DeJong leads Mustangs in season opener

KEARNEY, NEB. – Rebounding from a 13-2 loss in the championship quarterfinals Saturday, Nov. 20, Morningside University sophomore 197-pounder Hunter DeJong (Sibley, Iowa) answered with three successive victories to earn a top-four spot at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Younes Hospitality Open.

DeJong's roll included a technical fall and major decision that helped move him into a consolation championship match. The third-place clash didn't hit the mat due to a medical forfeit, which left the first-year Mside grappler landing in fourth place among the 25-competitor field, including National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I foes.

Junior 149-pounder John Diener (Kaukauna, Wis.) and junior 141-pounder Noah Styskal (David City, Neb.) added to the Elite Division efforts for head coach Jake Stevenson's squad. They both reached the consolation fifth round before being eliminated.

Freshman Logan Stumpf (Kaukauna, Wis.) advanced to the consolation seventh round in the Amateur section. Stumpf's five-win day at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds featured two pins.

Morningside opens the dual portion of its 2021-22 slate Wednesday, Dec. 1. They host a section of the Great Plains Athletic Conference Duals at The Arena in Sioux City.