Wrestling | 1/5/2021 8:56:00 AM

MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team will host Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday night to open the 2020-21 season. No fans will be allowed to attend Thursday's dual but the match will be streamed live here. 

The dual is one of six scheduled for the Dragons this season. All will be Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference duals. 

The lineup will be led by junior Cole Jones, who missed 2019-20 with an injury. He was an All-American at 125 pounds in 2018-19. He was 29-10 that season and was All-NSIC First Team selection. 

Junior Braydon Ortloff was a national qualifier at 165 pounds last year after finishing 12-9. He placed third at the Super Region 5 meet.

Other top returners for the Dragons include junior Mason Schulz (20-17 in 2019-20) at 14 and  junior Evan Foster (19-16) at 174. 

Senior Tell Ward, junior Joey Nerdahl and senior Steven Abbott also return as starters for MSUM. 

Kris Nelson is in his 12th season as the MSUM head coach.

About SMSU…

The Mustangs return eight wrestlers who competed at the region tournament last year. 

SMSU's top returner is senior Jackson Ryan, who was a national qualifier after going 22-7 in 2019-20.  Sophomore Hunter Pfantz went 18-10 at 125 while sophomore Hayden Voxland won 15 matches at 174. Jesse Nelson is in his 14th season as the SMSU head coach.