Wrestling

Morningside College head wrestling coach Tim Jager has announced the names of 11 high school recruits who will join the Mustangs for the 2010-11 season.

The recruits are:

Pablo De La Cruz, a heavyweight from Santa Ana, Calif. De La Cruz is a senior at Santa Ana High School, where he had a 46-19 record during his varsity career. He had a 22-8 record with 13 falls this past season. De La Cruz was the Golden West League champion and finished fourth at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championships.

De La Cruz had a 24-11 record with 14 falls as a junior.

Quentin Danner, a 133 pounder from Syracuse, Neb. Danner is a 2010 graduate of Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca High School, where he was a four-time state tournament qualifier and a three-time state tournament placewinner. He had a 34-6 record and placed fourth in the 135 lb. division at the Class C state tournament this past season.

Danner’s best season came as a junior when he was Nebraska’s Class B 130 lb. runner-up. He placed fifth in the Class B 119 lb. division of the state tournament as a sophomore and was a Class B 112 lb. state qualifier as a freshman.

Dalton Fletcher, a 157/165 pounder from Scribner, Neb. Fletcher is a senior at Scribner-Snyder High School, where he won a school-record 125 matches and was a two-time state tournament place winner during his career. He also set Scribner-Snyder records with 229 career takedowns and with 38 victories and 88 takedowns during the 2008-09 campaign. Fletcher had a 34-3 record and was Nebraska’s Class D 160 lb. state tournament runner-up this past season.

Fletcher logged a 38-5 record and placed fifth at the state tournament in the Class D 152 lb. division as a junior and had a 32-13 record and was a Class D 152 lb. state qualifier as a sophomore.

Harrison Johnson, a 133/141 pounder from Sterling, Colo. Johnson is a senior at Fleming High School, where he was a three-time state tournament qualifier and a two-time state tournament place winner. He had a 39-5 record this past season en route to a fifth place finish in the Class 2A 135 lb. division of the state tournament.

Johnson finished fifth at the state tournament in the Class 2A 140 lb. division to cap a 35-8 season as a junior. He had a 25-18 record and was a Class 2A 135 lb. state qualifier as a sophomore.

Jordan Langley, a 149/157 pounder from Sioux City. Langley is a senior at Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, where he won 89 matches, including 50 by fall, in two seasons with the Warriors for the second highest career victory total in Sergeant Bluff-Luton history. Langley, who wrestled at Sioux City Bishop Heelan Catholic High School as a freshman and sophomore, had a 157-34 record during his prep career.

He had a 49-6 record with a school-record 25 two-point near falls and was a Class 2A 145 lb. state tournament qualifier this past season.

Langley had a 40-7 record and finished eighth at the state tournament in the Class 2A 145 lb. division as a junior.

Rulin Pederson, a 149/157 pounder from Sioux City. Pederson is a senior at Sioux City East High School, where he is the all-time winningest wrestler in Black Raider history with a career record of 151-37 with 62 falls. He was a three-time state tournament qualifier and a three-time Missouri River Activities Conference champion.

Pederson had a 45-5 record with a career-high 24 falls and was a Class 3A 145 lb. state tournament qualifier this past season.

He had a 44-6 record with 19 falls and was a Class 3A 135 lb. state qualifier as a junior and went 31-14 with 11 falls and was a 3A 119 lb. state qualifier as a sophomore. Pederson had a 31-12 record with eight falls as a freshman.

Taylor Phipps, a 141/149 pounder from Crete, Neb. Phipps is a senior at Crete High School, where he is the all-time winningest wrestler in the school’s history with 123 career victories, including 52 by fall. Phipps set a Crete single-season record for victories this past season when he had a 39-3 record with 21 falls and finished third at the state tournament in the Class B 140 lb. division.

Phipps placed fifth at the state tournament in the Class B 140 lb. division as a junior to cap a season where he had a 36-8 record with 15 falls. He had a 28-15 record with nine falls as a sophomore.

Blayne Richards, a 141/149 pounder from Julesburg, Colo. Richards is a senior at Julesburg High School who competed for Sedgwick County High School’s wrestling team. Richards had a 106-40 record over the past four seasons, including a 34-5 mark this past season when he was a Class 2A 130 lb. state qualifier.

Richards’ best season came as a junior when he went 33-4 and was Colorado’s Class 2A 130 lb. state champion. He had a 25-13 record and was a Class 2A 125 lb. state qualifier as a sophomore and had a 14-18 record and was a Class 2A 103 lb. state qualifier as a freshman.

