Mustang
WRESTLING WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26
A four duals in four days stretch for Morningside University, and Northwestern College begins this evening in the fieldhouse of the Hindman-Hobbs Center. The Mustangs (3-1 overall, 3-1 conference) and Red Raiders (4-4 overall, 2-2 conference) continue the 2021-22 Great Plains Athletic Conference slate with a Siouxland clash. The two squads are also part of the GPAC Duals’ second section Saturday, Jan. 29, at The Arena Academy in Sioux City. Head coach Jake Stevenson’s Mside squad faces Doane University, Hastings College, and Midland University. Head coach Rik Dahl’s NWC crew takes on Concordia University, Hastings College, and Midland University.
THE SERIES Morningside has claimed three of the last four meetings, including a rousing 38-9 victory last January. Two of the final deficits in that span have been decided by six-points-or-less.
THE MATCH-UP Sophomore 197-pounder Hunter DeJong reached the semifinal round of the championship side of the 2022 Missouri Valley College Invitational on Jan. 21 and 22. Ranked No. 15 on the latest National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ poll, he used three decisions, decided by twopoints-or-less, to arrive in the last four. DeJong faced off against Montana State-Northern standout Isaac Bartel for a spot in the finale but was held off 6-0 by the nation’s top-ranked wrestler. DeJong wound up fourth in the 31-man bracket. The lower-weight junior combination of 149-pounder John Diener and 133-pounder Taylor Vasquez also added their names to the top eight registry. Diener got to the championship quarterfinal before being edged 2-1 by Andreus Bond of Southeastern University of Florida. He came back and gathered three wins to make the consolation final, where he was held off in a one-point decision to take fourth. Vasquez battled his way to seventh after reaching the championship quarterfinal. He completed the two-day tourney with a 4-2 record. Mside’s program earned 35 poll points on the fourth NAIA coaches poll, released Jan. 20. The total placed them No. 22, just five shy of overtaking Baker University of Kansas for the No. 20 slot. Four weight classes had Mustangs placed among the best 20, too. Diener was No. 4; Vasquez checked in at No. 10, and sophomore 125-pounder Benjamin Schmitz debuted at No. 20 along with DeJong’s post.
The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.
Northwestern is led by sophomore 184-pounder Luke Jenness. He was ranked No. 19 on the latest NAIA listings. His 21 victories top the Orange City room, followed by the likes of freshman 174-pounder Jakob Francksen-Small (13), junior 165-pounder Blake Pomajzl (12), and junior 133-pounder Manny Jaramillo (10). Dahl’s team, receiving two ranking points on the last coaches poll, has a two-dual win streak in tow, having upended Avila College of Missouri 37-10 and Briar Cliff 27-9 earlier this month.