Morningside sends seven to men's wrestling nationals

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics revealed its list of qualifiers for the 2024 Men's Wrestling National Championship, advancing an additional pair of Mustangs to the NAIA event, bringing Morningside's field on the championship stage to seven men.

Noah Styskal was the first Mustang to advance via at-large bid after making the 157-pound championship in Saturday's Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships. Styskal won his first two matches of the day by way of major decision 13-1 and fall in 1:14. After a sudden victory loss in the championship, Styskal fell by decision in the second place match. 

Zander Ernst also advanced by at-large bid after placing third at 165 pounds at the GPACs, making the semifinals via tech fall 19-3. In the consolation semifinals, Ernst won by tech fall again 21-4 and picked up a tech fall 21-6 in the third place match.

Styskal and Ernst join Taylor Vasquez (141), Alex Vandyke (174), Hayden Wempen (184), Hunter DeJong (285), and Jakob Jerabek (285), who all punched their tickets to Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan. through automatic qualifier spots at Saturday's GPAC Championships. 

Brackets for the NAIA championship will be released on Friday, Feb. 23, with competition in Park City beginning on Feb. 29 at 11 a.m.