Tyler Schneider, a 133 pounder from Akron, Iowa. Schneider is a 2010 graduate of Akron-Westfield High School, where he was a Class 1A sectional tournament runner-up this past season.

Michael Thielen, a 125 pounder from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Thielen is a 2010 graduate of Harlan Community High School, where he had a 24-9 record with seven falls and was a Class 2A 125 lb. state tournament qualifier this past season. He was a sectional tournament champion and a district runner-up.

Thielen competed for Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School as a junior and for Denison-Schleswig High School as a freshman and sophomore.

Tyler Thompson, a heavyweight from Norwalk, Iowa. Thompson is a senior at Norwalk Community High School, where he had a 74-8 record over the past two seasons. Thompson had a 37-5 record this past season and placed fifth at the state tournament in the Class 3A heavyweight division.

He had a 37-3 record and was a Class 3A heavyweight state qualifier as a junior.

Morningside posted a 7-2-1 dual record and finished second at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships during the 2009-10 season.

Mustang Wrestling Team Has Third Highest GPA In The Nation

Justin Truckenmiller

Morningside College’s wrestling team had the third highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) in the nation among NAIA institutions during the 2009-10 season according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).

The Mustangs had a team GPA of 3.18.

Campbellsville University led the nation with a 3.24 team GPA, followed by Hastings College, 3.19; Morningside, 3.18; University of Great Falls, 3.14; Dana College, 3.04; Cumberland University, 2.998; Dakota Wesleyan University, 2.996; Dickinson State University, 2.96; University of Sioux Falls, 2.95; and Northwestern College, 2.70.

Morningside had four wrestlers make the NWCA All-Academic NAIA Wrestling team as national tournament qualifiers with cumulative GPAs of 3.25 or higher. Justin Truckenmiller, a freshman from Sibley, Iowa, led the way with a perfect 4.00. Drew Smith, a junior from Milburn, Neb., had a 3.68; Matt Mueller, a sophomore from Malcolm, Neb., had a 3.53; and Brian Block, a freshman from Sibley, had a 3.26.

Morningside posted a 7-2-1 dual record and finished second at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championships during the 2009-10 season.

Smith Is Mustangs' Top Winner In 2009-10 Campaign


Drew Smith	Joe Sievert

Drew Smith, a 141 lb. junior from Milburn, Neb., was the top winner on the Morningside College wrestling team during the 2009-10 season.

Smith posted a 29-9 record with five falls to lead the Mustangs in victories. He raised his career record to 84-39 to move into fifth place on Morningside’s all-time victory list. Aside from leading the Mustangs in victories, Smith was also the Mustangs’ season’s leader with 13 two-point near falls.

Joe Sievert, a 165 lb. freshman from Akron, Iowa, led the Mustangs with 10 falls, including a 23-second disposal of Noah Hatton of the University of Great Falls at the NAIA National Championships for the Mustangs’ fastest pin of the season. Sievert posted a 22-5 record and had the Mustangs’ top individual finish at the NAIA National Championships with a third place finish to earn NAIA All-America honors. Aside from leading the team with 10 falls, Sievert also topped the team with four technical falls and was the Mustangs’ co-leader with 13 reversals.


Brian Block	Tyler Kacmarynski

Aside from Smith and Sievert, the Mustangs had two other 20-match winners this season in Brian Block, a 184 lb. freshman from Sibley, Iowa; and Tyler Kacmarynski, a 197 lb. freshman from Spencer, Iowa. Block had a 26-9 record to rank second on the team in wins and he also finished second on the Mustangs with nine falls. Kacmarynski had a 20-12 record with three falls.

Joe Lockett, a 197 lb. senior from Bellevue, Neb., posted an 18-8 record with two falls. He finished his career with a record of 62-52 to rank 10th on the Mustangs’ all-time victory list.

Alex Will, a sophomore heavyweight from Spirit Lake, Iowa, was the Mustangs’ co-leader with 13 reversals. Will had a 17-18 record and ranked third on the team with eight falls.

Matt Mueller, a 165 lb. sophomore from Malcolm, Neb., led the Mustangs with 59 take downs and had a 16-19 record.

Justin Truckenmiller, a 149 lb. freshman from Sibley, Iowa, topped the Mustangs with 49 escapes and had a 18-19 record with three falls.

