Wrestling

Andrew Anthofer, a 157 pounder from Coon Rapids, Iowa. Anthofer is a senior at Coon Rapids-Bayard High School, where he is the school’s all-time leader with 89 career falls and ranks third in career victories with a 137-45 career mark.

He had a 49-3 record with 33 falls this past season and was Iowa’s Class 1A 152 lb. runner-up after he dropped a 5-2 decision against two-time state champion Clay Welter of Gilbertville Don Bosco in the state championship match. His 49 victories and 33 falls are Coon Rapids-Bayard single-season records.

Anthofer had a 31-8 record with 19 falls as a junior and a 39-12 record with 27 falls as a sophomore.

Brian Block, a 174-184 pounder from Sibley, Iowa. Block is a senior at Sibley-Ocheyedan High School, where he is the Generals’ all-time victory leader with a career record of 160-35. Block, who posted 75 of his victories by fall, is also Sibley-Ocheyedan’s all-time leader with 314 career takedowns and 136 career near falls.

Block had a 49-3 record with a career-high 25 falls this past season and was a fifth place finisher at the state tournament in the Class 2A 171 lb. division. He also had a 49-3 record with 23 falls as a junior and placed fourth in the Class 2A 160 lb. division of the state tournament. Block’s 49 victories as a junior and senior are a single-season Sibley-Ocheyedan record. He went 37-10 with 16 falls as a sophomore and 25-19 with 11 falls as a freshman.

Matt Brown, a 149 pounder from St. Joseph, Mo. Brown, a senior at Benton High School, posted a 73-39 record in a three-year varsity career.

Brown’s best season came as a senior when he had a 26-5 record and placed fourth in the state tournament in the Class 2A 145 lb. division. He was a fifth place finisher at the state tournament as a sophomore. Brown missed his junior season with an injury.

Joey Bryan, a 174 pounder from Glenwood, Iowa. Bryan is a senior at Glenwood High School, where he had a 47-32 record with 23 falls in a two-year varsity career.

Bryan had a 34-13 record, was the Hawkeye Ten Conference 174 lb. champion, and was a Class 3A 171 lb. state qualifier this past season. He went 13-19 and was a Class 3A 171 lb. state qualifier as a junior.

Austin Cave, a 133 pounder from Gretna, Neb. Cave is a senior at Gretna High School, where he posted a 20-13 record this past season.

Craig Dennis, a 125 pounder from Osmond, Neb. Dennis, a senior at Osmond High School, is the brother of Morningside’s Cody Dennis, who earned NAIA All-America honors with a sixth place finish at the 2008 NAIA National Tournament.

He had a 107-52 record with 67 falls during his varsity career and was a four-time Lewis & Clark Conference champion and a three-time state tournament qualifier. His best season came as a senior when he went 35-7 with a career-high 20 falls to set a school record for victories in a season. Dennis was Nebraska’s Class D 112 lb. runner-up and had a 15 second pin at the state tournament against Shane Keasling of Harvard/Clay Center in the semifinals.

Dennis had a 34-0 record with 19 falls and placed fifth at the state tournament in the Class D 103 lb. division as a junior. He went 24-17 with 21 falls and was a Class D 103 lb. state qualifier as a sophomore.

Tyler Kacmarynski, a 197 pounder from Spencer, Iowa. Kacmarynski is a senior at Spencer High School, where he posted a 121-23 career record and was a three-time state tournament qualifier and a two-time Lakes Conference champion.

Kacmarynski had a 46-3 record with 28 falls and placed seventh in the Class 3A 215 lb. division of the state tournament this past season. He finished fourth at the state tournament in the Class 3A 215 lb. division as a junior when he went 40-5 with 28 falls. Kacmarynski was 35-11 with 14 falls and was a Class 3A 189 lb. state qualifier as a sophomore.

