Wrestling | 2/5/2022 6:52:00 PM

FAYETTE, Iowa – The Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team won three matches but came up short in a 34-9 dual loss at Upper Iowa on Saturday in Fayette, Iowa.
 
Freshman Clayson Mele got the Dragons on the board at 125 with a 10-5 win over Upper Iowa's Philip Ihde.
 
"Clayson wrestled a hard-fought match at 125 and was tough in the top position, nearly getting the fall," MSUM head coach Kris Nelson said.
 
Junior Cole Jones added to the Dragon advantage with a 6-1 win over Upper Iowa's Donny Schmit at 133 to put the Dragons up 6-0 in the dual. Jones is now 10-7 on the season.
 
"Cole wrestled aggressive and was the offense for the entire match," Nelson said. "I felt he rebounded well from a tough loss Friday at Mankato."
 
Upper Iowa won the next seven matches, which included two pins and two wins by technical fall to build a 34-6 lead.
 
Junior Samuel Grove ended the dual strong for MSUM, taking a 6-3 win over Jordan Baumier to make the final score 34-9.
 
"Sam Grove got two takedowns and almost got the fall in the second period," Nelson said. "He continued to wrestle a smart, controlled match in the third period and finished off the win."
 
MSUM's next action is Thursday, Feb. 10 at No. 1 St. Cloud State.
 
Upper Iowa 34, MSU Moorhead 9
125-Clayson Mele (MSUM) dec. Philip Ihde, 10-5
133-Cole Jones (MSUM) dec. Donny Schmit, 6-1
141-Tate Murty (UIU) tech fall Hunter Hayes, 16-1
149-#14 Eric Faught (UIU) pinned Ethan Kiehm, 1:30
157-#8 Chase Luensman (UIU) dec. Jacob Thomas, 10-3
165-Ryan Steffen (UIU) tech fall Peyton Ringling, 16-0
174-Colter Bye (UIU) maj. dec. Justin Dravis, 9-0
184-Myron Crawford (UIU) tech fall Brett Graham, 25-10
197-Bodie Garnier (UIU) pinned Steven Abbott, 4:23
285-Samuel Grove (MSUM) dec. Jordan Baumier, 6-3