Andrew Anthofer, a 165 lb. freshman from Coon Rapids, Iowa, led the Mustangs with 23 3-point near falls and had a 19-12 record with six falls.

Morningside had a 7-2-1 dual record and finished second at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament during the 2009-10 season.

Sievert Places Third At NAIA Championships

Joe Sievert

Joe Sievert, a freshman from Akron, Iowa, earned NAIA All-America honors with a third place finish in the 165 lb. division at the 2010 NAIA Wrestling National Championships held Thursday through Saturday in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Sievert won two matches on Saturday to complete an impressive run through the wrestlebacks where he won six consecutive matches. He finished the season with a record of 22-5.

Sievert opened Saturday’s competition with a bang when he pinned No. 1-ranked Brad Lower of Grand View University in 1:53 in the consolation semifinals. Sievert routed fourth-ranked Ryan Tuzon of Dana College by a 23-11 major decision in the third place consolation match to avenge a pair of defeats Sievert had suffered against the Viking standout earlier in the season. Tuzon had defeated Sievert by 5-3 decisions in the championship bouts at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championships and the NAIA North Regional tournament.

Sievert opened the tournament with a 12-4 major decision against James Linker of Campbellsville University, who placed seventh at last year’s tourney. Sievert dropped into the consolation bracket after he lost an 11-4 decision against third-ranked Kevin Hardy of Notre Dame College. Sievert pinned Adrian Gonzales of Menlo College in 5:49 during Friday’s wrestlebacks.

He went 4-0 in Friday’s wrestlebacks, starting with an upset victory against 10th-ranked Noah Hatton of the University of Great Falls when he pinned his opponent in only 23 seconds. Sievert continued his march through the consolation bracket with a 17-0 technical fall against Ty Knowler of Grand View and a 13-4 major decision against eighth-ranked Michael Hader of Great Falls.

Drew Smith, a junior from Milburn, Neb., was the Mustangs’ only other competitor who won his first round bout. Smith, who was ranked fourth in the nation at 141 lbs., advanced to the quarterfinals with a 15-0 technical fall against Bryan Williams of York College and a 6-4 decision against Wilson Metellus of Lindenwood University. A 4-3 loss against fifth-ranked Kirk Wirkuty of Southern Oregon University dropped Smith into the consolation bracket.

Joe Lockett and Jared Wildeboer each advanced through two rounds of the wrestlebacks before they were eliminated.

Lockett, a senior from Bellevue, Neb., who was ranked ninth in the nation at 197 lbs., defeated Jake Mabry of Oklahoma City University by an 11-4 decision and then won by forfeit against 11th-ranked Justin Rau of Grand View, who had finished third at last year’s national tourney. Lockett was eliminated after he lost an 11-6 decision against eighth-ranked Charlie Gibbs of Missouri Valley College.

Wildeboer, a 157 lb. sophomore from Parkersburg, Iowa, pinned Craig West of Lindsay Wilson College in 3:36 and then pinned Lindsay Wilson’s Caleb Anthony in 2:58. Wildeboer was eliminated after he lost by fall in 1:28 against ninth-ranked Ross Mosher of Great Falls. Mosher finished seventh at last year’s tourney.

Morningside Results:

133 – Anton Prater (Missouri Baptist) def. Jake McManigal (Morningside), 8-3; John Garza (Embry-Riddle) def. McManigal, 15-4.

141 – Drew Smith (Morningside) def. Bryan Williams (York) by technical fall, 15-0; Smith def. Wilson Metellus (Lindenwood), 6-4; Kyle Wirkuty (Southern Oregon) def. Smith, 4-3; Timothy Mitchem (Univ. of Cumberlands) def. Smith, 10-2.

149 – Trace Billet (Embry-Riddle) pinned Morgan Freese (Morningside), 4:29; Jimmy Eggemeyer (Southern Oregon) def. Justin Truckenmiller (Morningside), 5-2; Freese def. Truckenmiller, 8-2; Andy Shoultz (Cumberland) def. Freese, 11-4.

157 – Bryce Neff (Univ. of Cumberlands) def. Jared Wildeboer (Morningside), 9-7; Wildeboer pinned Craig West (Lindsey Wilson), 3:36. Wildeboer pinned Caleb Anthony (Lindsay Wilson), 2:58; Ross Mosher (Great Falls) pinned Wildeboer, 1:28.

