MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead wrestling saw strong showings across the board at Saturday's Augsburg Invite. By day's end, Moorhead had four place winners across two separate brackets. 
 
Anthony Sykora would look sharp in his season debut for the Dragons, placing fifth in the 174-pound gold division. Sykora earned four wins on the day, beginning with a 5-1 decision over Augsburg's Bowen Rothbauer. Following a loss in the second round, Sykora would defeat Upper Iowa's Lucas Henderson by an 11-5 count. The Hoffman, Minn., native would top another Auggie in the consolation semifinal, defeating Trenton Dow, 3-1. In the fifth-place match, Sykora would defeat Johnson & Wales' Shane Reitsma by an 8-3 decision. 
 
Heavyweight Liam Babitt would also turn in a four-win day on Saturday en route to a fifth-place finish. Babitt began the morning with a pin of Brayden Soleau of Johnson & Wales at 2:55. Following a loss in the quarterfinals, Babitt would defeat Concordia College's Mason Swanson by a 4-2 decision. In the fifth-place match against Johnson & Wales' Adolfo Betancur, Babitt would pick up a 4-1 decision. 
 
Gunner Hostetter would continue his strong start to the season, picking up a pair of wins for a third-place finish in the 157-pound freshmen bracket. Hostetter defeated Ridgewater College's Tait Yasseri, 8-1. The true freshman would earn his placement thanks to a win over Iowa Lakes Community College's Vincent Costabilo. 
 
Wyatt Powell would collect two wins on Saturday in the 197-pound gold bracket. Powell began the morning with an 11-10 win over Minnesota State's Brian Thilges. Powell would grab a tech fall win over Johnson & Wales' Benjahmin Wilcox, 17-2. Pedro Velazquez would grab two wins in his season debut. Velazquez first defeated USF's Beau Beavers by a 10-0 major decision. The Victoria, Minn., native picked up another major decision in the second round, defeating Luther's Brayden Burmeister, 12-0.
 
Other Dragons collecting wins on Saturday included Clayson Mele, Landon Walker, Parker Benz, Kish Eberline, Damon Ferguson and Beau Robinson. Walker earned two victories in the 125-pound freshman bracket, highlighted by an 18-0 tech fall over Central's Jacob Nelson. Eberline finished sixth in the 197-pound freshmen bracket thanks to a 14-6 major decision over Luther College's Benjamin Helminski. 
 
Augsburg Open Records
 
Clayson Mele (125 Gold): 1-1
Pedro Velazquez (141 Gold): 2-1
Parker Benz (149 Gold): 1-2
Edon Davis (165 Gold): 0-2
Damon Ferguson (165 Gold): 1-2
Anthony Sykora (174 Gold): 4-1
Wyatt Powell (197 Gold): 2-2
Liam Babitt (HWT Gold): 4-1
Isaiah Wright (HWT Gold): 0-2
Landon Walker (125 Freshmen): 2-2
Gunner Hostetter (157 Freshmen): 2-1
Beau Robinson (157 Freshmen): 1-2
Kish Eberline (197 Freshmen): 1-2
 
Up Next
 
MSUM is set to host the Dragon Open on Sunday, December 7 inside Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead. Wrestling is set to begin at 11 a.m.