Mustang
WRESTLING SATURDAY, JAN. 15 Morningside University looks to keep its unbeaten Great Plains Athletic Conference and overall dual mark intact this evening. The Mustangs ranked No. 19 on the recent National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ poll with a 3-0 record, host Briar Cliff University in their dual home opener. The Chargers sport a 4-2 overall and 3-2 league mark after being bested by fellow Siouxland foe Northwestern College 27-9 midweek. Dating back to the 2017-18 season, the crosstown mat collision has been nip-and-tuck. Morningside holds a 3-2 edge in the span, with each outcome being decided by 10-points-or-less.
THE MATCH-UP The Week Three edition of the NAIA coaches poll provided plenty of good news for the Mustangs. It started with the team cracking the best 20 for the first time in 2021-22 at No. 19. Individually, four Mside student-athletes were part of their respective weight class top 20. Junior John Diener led the quartet with a No. 5 ranking at 149; fellow junior Taylor Vasquez was No. 11 at 133; sophomore Hunter DeJong was No. 14 at 197, and junior 125-pounder Evan Shell was No. 19 at 125. Morningside opened the week with a decisive 33-15 conference win at Dakota Wesleyan University on Jan. 13. Mside roared out to a 17-3 lead after four weights as sophomore 125-pounder Benjamin Schmitz received a forfeit, junior 141-pounder Noah Styskal registered a technical fall, and Diener picked up a first-period pin. Following a 12-point home team rally over the subsequent three weights, DeJong turned in a major decision, and senior 174-pounder Brody Kacmarynski and sophomore heavyweight Brenick Hoppe tallied forfeit victories to lock up the team triumph. Tonight’s dual is part of a busy Saturday for Stevenson’s squad. They also sent some individuals to the Worthington Open hosted by Minnesota West Community College earlier today.
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Next week, Morningside steps away from dual action, competing in the two-day Missouri Valley College Invitational in Marshall, Mo., Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21 and 22. They’re back home for a 7 p.m. GPAC clash with Northwestern Wednesday, Jan. 26. Head coach Joe Privitere’s team has three individuals among the weight class rankings. Junior CaRon Watson is No. 9 at 125; senior Ben Peters is No. 11 at 149, and senior Caleb Shanks checks in at No. 20 at 197.