165 – Joe Sievert (Morningside) def. James Linker (Campbellsville), 12-4; Kevin Hardy (Notre Dame) def. Sievert, 11-4; Sievert pinned Adrian Gonzales (Meno), 5:49; Seivert pinned Noah Hatton (Great Falls), 0:23; Seivert def. Ty Knowler (Grand View) by technical fall, 17-0; Seivert def. Michael Hader (Great Falls), 13-4; Seivert pinned Brad Lower (Grand View), 1:53. Sievert def. Ryan Tuzon (Dana), 23-11. Sievert place third. Ty Knowler (Grand View) pinned Matt Mueller (Morningside), 3:19; Mueller def. Ryan Shank (Lindsey Wilson), 7-2; D.W. Bradshaw (Missouri Valley) def. Mueller by technical fall, 16-1.

174 – Josh Bryant (McKendree) pinned Chad Morehead (Morningside), 2:36; Andrew Hairston (Lindsey Wilson) def. Morehead, 6-1.

184 – Jesse Alter (Missouri Valley) def. Brian Block (Morningside), 7-5; Brett Owen (Dickinson State) pinned Block, 0:37.

197 – Andrew Sanchez (McKendree) def. Joe Lockett (Morningside), 10-4; Lockett def. Jake Mabry (Oklahoma City), 11-4; Lockett def. Justin Rau (Grand View) by forfeit; Charlie Gibbs (Missouri Valley) def. Lockett, 11-6. Brandon Gebhardt (Baker) pinned Tyler Kacmarynski (Morningside), 6:29; Eric Mentzler (Cumberland) def. Kacmarynski, 12-4.

Hwt – Ryan Groom (William Penn) pinned Alex Will, 2:47; Arthur Grubba (Calumet of St. Joseph) pinned Will, 1:04.

Mustangs Receive Champions Of Character Award

Morningside College’s wrestling team received the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award for the 2009-10 season.

The Morningside wrestling team also received the award in 2005-06 and 2007-08.

The NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award is presented annually for each of the NAIA’s 23 championship sports. The awards are presented to institutions and athletic programs that strive for excellence in and out of competition and are part of communities throughout the country dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

The NAIA Champions of Character program is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport, and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. The program is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.

The mission of Champions of Character is to restore character values and raise a generation of students who understand and demonstrate in everyday decisions respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Five Mustangs Named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Five Morningside College wrestlers have been named 2010 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

The Mustangs' scholar-athletes are:

Cody Dennis, a 125 lb. junior from Osmond, Neb. Dennis has a 3.66 cumulative grade point average (GPA) with majors in biology and chemistry. Dennis also received Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors in 2009.

Joel Frandsen, a 149 lb. sophomore from Grand Island, Neb. Frandsen has a 3.83 cumulative GPA with a major in general psychology.

Ben Knight, 157 lb. junior from Sioux City. Knight has a 3.58 cumulative GPA with majors in biology and chemistry.

Matt Mueller, a 165 lb. junior from Malcolm, Neb. Mueller has a 3.53 cumulative GPA with a major in elementary education.

Drew Smith, a 141 lb. junior from Milburn, Neb. Smith has a 3.68 cumulative GPA with majors in biology and chemistry.

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 2010 Daktronics-NAIA Wrestling Scholar-Athletes.

Smith Wins 141 Lb. North Regional Crown


Drew Smith	Joe Sievert

Drew Smith, a junior from Milburn, Neb., was the 141 lb. individual champion at the NAIA North Regional Wrestling Tournament held Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Smith, ranked fourth nationally in the NAIA, defeated 10th-ranked Adam Manz of Dana College by a 7-3 decision in the 141 lb. title bout. Smith went 4-0 at the tournament and won his first two matches by fall. He pinned Alex Rostvet of Concordia University in 4:05 in the opening round and Ethan Johnson of Briar Cliff University in 4:55 in the quarterfinals. Smith edged sixth ranked Jordan Harer of Dakota Wesleyan University by a 9-5 decision in the semifinals.

Morningside’s Joe Sievert, a freshman from Akron, Iowa, also reached the finals before he dropped a 5-3 decision against fourth-ranked Ryan Tuzon of Dana in the 165 lb. title bout. Sievert advanced to the championship match after he won a 20-4 technical fall against Dana’s Kyle Conley in the quarterfinals and a 10-6 decision against 12th-ranked Luke Evjen of Northwestern College in the semifinals.

The performances by Smith and Sievert led Morningside to a third place finish in the 10-team field.

