Mustangs open season at Dakota Wesleyan Open

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Morningside men's wrestling team competed in the Dakota Wesleyan University Open this weekend, getting its first taste of competition outside of the team's ranks.

John Diener was the top finisher for Morningside, placing second in his 157-pound weight class bracket. Diener fell in the championship match in a 7-3 decision.

At heavyweight, Hunter DeJong placed fourth, starting the day with an 18-1 tech fall and following it with a pin. DeJong dropped to the consolation bracket following the semifinal round. 

Taylor Vasquez placed fifth at 141 pounds, falling to the consolation bracket in the quarterfinals. Vasquez fell in the consolation semifinals in a 13-10 decision.

Zander Ernst placed fifth in the 165-pound weight class, falling in the semifinals and consolation semifinals before concluding the day in an 8-6 victory in the fifth place match.

In the 174-pound weight class, Alex Vandyke worked through the consolation bracket collecting a pair of pins and a tech fall. Vandyke's path through the brackets pitted him against fellow Morningside wrestlers Brett Tryton and Samuel Moore.

The Mustangs are at the Younes Hospitality Open at the University of Nebraska-Kearney next weekend.