Kory Kistner, a 125 pounder from Sioux City. Kistner is a senior at Sioux City East High School, where he posted a 125-24 record with 61 falls in a four-year varsity career. He is the Black Raiders’ all-time leader with 80 career 3-point near falls.

Kistner had a 33-1 record with 19 falls and was a Class 3A 103 lb. state tournament qualifier this past season. His most prolific season came as a junior when he went 46-1, losing only a 10-9 decision against eventual state champion Adam Perrin of North Scott in the Class 3A 103 lb. state semifinals. Kistner placed third at the state tournament as a junior and set East single-season records with 46 victories, 46 3-point near falls, and nine technical falls.

He had a 31-6 record with 15 falls and was a Class 3A 103 lb. state tournament qualifier as a sophomore.

Chad Morehead, a 165-174 pounder from Akron, Iowa. Morehead is a senior at Akron-Westfield High School, where he posted a 136-32 career record.

His best season came as a sophomore when he had a 44-8 record and placed third at the state tournament in the Class 1A 160 lb. division. Morehead was a district tournament qualifier as a freshman and junior.

Jake Parker, a 184-197 pounder from Anthon, Iowa. Parker is a senior at Lawton-Bronson Community High School, where he had a 133-45 record with 82 falls during his varsity career. He was a two-time Maple Valley Conference champion and a three-time district tournament qualifier.

Dylan Reynolds, a 157/165 pounder from Rock Rapids, Iowa. Reynolds is a senior at Central Lyon High School, where he posted a 144-22 record with 76 falls in a four-year varsity career. He was a four-time Siouxland Conference champion and a four-time district tournament qualifier.

Reynolds qualified for the state tournament in the Class 1A 140 lb division as a freshman when he had a 40-10 record.

Joe Sievert, a 165 pounder from Akron, Iowa. Sievert is a senor at Akron-Westfield High School, where he had a 157-28 career record and was a four-time state tournament qualifier, including this past season’s Class 1A 160 lb. state champion. He defeated Blake Faucher of Guthrie Center by a 14-9 decision in the state title bout to cap a 42-1 season.

Sievert posted a 45-5 record as a junior and placed third at the state tournament in the Class 1A 160 lb. division. He went 38-7 and was a Class 1A 145 lb. state tournament qualifier as a sophomore and had a 32-15 record and was a Class 1A 130 lb. state tournament qualifier as a freshman.

Justin Truckenmiller, a 141-149 pounder from Sibley, Iowa. Truckenmiller is a senior at Sibley-Ocheyedan High School, where he had a 148-46 record with 70 falls during a four-year varsity career. He had a career-best 39-8 record with 16 falls as a senior.

He posted a 38-13 record with 18 falls and was a Class 2A 135 lb. state qualifier as a junior. He went 32-15 with a career-high 20 falls as a sophomore and had a 39-12 record with 16 falls as a freshman.

Morningside posted a 9-6 dual record during the 2008-09 campaign and finished second in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) dual standings at the GPAC Tournament.

Wilson Receives Most Valuable Wrestler Award

Cole Wilson

Cole Wilson, a senior 197 lb. senior from Oakland, Iowa, received the Most Valuable Wrestler Award for the Morningside College wrestling team at the team’s post-season awards banquet.

Wilson had a 24-14 record with five falls this past season and earned NAIA All-America honors with a fourth place finish in the 197 lb. division at the NAIA National Tournament. Wilson, a NAIA honorable mention All-American as a junior, finished his career with an 80-64 record for fifth place on the Mustangs’ all-time victory chart.

Wilson and Weston Frahm, a senior 174 pounder from Plainview, Neb., received the Coaches Appreciation Award. Frahm had a 27-15 record with three falls and finished his career with an 88-73 record for fourth place on the Mustangs’ all-time victory list.

Ben Knight, a 149 lb. sophomore from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, received the Hustler Award. Knight had a 33-8 record with a school-record 14 falls.

Joe Lockett, a junior 184 pounder from Bellevue, Neb., received the Most Improved Award. Lockett had a 27-19 record with seven falls after posting a 9-13 record the year before.

