Mustangs open season at DWU Open

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Mustangs opened the 2023-24 season against a strong field that included five NCAA Division II teams ranked in the NWCA Top 25 team rankings Saturday in Mitchell.

At 165, Zander Ernst had a strong start to the day, picking up a 21-5 tech fall and a 15-5 major decision to make the quarterfinals. After a loss in the quarterfinals to the third place finisher, Ernst earned a 6-0 decision in the consolation fourth round. He won his fifth round and consolation semifinal matches by 7-3 and 9-2 decisions before a no-contest third place match placed him fourth in the weight class. 

Jackson Chapin also placed fourth in his weight class (174) for the Mustangs. Chapin didn't win a match in the championship bracket, getting a first round bye and falling in his first on mat competition of the day. He then won five straight matches: A 4-2 decision, 11-3 major decision over teammate Alex Vandyke, 17-0 technical fall, 24-6 tech fall, 16-0 tech fall, and a fall in 1:38. Chapin placed fourth by no contest. 

Morningside knocked each other out at 141 pounds, as there were three Mustangs in the bracket and two of them were eliminated by teammates. Evan Meadows won his first round match in a fall (6:41). Meadows fell in his second round match and was eliminated in the consolation second round by teammate Brock Bolling.

Bolling lost his first match of the day, but defeated Meadows in a 16-0 technical foul and won his third round consolation match in the exact same fashion. Bolling was also eliminated by a teammate, as Taylor Vasquez earned a major decision (13-3) win in the fourth round of the consolation.

Vasquez made the quarterfinals of the 141-pound bracket by receiving a first round bye and getting a second round fall (2:52). Vasquez fell in the quarterfinals by way of a 7-3 decision. He defeated Bolling and made it to the consolation semifinals with a fall in 5:19. 

Vasquez fell in the consolation semis by 9-6 decision and placed fifth via a forfeit in the fifth place match.

Noah Styskal was won round from placing in his first competition of the season at 157. He earned a 19-2 tech fall win in the first round and earned a tie-breaker win in round two. Styskal then lost in the quarterfinals to fall to the consolation round. Styskal eliminated Augustana's Logan Butzon in the fourth round of the consolation by sudden victory. Butzon eliminated Morningside's Carson Turnis in the second round. Styskal's day came to a close with a 5-2 decision loss in the fifth round.

At 125 pounds, Caelan Oakes Sudhish made a consolation bracket run and went 2-2 on the day. After a second round exit of the championship bracket, Oakes Sudhish earned a tech fall win 15-0 in the consolation second round and a 12-1 major decision win in the third round. The freshman fell in the fourth round of the consolation bracket, but had a successful first collegiate competition.

At 133, 2022-23 national qualifier Benjamin Schmitz battled with Northern State's Clay Gates before taking a fall. Schmitz then medical forfeited his consolation match.

In the 149-pound bracket, Hunter Steffans made the third round of the consolation and Chris Aragon made the second round of the consolation. Steffans fell by sudden victory in the first round of the championship bracket. He earned a major decision and a fall in the consolation bracket, but went 2-2 in his first collegiate competition. Aragon also completed his first collegiate tournament with a win in three matches. After a tech fall loss in the first round, Aragon earned a fall in the consolation first round. He fell in the second round by 7-3 decision.

Outside of Styskal and Turnis, two other Mustangs competed at 157 pounds. Caden Eggleston won his first round match via a 13-5 major decision. He then fell by decision in his next two matches to end his day. 

Blaine Christo made it to the fourth round of the consolation after losing his first match of the day. He received a first round bye in the consolation then proceeded to pick up a 17-2 tech fall win and a 20-second fall win to make the fourth round.

Cameron Shultz also competed at 165 with Ernst. After a first round loss by major decision, Shultz earned a consolation second round victory by 13-10 decision. 

Outside of Chapin's run at 174, Kaden Street made the quarterfinals and Vandyke competed. Street had a first round bye in the championship bracket and earned a 4-1 decision to make the quarterfinals. Back-to-back losses, one being a 15-11 decision and the other being a 13-3 major decision, ended Street's day. Vandyke had a difficult draw to start the day, falling to an Augustana wrestler 13-11 in the first round and dropping a bout against one of his teammates. 

Five Morningsiders were in action at 184 pounds. Samuel Moore found the most success of any Mustang in the weight class, making the fifth round of consolations. He earned a 12-8 decision to make the quarterfinals. A 10-8 decision moved him to the consolation bracket, and a fall in 2:17 kept his day going in the fourth round of the consolations. A fall in the fifth round ended Moore's day. 

Bryce Kwiecinski also made the quarterfinals at 184. He earned a 10-4 decision in the second round after receiving a first round bye. He dropped his quarterfinal match and the ensuing consolation match. Brett Tryon, Hayden Wempen, and Deontez Williams didn't pick up wins. 

Hunter DeJong and Sendeska Kalskett competed at heavyweight alongside Megaeska Kalskett. Megaeska Kalskett made the fifth round of the consolations after a quarterfinal run in the championship bracket. He won via 11-5 decision in the second round before a quarterfinal loss. A 7-0 decision moved him to the fifth round of the consolations. DeJong picked up a fall to make the quarterfinals before dropping his next two matches. Sendeska Kalskett won via fall in his first round of the day, but a second round loss followed by a consolation loss concluded his competition for the day. 

Morningside is back in action at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Open Saturday, Nov. 18.