MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead wrestling is headed to California for a pair of non-conference duals with Vanguard University and San Francisco State. The Dragons will battle the Lions at 6:30 p.m. on Friday before taking on the Gators immediately following at 8 p.m. 

Live video and results will be available at msumdragons.com.

The Dragons last competed in dual action against Northern State on December 5 as well as the annual Dragon Open on December 7. MSUM fell to the Wolves (22-16), but had two weight class champions and 15 placewinners overall at the Dragon Open.

Against the Wolves, MSUM would be the aggressors early in the dual with the 165 pound bout taking center stage first. Jacob Thomas would earn a resounding 6-1 win over Izaak Hunsley to put MSUM in front on the team score. Anthony Sykora would follow suit with a decision victory of his own, a 9-2 showing over Northern State's Mason Frey. The victory gives Sykora a team-best 11 wins heading into the weekend. At 184 pounds, Wyatt Powell would score a 5-0 decision over Tanner Meyers, putting MSUM up 9-0 in the team scoring. 

Northern State would gather wins at 197 pounds and heavyweight as Isaiah Huus would narrowly fall in a sudden victory period, 4-1. Tied at nine points, Clayson Mele would keep the Dragons turning with a 6-5 victory over Sloan Johannsen before Thomas Carrillo collected a major decision victory. Carrillo scored 13 points in a 13-2 win over Northern State's Brenden Salfrank. As the Dragons led 16-9, Northern State would gain momentum with victories at 141 and 149 pounds. Trailing by a point on the team leaderboard, MSUM would fall victim to a technical fall in the final match of the evening. Northern State narrowly claimed the match, 22-16. 

At the Dragon Open, Mason Gode would look sharp against four NSIC competitors on Saturday in the 174-pound Red Division. The junior collected a decision win over Augustana's Jonah Gruenes to begin his day before finding the finals with a major decision and a fall. Gode defeated fourth-ranked Cole Glazier of St. Cloud State in the semifinals via fall. In the championship match, Gode was able to earn a sudden victory title against St. Cloud State's Logan Vaughan (11-8)

Liam Babitt would compete in the heavyweight White Division and would also go unblemished. The freshman would win his first three matches by fall, including a pin at 2:54 over South Dakota State's Regan Bollweg. In the championship match, Babitt defeated Northern State's Grady Frey by major decision, 9-1. 

Damon Ferguson would collect third-place honors in the 165-pound White Division. The freshman Ferguson had three wins on the day, including a victory in the third-place match against Minot State's John Armstrong. Ferguson won via decision, 8-3. Jacob Thomas (165 pounds) and Wyatt Powell (184 pounds) would add a pair of Red Division placewinners for MSUM, earning fourth-place marks. Thomas earned two wins, including a technical fall while Powell had two wins with a pin on Minot State's Dom Howlett at 6:15. 

MSUM would have a number of fifth-place finishers across both divisions including Clayson Mele (125-pound Red), Pedro Velazquez (141-pound Red), Cody Wienen (149-pound Red), Jesiah Townsel (165-pound White) and Anthony Sykora (174-pound Red). Sykora had three wins on Saturday, headlined by a fall at 1:18 over Minot State's Kyle Farrington. Townsel also had three wins, including a pair of pins in the consolation rounds to move into the fifth-place match. Wienen was strong all day, earning three wins, all of which via fall or technical fall. Mele and Velazquez each had two wins with Mele earning victories via fall and technical fall. 

Rounding out the Dragon placewinners were a host of sixth-place marks which included Burak Bowers (HWT White), Isaiah Huus (197-pound Red), Tate Laducer(165-pound White), Jacob Reinardy (157-pound Red) and Thomas Carrillo (133-pound Red). Carrillo earned three wins while Huus and Bowers had a pair of victories on the day. Reinardy and Laducer each had a win by fall at the tournament as well.

Sykora leads the Dragons with 15 wins this season as Babitt, Ferguson and Huus also have 10 or more wins so far this year. Babitt leads the roster with seven wins via fall while Ferguson bolsters four tech fall victories. Ferguson also leads the team in major decision victories with three. 

The Dragon Lineup vs Vanguard/San Francisco State
2024-25 record in parentheses

125 - Clayson Mele (9-6)
133 - Thomas Carrillo (8-6)
141 - Pedro Velazquez (3-3)
149 - Cody Wienen (4-3) OR Gunnar Mogen (2-6)
157 - Jacob Reinardy (4-8) OR Edon Davis (7-6)
165 - Jacob Thomas (4-4) OR Damon Ferguson (11-7)
174 - Mason Gode (9-3) OR Anthony Sykora (15-3)
184 - Wyatt Powell (6-6)
197 - Isaiah Huus (10-5)
285 - Liam Babitt (12-4) OR Isaiah Wright (6-7)

Kris Nelson is in his 16th season as MSUM's head wrestling coach