Drew Smith, a sophomore 141 pounder from Milburn, Neb., received the Sportsmanship Award. Smith led the Mustangs in victories this season with a record of 35-16 with eight falls.

Jared Wildeboer, a freshman 165 pounder from Parkersburg, Iowa, received the Oustanding JV Award.

Morningside posted a 9-6 dual record during the 2008-09 campaign and finished second in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) dual standings and at the 2009 GPAC Tournament.

Mustangs Place Two On NWCA Academic Team


Ben Knight	Drew Smith

Morningside College’s Ben Knight and Drew Smith were each named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NAIA All-Academic Team.

Knight, a 149 lb. sophomore from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, has a 3.79 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and is majoring in biology. Knight had a 33-8 record this past season and set a Morningside single-season record with 14 falls.

Smith, a 141 lb. sophomore from Milburn, Neb., has a 3.77 cumulative GPA and is majoring in biology. Smith had a 35-16 record this past season.

Morningside has a 3.03 cumulative GPA for the sixth highest team GPA in the nation in the NAIA ranks.

Knight Breaks Single-Season Pin Record

Ben Knight

Ben Knight, a 149 lb. sophomore from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, broke the Morningside College single-season fall record when he pinned 14 opponents during the 2008-09 wrestling season.

Knight, who had 10 first period falls, including three in less than 40 seconds, broke the former Morningside single-season record of 13 falls set by Blaine Schenk in 1968-69 and matched by Nathan Ploen in 2004-05. Knight raised his career total to 23 falls to tie a Morningside record shared with 2008 graduates Jared Pickett and Jake Stevenson.

Knight, who finished the campaign with a 33-8 record, also led the Mustangs with 53 takedowns and 15 2-point near falls. He has a 63-29 career record for the eighth highest victory total in Morningside history.

Drew Smith, a 141 lb. sophomore from Milburn, Neb., led the Mustangs in victories with a record of 35-16. Smith also led the Mustangs with 20 reversals, 58 escapes, and 21 3-point near falls. He has a 55-30 career record to rank 11th on the Mustangs’ all-time victory list.

Chris Utesch, a 133 lb. senior from Akron, Iowa, joined the Mustangs’ 100-victory club this season. He had a 14-5 record for the season to raise his career record to 101-44 to join Stevenson (130) and Pickett (113) as the Mustangs’ only 100-match winners.

Weston Frahm, a 174 lb. senior from Plainview, Neb., had a 27-15 record to finish with a career mark of 88-73 for fourth place on Morningside’s all-time victory list, while Cole Wilson, a 197 lb. senior from Oakland, Iowa, went 24-14 to finish with a career mark of 80-64 for fifth place on the Mustangs’ victory chart. Wilson earned NAIA All-America honors with a fourth place finish at this year’s NAIA National Tournament.

Morningside won five of its last six duals of the season to finish with a record of 9-6.

Wilson Finishes 4th At NAIA Championships

Cole Wilson

Morningside College’s Cole Wilson, a senior from Oakland, Iowa, placed fourth in the 197 lb. division of the NAIA Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., to earn NAIA All-America honors.

Wilson, who earned honorable mention All-America recognition with an eighth place finish at last year’s national tournament, went 3-2 at this year’s tourney to finish the season with a record of 24-14.

Wilson’s final two matches came on Saturday, where he upset fourth-ranked Matt Michaelson of Dickinson State University 3-1 in the wrestleback semifinals and lost 8-3 against fifth-ranked Justin Rau of Grand View University in the third place consolation match.

Wilson’s first match of the tournament came on Thursday when he upset sixth-ranked Ryan Sutton of Missouri Valley College by a 6-2 decision. He advanced to the semifinals with a 5-1 decision against Glen Jackson of Campbellsville University in Friday’s quarterfinals. Wilson lost a 5-1 decision against No. 1-ranked Andrew Sanchez of McKendree University in Friday evening’s semifinals.

