MITCHELL, S.D. – Minnesota State Moorhead wrestling saw strong matches across several weight classes at the DWU Open. Clayson Mele (125) and Liam Babitt (heavyweight) were place winners for the Dragons. 
 
Mele opened his season with three victories en route to a third-place finish in the 125-pound division. The senior began his morning with a major decision over Southwest Minnesota State's Preston Xayachak, 17-6. Mele would grab another major decision in the quarterfinals over Ridgewater College's Carson Newman, 11-1. The Green River, Wyo., native earned a spot in the third-place match by defeating SMSU's Dylan St. Germain, 14-7. 
 
Babitt would be dominant at heavyweight picking up five wins and a sixth-place finish. The sophomore worked through the consolation bracket with a pair of falls in the first two rounds. Babitt would then earn a major decision victory over Nebraska-Kearney's Luke Pawloski. He would then win two more matches before reaching a match limit, forcing two no contests. 
 
Also in the heavyweight division, true freshman Braden Shamp would collect two wins for MSUM. Shamp won in sudden victory over Dakota Wesleyan's Tanner Hennings before defeating UMary's Aidyn Mitchell by a 4-3 decision. Fellow freshman Gunner Hostetter would also earn two wins on Saturday at 157 pounds. Hostetter grabbed a 19-4 tech fall win over Minot State's Tristan Pekas before pinning Minot State's Leo Pedregal in 54 seconds. 
 
Beau Daily would rack up a pair of pins in the 149-pound division, sticking Daniel Camacho (Iowa Lakes CC) at 4:03 and Truman Gilbertson (SMSU) at 5:14. Other Dragons earning victories on Saturday included Edon Davis and Kish Eberline. 
 
DWU Open Results
 
Landon Walker (125): 0-2
Clayson Mele (125): 3-1
Beau Daily (149): 2-2
Gunner Hostetter (157): 2-2
Ashton Leegaard (157): 0-2
Beau Robinson (165): 0-2
Edon Davis (165): 1-2
Damon Ferguson (165): 0-2
Wyatt Powell (197): 0-2
Kish Eberline (197): 1-2
Liam Babitt (HWT): 5-1
Isaiah Wright (HWT): 0-2
Braden Shamp (HWT): 2-2
 
Up Next
 
MSUM is set to compete at the Augsburg Open on Saturday, November 22 beginning at 9 a.m.