KENOSHA, Wis. – The Parkside wrestling team was picked to finish fifth in the 2020-21 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll while senior Joe Arroyo was named as a Wrestler to Watch. 2020-21 will be the Rangers' first season as a member of the NSIC.
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St. Cloud State, the nine-time defending NSIC Champions, was the unanimous choice to win the league in the NSIC Preseason Wrestling Coaches' Poll. The Huskies had 81 points and all nine first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) to rank 13 points ahead of Upper Iowa, which was second with 68 points and the other first place vote. Augustana was third with 66 points while Minnesota State was fourth with 61 points. For the full rankings, go
HERE.
The Rangers went 7-6 last season and sent three wrestlers to the NCAA II Championships in Arroyo (125),
Airk Furseth (133) and
Shane Gantz (165). While the two-time All-American Furseth graduated, the NCAA II Super Region V Champion Arroyo returns for his senior season after going 24-8 last year and Gantz returns as a junior after going 18-9 last season.
Other leading returners for the Rangers include redshirt-junior
Nathan Hensley (20-15), senior
Rodsean Graham (16-16), sophomore
Sherman Dixon (7-7), redshirt-freshman
Torry Early (7-6), redshirt-sophomore
Lucas Schevikoven (12-5) and redshirt-sophomore
Nate Lloyd (10-17). Hensley and Graham each finished sixth at the NCAA II Super Region V while the Rangers finished in fifth place as a team.
In 2021, Parkside will have home duals with Augustana (Jan. 9), Southwest Minnesota State (Jan. 21) and St. Cloud State (Feb. 4). The Rangers will hit the road to face Northern State (Jan. 14), Upper Iowa (Jan. 28) and Minnesota State (Feb. 11). Last year, Parkside faced Augustana (L, 20-15), Minnesota State (L, 20-18) and MSU-Moorhead (W, 28-13).