Grapplers trounce Tigers

Photo by Jonah Gleason, Morningside Sports Information Intern

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside men's wrestling hosted Dakota Wesleyan today in its final home dual tonight, defeating the Tigers 29-11 in the Hindman-Hobbs Center. The Mustangs, celebrating Senior Night, won six consecutive matches to open the dual, picking up a seventh before the night was over.

Evan Shell, the lone senior recognized today, started the night for Morningside at 125 pounds. Shell claimed an 18-3 victory in his match, claiming the tech fall in 4:11 to give the Mustangs an early lead.

Morningside continued to have success in the 133-pound match, as Ben Schmitz pinned his opponent in 5:23. 

Nick Walters, John Diener, Noah Styskal, and Zander Ernst all collected decisions, winning at the 141-, 149-, 157-, and 165-pound weight classes, to give the Mustangs a 23 point advantage before DWU got on the board.

Morningside collected its final points of the night at 184 pounds, as Hayden Wempen picked up the pin in the shortest match of the night, claiming the victory in 2:48. 

The Mustangs are back on the mat on Saturday, wrestling at Briar Cliff University at 7 p.m. The Chargers are conducting a food drive, asking spectators to bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the Charger Cupboard, Briar Cliff's on-campus food pantry.