals begins at 7 p.m.