Morningside’s other competitors at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships were: Travis Taylor, a freshman from Callender, Iowa, at 125 lbs.; Chris Utesch, a senior from Akron, Iowa, at 133 lbs.; Jake McManigal, a freshman from Center, Neb., at 133 lbs.; Drew Smith, a sophomore from Milburn, Neb., at 141 lbs; Ben Knight, a sophomore from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, at 149 lbs.; Brendan Uhl, a junior from Akron, Iowa, at 149 lbs.; Aaron Lang, a sophomore from Hamburg, Iowa, at 157 lbs.; Weston Frahm, a senior from Plainview, Neb., at 174 lbs.; Joe Lockett, a junior from Bellevue, Neb., at 184 lbs.; and Zach Andersen, a senior from Parkersburg, Iowa, at 184 lbs.

125- John Erickson (King) def. Travis Taylor (M), 8-3; Taylor def. Peter Martinez (Cumberlands) by forfeit; Taylor pinned Elliot Martin (Lindenwood), 1:50; Billy Exline (Missouri Valley) pinned Taylor, 2:34. Taylor eliminated.

133- Chris Utesch (M) def. Simplicio Valladolid (Southern Oregon), 14-6; Franky Villaescusa (Embry-Riddle) def. Utesch, 14-2; Utesch def. Neil Birt (Cumberland) by default; Justin Blumer (Oklahoma City) def. Utesch, 6-2. Utesch eliminated. Wade Lowe (McKendree) pinned Jake McManigal (M), 2:17; Nick Coffman (Grand View) pinned McManigal, 2:45. McManigal eliminated.

141- Shad Rissler (King) def. Drew Smith (M), 5-3; Smith def. Dustin Howa (William Penn), 11-7; Jason Costello (Great Falls), def. Smith, 15-10. Smith eliminated.

149- Ryan Moyer (Lindenwood) def. Ben Knight (M), 6-2; Knight def. Brett Freeman (Notre Dame), 4-3; Knight def. Jeff Marval (Waldorf), 7-4; Seth Roy (Southern Oregon) def. Knight, 3-1. Knight eliminated. Sam Schmitz (Lindenwood) def. Brendan Uhl (M) by technical fall, 19-4; Jose Serrato (Dickison State) def. Uhl, 9-1. Uhl eliminated.

157- Andrew Blackwell (Campbellsville) pinned Aaron Lang (M), 5:33; Lang def. Levi Davidshofer (William Penn), 4-2; Nick Zumwalt (Dickinson State) pinned Lang, 1:35. Lang eliminated.

174- Weston Frahm (M) def. J.P. Williams (Grand View), 8-7; C.J. Knowland (California Baptist) pinned Frahm, 3:27; Cameron Scremmp (Dickinson State) def. Frahm, 3-1. Frahm eliminated.

184- Evan Hinebauch (Montana State-Northern) pinned Joe Lockett (M), 4:37; Lockett def. Tom Edwards (McKendree), 5-3; Lockett def. Adam Herrick (Waldorf), 10-2; Spencer Adams (Campbellsville) def. Lockett, 5-3. Lockett eliminated. Michael French (Great Falls) pinned Zach Andersen (M), 3:38; Andersen def. Eric Metzler (Cumberland), 10-7; Clete Hanson (Simon Fraser) def. Andersen by technical fall, 15-0. Andersen eliminated.

197- Cole Wilson (M) def. Ryan Sutton (Missouri Valley), 6-2; Wilson def. Glen Jackson (Campbellsville), 3-2; Andrew Sanchez (McKendree) def. Wilson, 5-1; Wilson def. Matt Michaelson (Dickinson State), 3-1; Justin Rau (Grand View) def. Wilson, 8-3. Wilson placed fourth.

