Mustangs rout Raiders in 2024 dual debut

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The near-whiteout conditions outside of the Hindman-Hobbs Center tonight weren't enough to cool off a Morningside men's wrestling team that was looking to get a hot start to the second stanza of its conference slate, where the Mustangs scored a decisive victory over Northwestern's Red Raiders, 40-11.

Morningside led from the first match of the night, as Caelan Oakes Sudhish took control of his 125-pound match, opening a 6-0 lead before scoring a fall at the 4:25 mark.

Taylor Vasquez was the next Mustang on the mat at 141 pounds, going the entire seven minutes as he recorded a 10-3 decision. Vasquez' match was one of four to run until the end of the third period.

At 149 pounds, Chris Aragon scored six points for Morningside, pinning his opponent in 1:11.

Noah Styskal added on to Morningside's lead, recording a 19-9 major decision to give the Mustangs a 19-6 lead before Zander Ernst made it 25-6 with a forfeit.

At 174 pounds Jackson Chapin put on a technical clinic, earning a 15-0 tech fall at the conclusion of the first period.

Hayden Wempen added four points to Morningside's already sizable lead, scoring a 14-4 major decision to give the Mustangs a 34-6 lead.

The night concluded with an exclamation point from Hunter DeJong, as the heavyweight looked like he was headed for the second tech fall of the night, opening up a 15-1 lead before pinning his opponent at the final whistle.

Morningside, advancing to 3-0 in duals this season, will host crosstown rival, Briar Cliff, on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Hindman-Hobbs Center.