Morningside, Briar Cliff continue mat thrillers theme
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A back-and-forth, edge-of-your-seat Great Plains Athletic Conference battle inside Morningside University’s Hindman-Hobbs Center Fieldhouse went down to the final match Saturday, Jan. 15.
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A back-and-forth, edge-of-your-seat Great Plains Athletic Conference battle inside Morningside University's Hindman-Hobbs Center Fieldhouse went down to the final match Saturday, Jan. 15.
Head coach Jake Stevenson's Mustangs, looking to remain unbeaten overall and in league competition, quickly moved out of the gates in front of a happy home crowd. Junior 149-pounder John Diener (Kaukauna, Wis.) and sophomore 165-pounder Ethan Hatcher (Wildwood, Fla.) each produced pins to get the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 19-ranked program off and running with a 12-4 lead.
However, past history between the two crosstown foes of white-knuckle rides proved relevant again. A feisty Briar Cliff University crew answered with four victories over the following five weights to take a 21-15 lead with two matches remaining. Junior 133-pounder Taylor Vasquez (Fountain, Colo.) kept the pressure on the Chargers' Marcelo Perez throughout, eventually forcing a fourth stalling call and disqualification win for a 21-21 tie. Junior 141-pounder Noah Styskal (David City, Neb.) held a one-point lead twice in the dual decider before BCU's Ethan Krey turned the tables with a big third period for a close-knit 8-7 decision that enabled the visitors to claim a 24-21 team victory.
Mside, dipping to 3-1 overall and in conference action, returns to action Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21 and 22, for the Missouri Valley College Invitational in Marshall, Mo. Stevenson's squad is back in conference dual competition Wednesday, Jan. 26, hosting Northwestern College.