Morningside had five other wrestlers place. Brian Block, a freshman from Sibley, Iowa, finished third at 184 lbs.; Alex Will, a sophomore from Spirit Lake, Iowa, finished third at heavyweight; Tyler Kacmarynski, a freshman from Spencer, Iowa, finished fourth at 197 lbs.; Jared Wildeboer, a sophomore from Parkersburg, Iowa, finished fifth at 157 lbs.; and Joe Lockett, a senior from Bellevue, Neb., finished fifth at 197 lbs.

Results

Mustangs Ranked 20th In Final NAIA Poll

Morningside College is ranked 20th nationally in the final regular season NAIA Wrestling Coaches Top 20 Poll released on Feb. 16.

The Mustangs, who finished the dual meet portion of their schedule with a 7-2-1 record, were ranked 17th in the previous poll. Morningside has three wrestlers in the NAIA individual rankings.

Morningside’s ranked wrestlers are:

Drew Smith, a junior from Milburn, Neb., who is ranked fourth at 141 lbs. Smith has a 23-7 record with three falls.

Brian Block, a freshman from Sibley, Iowa, who is ranked 12th at 184 lbs. Block has a 23-6 record with a team-high nine falls.

Joe Lockett, a senior from Bellevue, Neb., who is ranked ninth at 197 lbs. Lockett has a 14-4 record with two falls.

Morningside will compete in the NAIA North Region Tournament this Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Click here for the complete NAIA rankings.

Lockett And Smith Make All-GPAC First-Team


Joe Lockett	Drew Smith

Joe Lockett and Drew Smith have been named to the first team of the 2010 All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestling Team.

Lockett, a 197 lb. senior from Bellevue, Neb., was named to the first team for the second year in a row. He has a 12-4 record with two falls this season and was the runner-up at last Saturday’s GPAC Wrestling Championships.

Smith, a 141 lb. junior from Milburn, Neb., move up from last year’s All-GPAC second team. Smith has a 22-6 record with two falls and was the runner-up at the GPAC Championships.

In addition to their two first team selections, the Mustangs placed Brian Block, Cody Dennis, and Joe Sievert on the All-GPAC second team. All three were individual runner-ups at last Saturday’s GPAC Championships.

Block, a 184 lb. freshman from Sibley, Iowa, has a 22-5 record with a team-high nine falls.

Dennis, a 125 lb. junior from Osmond, Neb., has a 5-5 record.

Sievert, a 165 lb. freshman from Akron, Iowa, has a 12-3 record with six falls.

Morningside’s Morgan Freese, a 149 lb. senior from Treynor, Iowa, was named to the All-GPAC honorable mention list. Freese has a 13-12 record with one fall.

Click here for the complete 2010 All-GPAC Wrestling Team.

Mustangs Finish 2nd At GPAC Championships


Cody Dennis	Drew Smith

Morningside College had five second place finishers en route to a runner-up finish at the 2010 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestling Championships held Saturday in the Hindman-Hobbs Center.

Dana College, which has won all four GPAC Tournaments, finished atop the eight-team field with 136 points, followed by the Mustangs with 99 points.

The Mustangs’ individual runner-ups were Cody Dennis, a junior from Osmond, Neb., at 125 lbs.; Drew Smith, a junior from Milburn, Neb., at 141 lbs.; Joe Sievert, a freshman from Akron, Iowa, at 165 lbs.; Brian Block, a freshman from Sibley, Iowa, at 184 lbs.; and Joe Lockett, a senior from Bellevue, Neb., at 197 lbs.

Dennis advanced to the 125 lb. title bout with a first round bye and a 3-2 overtime victory against Dana’s Clayden McKim, who is ranked ninth nationally in the NAIA. Dennis was pinned by Dana’s Aaron Wilcox in 2:15 in the championship match.

Smith, the highest ranked competitor in the field with a No. 2 national ranking, pinned Briar Cliff University’s Ethan Johnson in 6:24 in his first match. He won a 2-1 overtime decision against defending champion Adam Manz of Dana, who is ranked eighth, in the semifinals. Dana’s Andrew Carrillo, the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award winner, defeated Smith 8-3 in the championship match.

Sievert advanced to the 165 lb. championship match with a pair of pins with fall times of 1:47 against Jerry Renken of the University of Sioux Falls and 5:47 against Briar Cliff’s Sammy Johnson. Sievert dropped a 5-3 decision against defending champion Ryan Tuzon of Dana, who is ranked sixth in the nation, in the 165 lb. final.


