Minnesota State University Moorhead Men's Wrestling

Kris Nelson is entering his 18th season as the Minnesota State University Moorhead head wresting coach in 2026-27. Nelson continued to raise the standard of Dragon wrestling during the 2025-26 season. Moorhead won seven duals, including four NSIC victories. Among MSUM's conquests was a victory over 11th-ranked Kutztown on January 10, 2026. The win is the first ranked dual win for the Dragons since the 2019-20 season. In total, nine wrestlers tallied 10 or more wins in 2025-26, led by Liam Babbit's 22 victories. Nelson was also instrumental in the stellar season of Pedro Velazquez, who once again qualified for the NCAA Championships. Velazquez was the NCAA Super Region V runner-up at 141 pounds, compiling 17 wins during the season. The senior was ranked in both The Open Mat and the NWCA's individual rankings during the year. Nelson also garnered another individual accolade in his already storied athletic career during the 2025-26 season. The National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) announced that Nelson will be inducted into the Jim Koch Division II Men's Wrestling Hall of Fame in August of 2026.  The 2024-25 season saw the Dragons surge in dual competition, winning eight duals, including three NSIC victories. By season's end, MSUM had 11 wrestlers with 10 or more victories. The Dragons also had a pair of regional runners-up in senior Ryan Henningson (133 pounds) and Pedro Velazquez (141 pounds). Both wrestlers would qualify for the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. as well.  As the Dragon head coach, Nelson has coached one NCAA finalist, six All-Americans, 20 NCAA qualifiers and numerous NSIC and NWCA All-Academic selections.  In 2020-21, Cole Jones qualified for his second NCAA national tournament at 125 pounds. Jones finished second at the Super Region V meet to advance. In 2019-20, Braydon Ortloff was a national qualifier at 165 pounds after finished second at the Super Region V meet.  NCAA national qualifiers included sophomore Cole Jones (125) and Jordan Magnuson (285) in 2018-19.  Jones picked up All-American honors by placing seventh at the national meet. In 2017-18 Zach Scott was a national qualifier at 141 pounds after finishing fourth at the Super Region V meet. Senior Blake Bosch was the national runner-up at 133 pounds in 2017-18 to cap off a brilliant Dragon career. Bosch was also the Super Region 3 Wrestler of the Year and the NSIC Wrestler of the Year as well. Kristian Vazquez placed fifth at the regional and narrowly missed on a trip to nationals.  Bosch finished with 115, second-most in school history behind Dragon Hall of Famer Travis Hendrickson. Bosch placed third at nationals in 2016-17 and picked up All-American honors. Highlighted by an All-American performance by sophomore Blake Bosch, MSUM had a solid 2014-15 season. The Dragons finished 8-5 in duals, including 4-4 in a difficult NSIC schedule. MSUM competed at the Grapple at the Garden at historic Madison Square Garden in New York City, earning a win over Division I LIU-Post in Dec. 2014. Bosch finished eighth at 133 pounds at the Division II National Championships to cap off a season where he finished 27-12. In 2013-14, MSUM sent two more wrestlers to the nationals -- senior Conner Monk and freshman Blake Bosch. The Dragons went 7-9, highlighted by a 24-16 road win over Minnesota State. Senior Matt Lewellen and Bosch both surpassed 20 wins on the season. In 2012-13, MSUM finished with a solid 8-8 mark in duals, including 3-5 in conference matches. Junior Angel Vega qualified for the national meet at 141 pounds. During the 2011-12 season, senior Corey Ulmer and junior Jacob Bennett were national qualifiers. Ulmer was ranked No. 1 for much of the season at 125 pounds and was also the Super Regional 3 champion. In his second season in 2010-11, Nelson improved the Dragons record to 8-8, raising his overall record to 13-18. The season ended with four straight wins, highlighted by a 25-17 win over then No. 10 Upper Iowa in the season finale. Nelson coached his second All-American as Ulmer finished seventh at the national championships. In his first season as Head Coach, Nelson guided the Dragons to a 5-10 mark and finished with five national qualifiers, the third most in the NSIC. Nelson coached one of those qualifiers (Derek Bomstad) to an All-American selection. Prior to becoming the MSUM head coach, Nelson spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant wrestling coach at North Dakota State, his alma mater. He was a member of the Bison staff for two seasons as a student assistant coach from 2000-2002 before continuing as a graduate assistant for two years from 2002-2004. While at NDSU he coached 25 All-Americans and seven NCAA champions and helped NDSU win the NCAA national team championship in 2001. As a student-athlete, Nelson was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American and two-time North Central Conference champion for NDSU and was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. He won the NCAA II 133-pound national championship in 2000 and also was named the NCAA II Outstanding Wrestler. Nelson won the NCC Tournament twice and helped NDSU to the NCC team title in 1998. A native of Lisbon, ND, Nelson was a two-time North Dakota State High Champion for the Broncos and logged a career record of 128-19. Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education/Health from North Dakota State in 2001 and a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Athletic Administration in 2006. Nelson and his wife Jennifer live in Fargo, N.D.

