Southwest Minnesota State University Men's Wrestling

Chayse Jackson in his fifth season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State in 2025-26 after being named the fifth coach in the program history on July 15, 2021. During his first season in 2021-22, Jackson guided the Mustangs to a 2-6 record, including a win over Minnesota State for the first time since 2014 and second since 1990. The Mustangs were lead by All-NSIC first team member Caden Steffen, who won just the third region title in the program's Division II history, and placed sixth at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American status for the second consecutive year.  Barb Marx (photo credit) In 2022-23, SMSU started the season strong and was ranked as high as No. 22 nationally, while both Steffen (184) and Jacob Dykes (HWT) were ranked among the top 10 nationally. Steffen racked up a record of 16-2, but suffered an injury in January and was not able to defend his region title. In 2023-24, SMSU went 4-7 overall and 2-7 in conference action with victories over MSU Moorhead (30-8) and Sioux Falls (30-20). SMSU placed four student-athletes at the Super Region V tournament. Carlo Arreola (125), Adam Sylvester (184), and Jacob Dykes (285) all finished in 6th place, while Caden Steffen (197) earned second place and punched his ticket to the 2024 National Championships. The Mustangs finished the Super Region V tournament in seventh place. During the 2023-24 academic year, the SMSU wrestling team posted a GPA of 3.21, ranking No. 21 in the country. Five wrestling student-athletes were named NWCA Division II Scholar All-Americans.     Off the mat, the SMSU program had tremendous success in 2022-23, ranking No. 19 in the country in GPA, while three student-athletes, Nye Becker, Sean Howk and Jace Paplow were each named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. The three were also named to the NWCA Scholar All-American team. In 2024-25, SMSU continued its strong schedule competing at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, while also hosting a five-team dual tournament inside the PE Gym. Arreola was SMSU's lone place winner at the Super Region V tournament earning sixth at 125.   Jackson arrived to SMSU after serving the three seasons as an assistant coach at Minot State University. Jackson helped Minot State make significant improvements during his three-year tenure. In 2019-20, MSU recorded a Division II era record six dual wins, as well as victories over three Top 25 programs. The team also received its first-ever Division II national ranking. During his first year on staff in 2018-19, the Beavers had three NWCA Scholar All-Americans, four Super Region V place-winners and a school-record two national qualifiers.   MSU had seven NWCA Scholar All-Americans and 24 Academic All-NSIC honorees during Jackson’s three seasons on staff. Prior to joining the staff at Minot State, Jackson spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Dubuque (2016-18) and one season as a volunteer assistant coach at Grand Canyon University (2015-16).   Jackson was a five-year member (2011-16) and two-time team captain for the Grand Canyon University wrestling program. He suffered a season-ending injury during his senior season and moved to the coaching ranks.   Jackson is 2015 graduate of Grand Canyon University with a degree in biology & pre-med with a minor in coaching. He earned his MBA at the University of Dubuque in 2018 and also a master’s degree in sports management at Minot State in 2020. Chayse and his wife, Jenna, an assistant athletic trainer at SMSU, live in Marshall.   Chayse Jackson Year-by-Year at SMSU Year School Overall NSIC NSIC Finish 2021-22 SMSU 2-6 2-6 8th 2022-23 SMSU 1-8 1-8 9th 2023-24 SMSU 4-7 2-7 8th 2024-25 SMSU 3-12 0-9 9th 2025-26 SMSU 3-12 2-8 9th Total 5 seasons 13-45 7-38 Jackson at SMSU • 2 NCAA national qualifiers • 1 NCAA All-American • 2 All-NSIC first team • 6 Mustangs named NSIC Wrestler of the Week • 10 NWCA Scholar All-Americans • 24 Academic All-NSIC Jackson Resume - 2021-26, SMSU, Head Coach - 2018-21, Minot State, Assistant Coach - 2016-18, University of Dubuque, Graduate Assistant - 2015-16, Grand Canyon University, Volunteer Assistant  

