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Mustangs At No. 17 In NAIA Pre-Season Ranking
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Justin Truckenmiller |
Morningside opened the dual portion of its wrestling schedule when it went 1-1 in a triangular on Tuesday at Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Mustangs opened the competition with a 32-12 victory over the University of Sioux Falls before they suffered a 30-11 setback against NCAA Division II Minnesota State Moorhead University. Minnesota State Moorhead pummeled Sioux Falls 51-0 in the other dual.
Justin Truckenmiller won by fall in the Mustangs’ win against Sioux Falls when he disposed of the Cougars’ Jacob McClure in 5:44 in the 149 lb. match to put the Mustangs in front 16-6.
The Cougars closed within 19-12 before the Mustangs put their opponent away with back-to-back technical falls from Brian Block and Joe Lockett. Block trounced Jacob Renken by a 16-1 score at 184 lbs. and Lockett toppled Clint Whitley by a 17-2 score at 197 lbs.
Alex Will capped the triumph with a 9-4 decision against Joe Skow in the heavyweight bout.
Morningside also received victories from Jake McManigal with a forfeit at 133 lbs., Drew Smith with a 9-0 major decision at 141 lbs., and Andrew Anthofer with a 13-6 decision at 165 lbs.
The Mustangs fell behind 24-0 against Minnesota State Moorhead before Chad Morehead defeated Jacob McLean by an 8-1 decision in the 174 lb. match. Block had the Mustangs’ most impressive victory in the dual with a 19-2 technical fall against Roger Sirek at 184 lbs. for his second technical fall of the night. Lockett provided the Mustangs’ other win with a 7-0 decision against Tayler Yliniemi in the 197 lb. bout.
Sioux Falls Box
Minnesota State Moorhead Box
 Morningside College is ranked 17th nationally in the pre-season NAIA Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Oct. 21.
The Mustangs posted a 9-6 dual record last season and finished second in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular season standings and at the GPAC Tournament.
Morningside is one of four teams from the GPAC ranked in the NAIA Pre-Season Top 20. Dana College is ranked eighth, Northwestern College is 18th, and Dakota Wesleyan University is 19th.
Morningside will open the 2009-10 season at the Dakota Wesleyan Open on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Click here for the complete NAIA Top 20.
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