HAMPTON, Va. – Minnesota State Moorhead wrestling concluded competition at the 45th annual Virginia Duals on Saturday. The Dragons would begin the day defeating 11th-ranked Kutztown before falling to (RV) East Stroudsburg in the fifth-place dual.
 
Moorhead would get rolling early against Kutztown as Clayson Mele would respond after a tough Friday. Mele would get MSUM six team points off the jump, pinning Nic Alison at 3:59. While the Golden Bears would tie the match over the next two weights, it was Parker Benz who continued his great weekend. The redshirt junior gave the Dragons a lead once more behind a 6-2 decision over Logan Hrenenko. Benz led 3-2 late in the final period before a late takedown provided the dagger. 
 
Jacob Reinardy would grab another major victory for Moorhead at 157 pounds. Reinardy would pin Ryan Schimpf at 4:31 to provide six more team points. Kutztown would then showcase why they are ranked 11^th in the country, earning three straight major decisions to regain the lead, 18-15. Needing results in the final two matches, MSUM delivered in the form of Wyatt Powell and Liam Babitt. Powell earned a timely major decision over Alex Ward, racking up 11 points in a shutout victory. The win for Powell also gave Moorhead the lead again, 19-18. 
 
It was Babitt who would secure the team victory for the Dragons, scoring a 5-0 decision over Dustin Swanson. Babitt led by just one point in the third period, but rallied to get a needed takedown, providing a cushion. MSUM would claim the dual 22-18 and advance to the fifth-place match. It is MSUM's first dual win over a ranked team since February 19, 2020 (#23 Minot State). 
 
Dragons 22, #11 Golden Bears 18
 
125 – Clayson Mele pinned Nic Alison (3:59)
133 – Javien DeLeon decision over Brody Toledo (7-4)
141 – Joey Ortega decision over #15 Pedro Velazquez (4-2)
149 – Parker Benz decision over Logan Hrenenko (6-2) 
157 – Jacob Reinardy pinned Ryan Schimpf (4:31)
165 – #3 Bailey Gimbor major decision over Damon Ferguson (16-7)
174 – #3 Dalton Gimbor major decision over Anthony Sykora (9-1)
184 – #7 Cole Castillo major decision over Edon Davis (10-1)
197 – Wyatt Powell major decision over Alex Ward (11-0)
HWT – Liam Babitt decision over Dustin Swanson (5-0)
 
Mele would get the Dragons going in the fifth-place match, securing a 10-7 victory over Brady Carter. The senior would be tied with Carter in the third period before securing a takedown with 25 seconds remaining to claim victory. The Dragons would lead the team score 6-4 after Pedro Velazquez defeated Joseph Aldrich, 4-2. 
 
While the Warriors would win the next three weight classes, it was Anthony Sykora who came up big for Moorhead. The Hoffman, Minn., native scored a 13-1 major decision to supply four team points. After East Stroudsburg claimed the 184-pound match, the Dragons trailed, 19-10. Powell would then pick up a technical fall to bring the Dragons to within four points. The senior racked up 13 points in the first period thanks to a pair of four-point near falls, eventually winning 23-6. Heavyweight would decide the dual with Babitt falling in a narrow 8-5 result. The Warriors would win the dual, 22-15, as Moorhead would finish in sixth place. 
 
(RV) Warriors 22, Dragons 15
 
125 – Clayson Mele decision over Brady Carter (10-7)
133 – Sean Campbell major decision over Brody Toledo (13-5)
141 – #15 Pedro Velazquez decision over Joseph Aldrich (4-2)
149 – Austin Noe pinned Parker Benz (2:43)
157 – Gavin Reynolds decision over Jacob Reinardy (7-3)
165 – Anthony Lawrence decision over Damon Ferguson (8-5)
174 – Anthony Sykora major decision over Brendan Ridge (13-1)
184 – #13 Luke Ciampa decision over Edon Davis (6-0)
197 – Wyatt Powell technical fall over Max Winkler (23-6)
HWT – Lincoln Carlson decision over Liam Babitt (8-5)
 
Up Next
 
The Dragons return to NSIC action next week as they prep for a home dual against (RV) Northern State on Thursday at 7 p.m. MSUM will also have a road non-conference dual against Dickinson State on Friday.