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Minnesota State University, Mankato
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2/1/07

Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/takedownclub/news/html/2007/wrestlers_return_home.html

No. 4 Wrestlers Return Home For Match Against No. 7 Upper Iowa

Numerous nationally ranked wrestlers expected to compete tonight at Taylor Center

by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 2/1/07
Section: Mens Sports

For the first time in over two months, the MSU wrestlers will get a long-awaited dual against Upper Iowa at 7 p.m. tonight at the Taylor Center.

The last time the Mavericks wrestled on their home mat was Nov. 15 when MSU pummeled St. John's 36-6. Tonight, the Mavericks will get their first true test at home when the No. 7 Peacocks (6-0 in duals) come to town.

"They're undefeated and they've got a great team. There's going to be a lot big matchups, which aren't only important for the dual, but also for the regional seedings," MSU coach Jim Makovsky said. "They're a well-coached team and they've put a lot of resources into their program so we've got to be ready to go."

One of the more interesting matches is at 125 pounds. Nick Smith, ranked No. 2 nationally, is expected to be in the lineup, returning from an ankle injury that he suffered in December. He will be facing No. 6 Tyler Mumbulo.

"As of [Tuesday] we expect to have Nick in there, but with his ankle, it's going to be a day-to-day thing," Makovsky said. "He feels a lot better this week but if you know anything about ankle injuries, they can come and go at any time."

Other matches to keep an eye on are No. 2 Andy Pickar of MSU and No. 4 Mitch Norton, then Mavericks heavyweight Brady Wilson - No. 3 in the nation - will take on No. 8 Dan Goodson.

"I think they're all big matches, every single one of them," Makovsky said. "It's like the Chardon dual, the Western State dual, or the Central Oklahoma dual; we could blow them away, they could blow us away, or it could be a really tight dual. There are a lot of unpredictable things so we have to be prepared."

But one thing is for sure: Makovsky and the Mavericks are happy to be home.

"It feels great. In the sport of wrestling, the way our schedules are set up, we only have 16 dates that we can actually use," Makovsky said. "Good wrestling programs want to wrestle five open tournaments so they can develop their whole team, so that only leaves 11 dates to split up. It just so happened that it's an unbalanced year, so next year we'll have more home duals.

"We're always excited to wrestle in the Taylor Center in front of our students and our local supporters, plus we don't have to travel. We've been pretty successful since we've been in the Taylor Center, so we're pretty excited."

Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter Assistant Sports Editor