
Mustangs set for big championship Saturday after opening rounds
CRETE, Neb. – The Morningside men’s wrestling team put themselves into strong position heading into championship Saturday with big performances Friday during the opening day of the Great Plains Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships.
CRETE, Neb. – The Morningside men's wrestling team put themselves into strong position heading into championship Saturday with big performances Friday during the opening day of the Great Plains Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships.
Evan Shell is one of 11 Mustangs in the semifinals heading into Saturday. Shell won his quarterfinal match at 125-pounds by fall in 1:58. With one GPAC wrestler at 125 going to the NAIA Championships, Shell will have to win the weight class to advance.
There are two Mustangs alive at 133-pounds. Taylor Vasquez earned a quarterfinals fall in 2:12 to make the semifinals. Benjamin Schmitz earned a fall in the round of 16, and despite a loss in the quarterfinals, he earned a 15-3 major decision to stay alive in the consolation side of the bracket. Three wrestlers from the conference will make the NAIA Tournament, meaning both Vasquez and Schmitz still have hopes of making it to nationals.
Nicholas Walters earned a pair of wins to make the semifinals at 141. He earned an 8-1 decision in the round of 16, and a fall in 3:58 in the quarterfinals to make the semis. There are three spots for the NAIA meet up for grabs at 141 Saturday.
John Diener was on the mat for 2:58 Friday, earning falls in 44 seconds and 2:14 to make the semifinals at 149. He hopes to be one of three NAIA qualifiers in the weight class Saturday.
Noah Styskal had one match Friday at 157, earning a 10-2 major decision to make the semifinals. Styskal will need to win his semifinal match Saturday to make the NAIA meet, as there are two qualifiers in the weight class.
The Mustangs have two grapplers standing in the semifinals at 165. Caleb Connor earned a fall in 1:25 to make the semifinals, and Zander Ernst earned a 7-1 decision to make the semifinals on the other side of the bracket. If both guys win their semifinal matches, there would be an all-Morningside final and both wrestlers would head to nationals. There are four qualifiers from the weight class to be determined Saturday.
Alex Vandyke picked up a 7-2 decision to make the semifinals at 174. With a win in the semifinals, Vandyke would be headed to the NAIA meet.
Hayden Wempen is hoping to be one of three NAIA qualifiers at 184-pounds, as he earned a 17-7 major decision to make the semifinals. There are three qualifying spots up for grabs Saturday.
Two Mustangs could be headed for a championship clash at 285-pounds. Hunter DeJong earned a fall in the round of 16 in 4:41 and an 8-0 major decision in the quarterfinals. On the other end of the bracket, Jakob Jerabek picked up a 7-1 decision and a fall in in 1:04. Both grapplers stand in the semifinals at heavyweight, where there are four spots up for grabs. Making the semifinals doesn't guarantee a spot for the NAIA meet due to having to win a consolation match to make the third place match, if either wrestler were to lose their semifinal.
Wrestling action resumes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in Crete, Nebraska.