Nelson was named the fourth coach in the program history on Aug. 22, 2007. Nelson, the 2013-14 NSIC Coach of the Year, begins the 2016-17 season with a dual record of 54-61-1, including 19-37 in conference matches. Nelson helped another Mustang wrestler to the national championships during the 2015-16 season. Cole Wilson (285) finished eighth place at the NCAA Super Region III tournament to earn his third-consecutive trip to the national tournament. Wilson went on to finish eighth place and earned All-American honors to be the 10th All-American in school history. Wilson finish his career with a 103-32 record, which ranks seventh for most wins in a career. SMSU finished the 2015-16 season 8-11 overall and 4-4 in the NSIC for a fifth place finish. In the 2014-15 season, Nelson guided a pair of wrestlers to second place finishes at the NCAA Super Region 3 tournament. Both Jacob Begin (174) and Cole Wilson (285) finished runner-up in the region and qualified for the NCAA National Tournament for the third and second consecutive year, respectfully. Begin went on to finish fourth at the national tournament and was named the ninth All-American in school history. Begin finished his career 104-32-1, which ranks sixth in school history. SMSU finished the 2014-15 season 8-10 overall and 3-5 in the NSIC. Nelson led the Mustangs to one of their most successful seasons in recent memory in 2013-14. SMSU finished third in the NSIC with a 6-2 recordits most wins since joining the conference in 2000and highest finish in the league standings winning the title that same season. For the third consecutive season, Nelson tutored a Mustang wrestler to the NCAA Championships. For his and SMSUs success in 2013-14, Nelson was named NSIC Coach of the Year, while four Mustangs earned all-conference accolades. The Mustangs finished 12-5 overall to achieve their third straight season reaching double-digit dual wins.   SMSU's 13 dual wins in 2012-13 were the most wins in school history since the 1989-90 season, while in 2013-14, Nelson guided SMSU to dual wins over Augustana and Minnesota State. The win over the Vikings was the first since 1998-99, while the 31-9 victory over the Mavericks snapped a 22-dual losing skid dating back to the 1990-91 season.   Since 2011-12, a total of 17 Mustangs have been honored with National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic awards. In 2013, 2014 and 2016, Nelson coached a first team CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, while Cole Wilson became the program's first CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2016.   SMSU finished 13-6 in dual meets in 2012-13, marking the third straight winning season, finishing fifth in the nine-team NSIC. The 13 dual wins was the highest total at since the 1989-90 season. Nelson guided Justin Reinsma to his second straight All-America honor with a second consecutive seventh place finish. Nelson sent four wrestlers to the NCAA national tournament, marking the most in a single season since the 2003. Nelson guided three wrestlers -- Kyle Begin (1st, 174), Jacob Begin (2nd, 165) and Justin Reinsma (2nd, 133) to All-NSIC honors, marking the most in a single season since 2003.   Nelson's inaugural season in 2007-08, saw his squad finished 0-11, working with just a 15-man roster. Under the tutelage of Nelson, SMSU had one NCAA national qualifier in Tyler Johnson, while another, Luke Giese, was just one win away from qualifying.   In 2008-09, Nelson led the Mustangs to their first conference win since the 2006-07, while two Mustangs qualified for the NCAA championships.   During the 2009-10 season, SMSU picked up four dual match victories and had three individuals qualify for the NCAA championships, the programs highest since 2003.   SMSUs 8-4-1 dual record in 2010-11, was the programs first winning season since 2002-03, while the team also finished tied for fourth in the NSIC and had one national qualifier.   SMSU continued its winning ways in 2011-12, recording 10 dual victories, while Justin Reinsma earned All-American honors with a seventh place finish at nationals.   A native of St. James, Minn., Nelson brings an impressive list of accomplishments to SMSU from his young career at the junior college level. He guided Ridgewater College to top-five finishes nationally in each of his five seasons there, including a national championship in 2004-05 and a second-place finish in 2003-04.   In addition to the team success, Nelson coached numerous student-athletes to individual success. During his five years at Ridgewater, he coached 13 All-Americans, four national finalists and one national champion.   Nelsons head coaching career at the junior college ranks was a decorated one as he picked up many awards in his five years at Ridgewater. He was named Minnesota Community College Conference Coach of the Year following each of his five seasons at the school and was named NJCAA Region XIII Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004.   Nelson has also enjoyed success at the high school level, where he coached Greenbush-Middle River/Badger High School in Badger, Minn. In one year at GMRB, he coached five state tournament place winners and two state champions.   A former collegiate wrestler, Nelson has a well-rounded background in coaching. In addition to coaching wrestling at Ridgewater and GMRB, Nelson coached freestyle wrestling and Minnesota Junior National Greco-Roman wrestling with Minnesota USA Wrestling. He was also an assistant football coach at Ridgewater for five years. At the high school level, he was a head softball coach and a junior high and VFW baseball coach in the Montevideo (Minn.) School District.   Nelson was a two-sport standout for Ridgewater College. As a wrestler, he was a NJCAA national qualifier in 1995 and 1996 and was named Male Athlete of the Year in 1996. He also played football for two years, serving as team captain and earning all-conference accolades.   Following his time competing at Ridgewater, Nelson moved on to St. Cloud State where he was a member of the wrestling team for one season. He is a 1999 graduate of St. Cloud State with a degree in physical education. He completed his masters degree from Minnesota State University in sports administration.   Jesse and his wife, Julie, live in Minneota, and have a son, Blake, and a daughter, Brooklyn.   2003 NJCAA Region XIII Coach of the Year 2003 Minnesota Community College Conference Coach of the Year 2004 NJCAA Region XIII Coach of the Year 2004 Minnesota Community College Conference Coach of the Year 2005 Minnesota Community College Conference Coach of the Year 2006 Minnesota Community College Conference Coach of the Year 2007 Minnesota Community College Conference Coach of the Year 2013-14 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year Coached 19 NCAA national qualifiers and one two-time All-American Coached four NCAA All-Americans Five first team All-NSIC and six second team All-NSIC honorees Tutored 22 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic award winners Coached three CoSIDA Academic All-District selections Coached one CoSIDA Academic All-Americans 2002-03 Third-place NJCAA finish 2003-04 Second-place NJCAA finish 2004-05 NJCAA Champions 2005-06 Fifth-place NJCAA finish 2006-07 Fourth-place NJCAA finish 13 All-Americans 4 National finalists 1 National champion - 2007-Present, SMSU, Head Coach - 2002-2007, Ridgewater College, Head Coach - 2001-2002, Greenbush-Middle River/Badger High School, Head Coach Jesse Nelson Year-by-Year at SMSU

Dylan Buschow is in his fifth season as an assistant coach with the SMSU wrestling program in 2025-26 and assists in all facets of the program.   Buschow came to SMSU after spending the 2020-21 academic year as a volunteer wrestling coach at Archbishop Bergan Catholic School in Fremont, Neb.   Buschow was a two-year letter winner at Midland University (Neb.) and as a senior placed sixth at 184 pounds at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships.   Prior to Midland, Buschow competed two seasons at Northeastern Junior College (Colo.).   Buschow, a 2020 graduate of Midland University in general studies, is pursuing his master’s degree at SMSU. Dyland and his wife, Caitlyn, live in Marshall.