Dennis A Daktronics-NAIA Wrestling Scholar-Athlete

Photo of Cody Dennis Morningside’s Cody Dennis, a junior from Osmond, Neb., has been named a 2009 Daktronics-NAIA Wrestling Scholar-Athlete.

Dennis has a 3.84 cumulative grade point average (GPA) with a major in biology.

Dennis, who missed the majority of the campaign with an injury, had a 2-2 record with one fall for the Mustangs this season.

Student-athletes must be of at least junior academic status and have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in order to be eligible for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.

Click here for the complete list of 2009 Daktronics-NAIA Wrestling Scholar-Athletes.

Mustangs Ranked 20th In NAIA Wrestling Poll

NAIA Logo

Morningside is ranked 20th in the nation in the latest NAIA wrestling poll.

The Mustangs, who posted a 9-6 record during the dual meet portion of their schedule, have two wrestlers in the individual rankings. Chris Utesch is ranked eighth at 133 lbs. and Ben Knight is ranked eighth at 149 lbs. Utesch has a 12-3 record, while Knight is 31-6 with a school-record 14 falls.

Click here for the complete NAIA rankings.


Ben Knight	Joe Lockett	Chris Utesch

Mustangs Place Three On All-GPAC First-Team

Morningside’s Ben Knight, Joe Lockett, and Chris Utesch were all named to the first team of the 2009 All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestling Team.

Knight, a 149 lb. sophomore from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, has a 27-6 record and a school-record 13 pins this season. He was the runner-up at this year’s GPAC Championships held last Saturday in Blair, Neb.

Lockett, a 184 lb. junior from Bellevue, Neb., was the 184 lb. champion at the GPAC Championships. He has a 22-16 record with six falls.

Utesch, a 133 lb. senior from Akron, Iowa, won the 133 lb. crown at the GPAC Championships. He has an 11-2 record with one fall.

In addition to the three first-team selections, the Mustangs placed Zach Andersen and Drew Smith on the All-GPAC second-team.

Andersen, a 184 lb. senior from Parkersburg, Iowa, has a 7-5 record with three falls and placed second at the GPAC Championships.

Smith, a 141 lb. sophomore from Milburn, Neb., leads the Mustangs in victories with a 31-12 record with seven falls.

Morningside’s Weston Frahm, a 174 lb. senior from Plainview, Neb., and Cole Wilson, a 197 lb. senior from Oakland, Iowa, were each named to the All-GPAC honorable mention list. Frahm has a 24-10 record with three falls, while Wilson has an 18-11 record with four falls.

Morningside finished second at the GPAC Championships and also finished second in the GPAC dual meet standings with a 5-1 record.

Click here for the complete 2009 All-GPAC Wrestling Team.

Smith Is GPAC Wrestler Of The Week

Photo of Drew Smith Drew Smith, a 141 lb. sophomore from Milburn, Neb., has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week.

Smith won all three of his matches last week to improve his season’s record to 29-10. His most impressive victory was a 4-1 triumph against Jordan Harer of Dakota Wesleyan University, who was ranked third nationally in the NAIA and had defeated Smith 13-2 earlier this season.

Smith’s other victories were a 4-1 decision against Jon Henslee of Grand View University and a 6-1 decision against Rob Thomas of Waldorf College.

Taylor Is GPAC Wrestler Of The Week

Photo of Travis Taylor Travis Taylor, a freshman 125 pounder from Callender, Iowa, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week.

Taylor went 5-0 at this past weekend’s NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to improve his season’s record to 22-5. His most impressive victory was a 4-3 decision against Tyler Savage of Notre Dame College. Savage is ranked sixth nationally in the NAIA, while Taylor is ranked eighth.

Taylor also won decisions by scores of 6-3 against Ryan Guillett of McKendree University, 3-2 against Travis Okano of Dana College, and 8-6 against Kyle Middlemist of the University of Great Falls. Taylor won by forfeit in the Mustangs’ 34-9 victory against Northwestern College.

Morningside went 2-3 at the national duals to finish eighth in a 16-team field.