Joe Sievert	Brian Block

Block pinned Drew Sorensen of Hastings College in 4:01 in the semifinals before he lost by default against third-ranked Mark Peiffer of Dana in the championship match. Pefiffer was named the GPAC Wrestler of the Year.

Lockett defeated a 2009 GPAC champion on his path to the 197 lb. title match. He opened the tournament with a 12-4 major decision against Clint Whitley of Sioux Falls before he won a 6-4 decision against Dana’s John Wilbourne, last year’s GPAC heavyweight champion, in the semifinals. Lockett lost a 4-1 decision against sixth-ranked Nic Leither of Northwestern College in the championship match.

Morningside had third place finishes from Morgan Freese, a senior from Treynor, Iowa, at 149 lbs.; Tyler Kacmarynski, a freshman from Spencer, Iowa, at 197 lbs.; and Alex Will, a sophomore from Spirit Lake, Iowa, at heavyweight. Andrew Anthofer, a freshman from Coon Rapids, Iowa, placed fourth at 165 lbs.

Freese won a 5-2 decision against Zach Mullins of Briar Cliff before he was pinned in 2:56 by eighth ranked Levi Price of Northwestern in the semifinals. Freese won a 5-3 decision against Nate Halpin of Northwestern and won a 10-5 decision against Dakota Wesleyan University’s Danny Hutcheson in the consolation bracket.

Joe Lockett

Kacmarynski won a 4-2 decision against Justin Boyce of Hastings before he dropped a 10-5 verdict against Northwestern’s Leither in the semifinals. Kacmarynski won a 7-3 decision against Sioux Falls’ Whitley and won the third place championship match by forfeit against Dana’s Wilbourne.

Will pinned Briar Cliff’s Matt Solomon in 4:40 before he lost a 15-4 against Joe Skow of Sioux Falls in the semifinals. Will pinned Briar Cliff’s Mike Weaver in 1:38 and Solomon in 2:39 to earn third place.

Anthofer pinned Jairin Potter of Hastings in 6:12 before he lost an 8-6 decision against Dana’s Tuzon in the quarterfinals. Anthofer won his first consolation bracket by fall in 1:22 against Dakota Wesleyan’s Tanner Lavalliere before he defeated Briar Cliff’s Johnson by default and lost 13-10 against Dana’s Kyle Conley.

Morningside has home duals against Hastings and Concordia University on Friday, Feb. 5.

Results

Block Is GPAC Wrestler Of The Week

Brian Block, a 184 lb. freshman from Sibley, Iowa, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week.

Block pinned both of his opponents last week with fall times of 1:38 against Jesse Buchanan in the Mustangs’ 36-12 victory against William Penn University on Jan. 22 and 2:30 against David Carter in Morningside’s 21-15 win against Northwestern College on Jan. 23.

Block, who is ranked 12th nationally in the NAIA in the 184 lb. division, has a 21-4 record with four falls to lead the Mustangs in both victories and falls.

Morningside will host the 2010 GPAC Wrestling Championships on Saturday in the Hindman-Hobbs Center.

Sievert Is GPAC Wrestler Of The Week

Joe Sievert, a 165 lb. freshman from Akron, Iowa, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week.

Sievert was the 165 lb. champion at last Saturday’s Minnesota West Community College Worthington Open in Worthington, Minn. Sievert went 4-0 at the tournament to raise his season’s record to 8-2.

He defeated Sammy Johnson of Briar Cliff University by a 10-3 decision in the championship match. Sievert won his first round bout by technical fall in 6:15 against Brian Martinez of the University of Sioux Falls. He won a 15-10 decision against Alec Ortiz, a redshirt at the University of Minnesota, in the quarterfinals and pinned Jack Barnes of Rochester Community College in 1:17 in the semifinals.

Sievert’s win against Ortiz came against an opponent who was a four-time Oregon prep state champion at Newberg High School and was ranked as the No. 4 overall recruit in the nation last year by Wrestling Insider News Magazine and the No. 22 recruit by Intermat.

Smith Is GPAC Wrestler Of The Week

Drew Smith, a 141 lb. junior from Milburn, Neb., has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week for Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.

Smith went 2-0 last week with a pair of victories at a triangular meet in Mitchell, S.D. Smith defeated James Gubler of Jamestown College by a 13-5 major decision and upset Jordan Harer of Dakota Wesleyan University by a 10-6 decision. Harer is ranked third nationally in the latest NAIA poll.

Smith has a 9-5 record so far this season.