MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head wrestling coach Jesse Nelson announced today the signing of 13 student-athletes for the 2013-14 season. Matt Arnold, Ashton Bartlett, Trent Butcher, Derek Carlson, Trevor Mahlum, Craig Mass, Antonio Meikel, Vaughn Monreal-Berner, Hunter Rehbein, Dylan Riggle, Colton Stoddard, Devin Tortorice and Colton Vekved have all signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at SMSU.
The 13 student-athletes bring SMSU’s 2013-14 recruiting class to 15 as today’s signees join Taylor Curtis and Eugene Martin who committed during the early signing period last November.
“Each of these talented student-athletes will make great additions to our roster,” Nelson said. “This group addresses the needs of the future of our program, and we are thrilled to welcome them as Mustangs. We look forward to working with this class, and expect them to play an integral role in continuing the development and improvement of SMSU wrestling.”
Southwest Minnesota State, located in Marshall, is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and competes in NCAA Division II. SMSU finished the 2012-13 dual season with a record of 13-6, had four NCAA national qualifiers, including one All-American.
2013-14 SMSU Signees
Name, Weight, Hometown / High School / Previous School
- Matt Arnold, 157, Wabasso, Minn. / Wabasso
- Ashton Bartlett, 165, St. Peter, Minn. / St. Peter
- Trent Butcher, 133, Chaska, Minn. / Chaska
- Derek Carlson, 285, Mora, Minn. / Mora / Ridgewater College
- Trevor Mahlum, 184, Murdock, Minn. / Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg
- Craig Maas, 133, Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji
- Antonio Meikel, 125, Magna, Utah / Kearns
- Vaughn Monreal-Berner, 184, Niles, Ill. / Niles West
- Hunter Rehbein, 125, Prunedale, Calif. / Palma
- Dylan Riggle, 149, Lakefield, Minn. / Jackson County Central
- Colton Stoddard, 141/149, Quasqueton, Iowa / East Buchanan
- Devin Tortorice, 133, Wauconda, Ill. / Wauconda
- Colton Vekved, 170, Becker, Minn. / Becker
Signed in November, 2012
- Taylor Curtis, 125, Underwood, Iowa / Underwood
- Eugene Martin, 197, Bryant, S.D. / Kingsbury
2013-14 SMSU Signees Bios
Matt Arnold, 157 lbs., Wabasso, Minn. – Spent two years at Alexandria Tech & Community College … 2011 graduate of Wabasso HS … wrestled for coach Gary Hindt … all-conference honoree … son of Patricia Ebner.
Ashton Bartlett, 165 lbs., St. Peter, Minn. – 2013 graduate of St. Peter HS … wrestled for coach Keith Hanson … six-time letterwinner … three-time all-conference … two-time team captain … recorded 28 victories as a senior … conference runner-up … 2012 conference wrestler of the year … racked up a 58-18 record in final two seasons … three-year letterwinner in football … team captain … son of Michael and Tracy Chmiel and Mike Bartlett.
Trent Butcher, 133 lbs., Chaska, Minn. – 2013 graduate of Chaska HS … wrestled for coach Brent Eidenschink and Mike Schultz … four-year letterwinner … finished third at 126 lbs. at Minnesota State 3A Tournament as a senior … recorded 36 victories as a senior … finished career with 124 victories and was a three-time state participant … son of Bob and Cindy Butcher.
Derek Carlson, 285 lbs, Mora, Minn. (Ridgewater College) – Spent two seasons at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn. … 2010 graduate of Mora High School … finished sixth at 285 lbs. at Minnesota State 2A Tournament as a senior … son of Keith Carlson and Sheila Miller.
Trevor Mahlum, 184 lbs., Murdock, Minn. (Ridgewater College) – Spent two seasons at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn. … two-time national qualifier … two-time All-Academic honoree … 2011 graduate of K-M-S High School … wrestle for coach Wes Hagland … all-conference as a senior … finished fifth at 160 lbs. at Minnesota State 1A Tournament as a senior … member of 2009 state championship team … son of Trevor Mahlum.
Craig Maas, 133 lbs., Bemidji, Minn. – 2013 graduate of Bemidji HS … wrestled for coach Rance Bahr … recorded 29 victories as a senior … racked up 98 career victories … son of Paul Maas.
Antonio Meikel, 126 lbs., Magna, Utah – 2013 graduate of Kearns HS … wrestled for coach Fred Falcon … four-time state qualifier … two-time state finalist … finished second at 126 lbs. at Utah 5A Tournament as a senior … All-American in Greco … son of Bob and Milissa Meikel.
Vaughn Monreal-Berner, 184 lbs., Niles, Ill., – 2013 graduate of Niles West HS … wrestled for coach Anthony Genovesi … four-year letterwinner … named 2013 male athlete of the year … two-time team captain … finished sixth at 182 lbs. at Illinois 3A Tournament as a senior … racked up 36 wins, including 17 by fall as a senior … team captain in football … all-conference in football … son of Paul and Yvonne Monreal-Berner.
Hunter Rehbein, 125 lbs., Prunedale, Calif., – 2013 graduate of Palma HS … wrestled for coach Simon Jimenez … four-year letterwinner … recorded 95 career victories … missed most of senior season with an injury … team MVP as a junior … state qualifier as a junior … son of Tracy and Tanya Rehbein.
Dylan Riggle, 144 lbs., Lakefield, Minn. – 2013 graduate of Jackson County Central HS … wrestled for coach Randy Baker … helped team to four state team championships.
Colton Stoddard, 141/149 lbs., Quasqueton, Iowa – 2013 graduate of East Buchanan HS … wrestled for coach Tim Connolly … four-year letterwinner … three-time state qualifier … finished seventh at 152 lbs. at Iowa 1A State Tournament as a junior … finished 48-6 as a senior … recorded 162 career victories … also twice named all-district in football … son of Allan & Johnna Nunemaker and the late Corey Stoddard.
Devin Tortorice, 133 lbs., Wauconda, Ill, – 2013 graduate of Wauconda HS … wrestled for coach Tom Nance … finished with 41 victories as a senior … regional and sectional champion … three-time state qualifier … recorded 131 career victories … son of Dominick and Christi Tortorice.
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Colton Vekved, 157 lbs., Becker, Minn. – 2013 graduate of Becker HS … wrestled for coach Matt Aho … five-time letterwinner … two-time all-conference … four-time section place winner … two-time section champion … two-time state placer winner … finished sixth at 160 lbs. at Minnesota 2A State Tournament as a senior … team MVP … also played football.
Taylor Curtis, 125 lbs., Underwood, Iowa – 2013 graduate of Underwood HS … three-time state qualifier … finished his senior season with a record of 54-2 … won state championship at 106 lbs. at Iowa 1A State Tournament as a senior … took home third place honors as a junior … career record of 172-40.
Eugene Martin, 197 lbs., Bryant, S.D. – 2013 graduate of Kingsburg HS … finished his senior season with a record of 46-1 … won the South Dakota State state championship in Class B at 195 lbs. as a senior … two-time state champion … five-time state qualifier … also placed fourth at the NHSCA Senior National Championships.
Where are they going in 2013-14? Minnesota Recruits 2013-14