MSUM Wrestlers Host Dragon Open on Saturday
The Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team will resume the 2017-18 campaign on Saturday when it hosts the annual Dragon Open at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m., and will run all day.
The Dragons have been on a slight hiatus from competition after competing at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Holiday Inn Open on Nov. 18. At that tournament, the Dragons had four wrestlers who finished with 5-1 records led by junior Adam Blees, who ended up taking fourth in the elite bracket at 174 pounds. Redshirt freshman Seth Hutchison brought home a second place finish at 133 pounds in the Amateur division, while freshman Cole Jones also finished 5-1 in the 125-pound Amateur division.
The Dragons also had two wrestlers compete at the Finn Grinaker Open hosted by Concordia-Moorhead. Freshman Evan Foster (unattached) won the title at 197 pounds in the maroon division, while freshman Tyson Leon finished fifth at 141 pounds in the gold division.
The Dragons are led by junior Adam Blees, who has a 9-3 record at 174 pounds. Redshirt freshman Seth Hutchison has a 5-1 record on the season, while freshman Cole Jones is 8-4 so far at 125. Redshirt freshman Aaron Sistrunk is 6-5, while freshman Mason Schulz has racked up a 11-4 record while competing unattached. Redshirt freshman Jordan Magnuson is 5-1 at 285 for MSUM.
Head coach Kris Nelson is in his ninth season as head coach of the Dragons. In his career, he has coached five All-Americans, several national qualifiers and more than a dozen NSIC All-Academic selections.
Bosch returns as coach
The Dragon coaching staff got a boost this year when former Dragon wrestler Blake Bosch joined the coaching staff. Bosch compiled a career record of 115-35 during his four years as a starter. He was the national runner-up at the 2017 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, and in 2017 was named the seventh Most Dominant Wrestler in Division II. Bosch was a three-time All-American, two-time Super Region 3 champion, and was named the 2016-17 NSIC Wrestler of the Year. The staff also includes Tyler Lehmann, Bret Maughan and Justin Solbert.
Looking ahead
The Dragons will travel to Minneapolis on Dec. 7 to face Division III power Augsburg College before traveling to Indianapolis for the Midwest Classic on Dec. 16. After that, they will have a one-month break before entering NSIC competition.
Read the article on MSUMDragons.com.