Partial Mustang squad competes in Central Invitational

PELLA, IOWA – While part of Morningside's men's wrestling team was competing in the 2023 US Marine Corps NWCA Multi-Division National Duals, a delegation traveled to Pella, Iowa to compete in Central College's Central Under Armour Invitational. 

Caleb Connor finished second place in the gold 165-pound weight class, picking up decisions in the first round, quarter finals, and semifinals, 3-0, 7-4, and 12-11 before suffering a major decision in the championship match.

Benjamin Schmitz finished fifth in the gold 133 bracket, collecting a victory by fall in 2:42 in the opening round before dropping to the consolation bracket after a 15-9 quarterfinal loss. Schmitz won out, with 7-6 and 8-7 decisions.

Jacob Jerabek was kicked to the consolation bracket courtesy of a 9-3 first round decision, but worked through the consolation bracket, collecting falls in 1:40 and 2:30 to reach the consolation championship. In that match, Jerabek won in overtime, 3-1.

Teammates Forrest Hyson and Brenick Birks Hoppe also competed in the gold 285 weight class, with Hyson winning via fall in 1:36 in the first round before dropping a pair of matches. Birks Hoppe suffered a pair of falls, with the second coming to Jerabek's eventual final opponent.

Morningside is back on the mat on Wednesday, wrestling against Dakota Wesleyan in the Hindman-Hobbs Center at 6 p.m.