Monk is in his first season as an assistant coach on the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling staff. A native of Wausau, Wis., Monk had a decorated Division I wrestling career at NDSU. In 2014 he was a Division I All-American after placing third in the nation at 165 pounds. Monk is a three-time national qualifier and a three-time Western Wrestling Conference champion. He finished with a 134-24 career record with 52 pins.   He was also the fifth-most dominant wrestler in Division I in 2014. He was also the 2013 Midlands Tournament champion.   Monk is the brother of former Dragon wrestler Conner Monk, who was a national qualifier in 2014. A 2009 graduate of Wausau West, he was the Wisconsin state champion in 2009. He finished with a career record of 202-15 and recorded 102 career pins. Steven Monk graduated from North Dakota State which a bachelor's degree in physical education in 2013 and earned his master's degree in health, nutrition and exercise science in 2015.

Sanders has served as an assistant coach for the Dragons wrestling team since 2011-12. Sanders graduated from North Dakota State University in 2008 with a degree in management information systems and a minor in computer science.  Named to Deans list four times as a wrestler with the Bison team.   Started every match for the Bison while totaling 75 career victories in four seasons.  Sanders was named to the All-Western Wrestling Conference third team twice and to the WWC All-Academic team once in 2008.  While wrestling in the 133-pound division, Sanders finished in third place at the NCAA Western Regional in both 2007 and 2008.  Sanders was the Dragon Open champion in 2007 and Bison Open champion in 2006.  2005 was the first season NDSUs wrestling team competed at Division I and Sanders was a charter member.  As a true freshman in 2003, he was a qualifier of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Sanders posted double-digit wins every season as a Bison.  Sanders posted 24 wins as a senior at NDSU and 19 wins as a junior.  His true freshman season provided him with as many wins as his junior season but 10 more losses (19). As a 2003 graduate of Wabasha-Kellogg High School, Sanders totaled a school record of 223 wins.  Sanders is only the second wrestler in Minnesota history to be a five-time champion in weights ranging from 103 to 119.  As a senior, Sanders was awarded Mr. Minnesota of Wrestling, NHSCA Senior National High School All-American, Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award and Academic Minnesota All-State.

Caden Steffen is in his third season as MSUM wrestling's top assistant coach. Head coach Kris Nelson announced Steffen's hiring in June of 2024.  In Steffen's second season, he only upped the level of competitiveness from Moorhead's big weights. Heavyweight Liam Babitt led the team with 22 victories, including seven wins via fall. Babitt placed fifth at NCAA Super Region V. Additionally, Anthony Sykora (174), Edon Davis (184) and Wyatt Powell (197) all secured 10 or more wins on the year. Steffen was also key in Pedro Velazquez's second straight trip to the NCAA Championships.  Steffen made an immediate impact on the program in his first season in Moorhead, helping qualify both Ryan Henningson (133 pounds) and Pedro Velazquez (141 pounds) for the NCAA Championships. Henningson and Velazquez were both Super Region V runners-up in their respective weight classes. Steffen was also instrumental in the development and success of heavyweight Liam Babitt and 174-pounder Mason Gode, who narrowly missed qualifying for the national meet.  Originally from Zumbrota, Minn., Steffen enjoyed an incredible collegiate wrestling career at NSIC member school Southwest Minnesota State. Steffen was a three-time national qualifier at 184 pounds while earning two All-America certificates. Steffen finished fifth in the nation at 184 pounds in 2021, following that up with a sixth-place finish the following season. In his prep career at Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School, Steffen was a two-time Minnesota State champion.  Steffen has close ties to Moorhead as his sister Avery played softball for the Dragons from 2022 until 2025. 

Tommy Walton is in his third season as an assistant coach for the Dragon wrestling program.  Walton enjoyed a strong wrestling career, competing for four season as NCAA Division I North Dakota State. Walton also competed at Minnesota State Moorhead for one season.  The Fargo native bolsters an impressive prep career that includes two North Dakota State High School championships. Walton was a three-time High School Greco Nationals All-American and a one-time Greco finalist. In his career, he was also a FILA Junior Greco All-American, a UWW Junior Greco All-American and a US Junior Greco World Team Member alternate. 

Justin Solberg is in his ninth season as an assistant coach for the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team. Solberg was a four-year starter in wrestling at Division I North Dakota State, where he also served as a team captain.  He was ranked as high as No. 32 at 125 pounds in the national rankings. He won 61 matches in his collegiate career. A native of Wahpeton, N.D., Solberg was a four-state North Dakota Class A state champion with a record record of 192-5. He was a three-time high school All-American and placed sixth at the Junior Nationals for Greco Roman.

Salazar is in his first season as a member of the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling coaching staff. Salazar brings a great deal of collegiate experience to the Dragon program. Prior to coming to Minnesota State University Moorhead, Salazar was an assistant coach at Wayland Baptist University for two years. During his time there, he coached two All-Americans and five national qualifiers during the 2013 men's season and helped led the team to an overall 16th finish at the NAIA tournament (2013).   He was also an assistant coach at New Mexico Highlands University for four years, working with Hall of Fame Coach Doug Moses. New Mexico Highlands produced NCAA DII qualifiers each year, several All-Americans and a NCAA DII National Champion. Salazar was a NJCAA All-American at Northwest Wyoming and a valuable member of a NJCAA National Championship team. He went to University of Northern Colorado and qualified for the NCAA D1 national tournament. He is currently working on his doctorate degree from Grand Canyon University in Public School Administration with a Leadership emphasis. He is developing a dissertation study aimed at enhancing college wrestling programs.