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THIS WEEK: Minot State will hit the road to compete in the Grand Canyon University duals in Phoenix, Ariz. on January 5th. The Beavers will take on Colorado Mesa University, Chadron State College, Western State Colorado University, and Grand Canyon University.

RECORDS: MISU is 1-2 overall, 0-2 in the NSIC. CMU is 4-0 overall, CSC is 0-2 overall, WSCU is 0-1 overall and GCU is 1-2 overall.

COACHES CORNER: Robin Ersland is in his 3rd season as the Minot State head coach and sports a 10-10 overall record with the Beavers. Ersland, a NCAA Division II Hall of Fame inductee, is 217-260-7 overall in a stellar career. CMU is coached by Chuck Pipher, who is in his seventh season with the Mavericks. In 2011-12, he led five wrestlers to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Brett Hunter is the Interim Head Coach at CSC. Hunter was previously a graduate assistant and a former Eagle wrestler. He won two national titles (2006 & 2009)  for CSC during his career. WSCU is coached by Miles Van Hee. Van Hee is in his 14th season at head coach of the Mountaineers. Over his tenure, he has coached six national champions at the Division II level. R.C. LaHaye led the Antelopes to a third place finish in the 2011-12 NCAA Division II National Tournament including two individual champions.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: MISU provides live video and live stats at msubeavers.com/stayconnected. Minot State Athletics also is active on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube with all feeds accessible through the home page.

RANKINGS: Minot State was not ranked in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Top 25 Poll. Colorado Mesa is ranked No. 17, Western State Colorado received votes and Grand Canyon University is currently ranked at No. 6 in NCAA Division II.

RECENT HISTORY: The Beavers opened their Northern Sun schedule with a 49-0 loss at No. 3 St. Cloud State University. The Huskies are the defending NCAA Division II National Runners Up.

OVERALL SERIES: Since reinstating the wrestling program in 2010, Minot State has not faced any of the four opponents on the wrestling mat.

NOTING THE MAVERICKS: Coming off a 8-12 record in the 2011-12 season, Colorado Mesa is off to a hot start in 2012-13 going 4-0 in duals to start the their season. CMU last wrestled on Dec. 6, as they defeated Western State Colorado 22-16. At 184, the Mavericks have one of the best wrestlers in the nation, Nick Petersen. Peterson placed seventh at the NCAA Division II National Championships last season on his way to earning All-American honors. He is currently ranked 8th in all Division II with a 9-2 record.
 
NOTING THE EAGLES: Chadron State is currently 0-2 on the young season, falling to both Dickinson State University and Northern State University in non-conference duals. CSC heads south earlier than other teams, as they take on Embry-Riddle University on Jan. 4 in Prescott, Ariz. One bright spot for the Eagles as been senior Perry McAfee. McAfee went 2-0 at 133 pounds in the two duals. Those two performances earned him Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week honors.
 
NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS: After a 9-6 2011-12 season and placing sixth in the Super Region Four Championships, Western State Colorado looks to build on that success this season. The Mountaineers have only wrestled in one dual so far this season, falling 22-16 to Colorado Mesa. Senior Kyle Piatt was one of the Mountaineers to win his match against CMU. Piatt pinned his opponent at 184 in his only dual match this season.
 
NOTING THE ANTELOPES: In 2011-12, Grand Canyon University was one of the best teams in all of NCAA Division II wrestling. GCU went 19-5 on the season while placing third at the NCAA Division II National Championships. This season the Antelopes are off to a 1-2 start, both losses coming to Division I opponents Cal State Bakersfield and Arizona State. GCU returns many contributors from last season, but maybe none are more important than senior Kyle McCrite. McCrite was a NCAA Division II National Champion last season at 125 and is off to a 6-7 start this season.

LIVE AND LEARN: Minot State got a taste of some of the best wrestling at the NCAA Division II level with a 49-0 loss to #3 St. Cloud State University on Dec. 15. Expectations have been raised by the Beavers as they know what is expected of them to compete in the Northern Sun and NCAA Division II.

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD: After a season-opening 44-0 win over Regina, the Beavers have one of the toughest schedules in all of NCAA Division II. Including losses against University of Mary and St. Cloud State, nine out of eleven MISU opponents are ranked in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Polls.

FETTERLEY LOOKS TO DOMINATE DUALS: Junior Matt Fetterley (Jr., 174, Muskegon, Mich.) will look to continue his success in Phoenix, as he has been the top wrestler for the Beavers. Fetterley has a record of 8-5 so far this year. Three of his eight wins have come by fall. He has also had one win by major decision.

BEAVERS ON THE BIG STAGE: Since reinstating the wrestling program in 2010, the Beavers have not wrestled on a bigger stage then they will at the Grand Canyon University duals. With four duals in one day, three will be against ranked teams, MISU will need to rise to the occasion and wrestle their best on the biggest stage.
 
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The Beavers have not wrestled in competition since Dec. 15 and will be looking forward to getting back on the mat against another team. MISU will not only look to shock some teams at the Grand Canyon duals, but they will use this as good practice before they head to Springfield, Ill. on Jan. 12 & 13 for the NWCA National Duals.