Tigers battle at Doane Open

Crete, Neb. – In the last event of the 2018 calendar year, the Dakota Wesleyan University wrestling team competed in the Doane Open on Saturday in Crete, Neb.

 Freshman Mitchell Messersmith (Lennox, S.D.) wrestled three matches on the day. He began his day wrestling Justin Haneke of Southwest Minnesota State University, Haneke came away with the victory.

 Messersmith responded in his next match, wrestling Gavin Wells of Williams Baptist University in the consolation third-round match. Messersmith pinned Wells in the first period to advance him to the next round. In the third match of the day, Messersmith fell to Jordan Biehn of Southwest Minnesota State University by fall.

 Xylon Takata (Hilo, Hawaii) began his day wrestling Taylor Jokerst of Maryville University, Takata dropped his match to send him to consolation bracket. Takata dropped his second match of the day by a slim margin of 10-8 to Jacob Irwin of Simpson College.

 The Tigers will be back on the mat to face off against GPAC opponent Hasitngs College on Jan. 4 at a time to be determined in Hastings, Neb.