MOORHEAD, Minn. — With all of their scheduled home duals behind them, MSU Moorhead wrestling will take to the road for a pair of duals on Thursday and Tuesday. The Dragons will battle 20th-ranked Northern State on Thursday at 7 p.m. and will travel to Dickinson, N.D. on Tuesday, February 7, for an 8 p.m. (CT) dual with the Dickinson State Blue Hawks.
The Dragons dropped their final two home duals of the season after falling 34-6 to fifth-ranked St. Cloud State and 30-9 to Minnesota State. In those duals, MSUM was paced by Clayson Mele, who picked up a 4-3 decision win against St. Cloud State’s Ashton Clark on Friday night. Mele would win by forfeit the following day against the Mavericks.
Heavyweight Andre Baguma broke into the starting lineup last week and would secure a 2-1 decision win against St. Cloud State’s Elijah Novak. The senior would lose a tough 4-1 decision to reigning national champion Darrell Mason the following afternoon. The weekend split moved Baguma’s record to 4-5 on the season. Thomas Carrillo also picked up a stirring overtime win on Saturday over Minnesota State’s Isaiah Mlsna. In the process, Carrillo moved his season record to 12-11.
Mele and Jonas Anez lead the Dragon starters with 14 wins this season, with a combined six pinfall wins between the two. Anez has added five major decision wins to his ledger this season, which leads MSUM. Gunnar Mogen has been on a tear recently after picking up three more wins at the Dickinson State-hosted Tyler Plummer Classic last Saturday. Mogen currently has a 15-9 record this season with a team-leading six pins, having won six of his last eight matches.
Kris Nelson is in his 14th season as MSU Moorhead’s head coach.
Know Your Enemy
Northern State is 8-4 in duals so far this season, with a 3-3 conference mark so far in 2022-23. The only conference losses the Wolves have this season have come against ranked NSIC foes in Parkside, Upper Iowa and most recently St. Cloud State. Northern State fell to the Huskies 30-3 on Saturday, but opened their weekend with a 19-17 victory over Minnesota State. The Wolves also had an outstanding showing at the Midwest Duals on January 21, besting third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 17th-ranked Fort Hays State and Central Missouri. Currently, the Wolves are ranked 20th in the NWCA poll with two wrestlers ranked inside the NWCA top 12. This is headlined by 197-pounder Cole Huss, who is ranked third in the country, followed by seventh-ranked Wyatt Turnquist (149 pounds). Rocky Burkett is in his eighth season as head coach of Northern State.
Dickinson State is 3-6 in duals this season with wins over the University of Jamestown, Northwestern College and North Idaho College. Three of Dickinson State’s six dual losses have come to familiar opponents. The Blue Hawks have losses to Concordia College, Minot State and 14th-ranked UMary. Dickinson State features two wrestlers in the NAIA top-25 rankings, led by 149-pounder Ethan Fleck, who is ranked 23rd in the country at that weight. Konrich Speelmon is ranked 24th in the country at 197 pounds for the Blue Hawks. Justin Schlecht is in his eighth season as head coach of the Blue Hawks.
Watch MSU Moorhead at Northern State | Watch MSU Moorhead at Dickinson State
MSUM Probable Lineup
125 – Clayson Mele (14-10, 4-3 NSIC)
133 – Thomas Carrillo (12-11, 3-4 NSIC)
141 – Hunter Hayes (4-14, 1-6 NSIC)
149 – Jacob Davis (3-7, 2-5 NSIC)
157 – Peyton Ringling (3-14, 0-7 NSIC)
165 – Jonas Anez (14-21, 0-7 NSIC)
174 – Anthony Castro (9-9, 1-6 NSIC)
184 – Brett Graham (3-8, 0-2 NSIC) OR Caleb Vacura (4-13, 0-5 NSIC)
197 – Samuel Grove (5-9, 1-4 NSIC)
HWT – Andre Baguma (4-5, 1-1 NSIC)
#20 Northern State’s Probable Lineup
125- Landen Fischer
133- Teagan Block
141- Kolton Roth or Robert Coyle
149- #7 Wyatt Turnquist
157- Izaak Hunsley
165- Chase Bloomquist
174- Kelby Hawkins
184- Sam Kruger
197- #3 Cole Huss
HWT- Nathan Schauer or George Bolling
Dickinson State’s Probable Lineup
125 – Wyatt Engwicht
133 – Jose Gonzalez
141 – Dante Venema
149 – #23 Ethan Fleck
157 – Kale Corley
165 – Tate Nordby
174 – Jack Simons
184 – Samuel Adams
197 – #24 Konrich Speelmon
HWT – Kyle Anderson
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