Wrestling 12/4/07 -- No. 1 Augsburg 41, Southwest Minnesota State 3
MARSHALL, Minn. (12/4/07) -- Winning six of the seven matches wrestled and taking advantage of three forfeits, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed a 41-3 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in a wrestling dual meet on Tuesday night at the SMSU P.E. Gym.
Augsburg, defending NCAA Division III national champions, is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division III national poll (National Wrestling Coaches Association). Augsburg leads the all-time series with Division II Southwest Minnesota State by a 21-3 margin, a series that dates to the 1984-85 season. Augsburg has now won 20 straight meets between the two schools dating to the 1988-89 season.
Against teams from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 220-17 since the 1989-90 season, losing just 12 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season. Augsburg has won 10 Division III national titles in the last 17 seasons.
Augsburg used several young wrestlers in Tuesday's match, with seven first-year and sophomore wrestlers in the lineup. Augsburg scored four bonus-point victories -- a technical fall and three major decisions -- among its six match victories. Augsburg also gained 18 team points on forfeits at 125, 141 and heavyweight.
Beau Hansen (FY, Albert Lea, Minn.) improved to 8-0 on the season with a 17-0, technical-fall victory at 157 pounds. At 133, Paul Bjorkstrand (JR, Burnsville, Minn.) picked up a 14-3, major-decision victory, Lucas Murray (FY, Anoka, Minn.) improved to 9-1 on the season with an 8-0, major-decision win, and Brandon Klukow (JR, Albert Lea, Minn.) improved to 8-2 with a 9-0, major-decision victory.
Also scoring wins for the Auggies were Garrett Long (SO, Cedar, Minn./St. Francis HS) with an 8-6 win at 184, and Kris Krier (SO, Woodbury, Minn.) with a 9-6 win at 197. SMSU's lone win came at 174, as Greg Frank claimed an 11-9 victory over Augsburg's Brian Fischer (SR, Freedom, Wis.).
Both teams will compete on Saturday (12/8) at the St. Cloud State Open. Augsburg will also send members of its White Team (junior varsity) to the Dick Walker Invitational at Wartburg (Iowa) on Saturday.
College Wrestling -- No. 1 (D-III) Augsburg (2-0) 41, Southwest Minnesota State (D-II) 3
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007 -- SMSU P.E. Gym, Marshall, Minn.
Action begins at 125.
125 -- Ky Olsen (AUG, 4-4) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 6-0).
133 -- Paul Bjorkstrand (AUG, 3-2) maj. dec. Ed Reno (SMSU) 14-3 (Augsburg 10-0)
141 -- Jake Saatzer (AUG, 6-3) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 16-0)
149 -- Lucas Murray (AUG, 9-1) maj. dec. Luke Giese (SMSU) 8-0 (Augsburg 20-0)
157 -- Beau Hansen (AUG, 8-0) tech. fall Logan McAlpin (SMSU) 17-0 (Augsburg 25-0)
165 -- Brandon Klukow (AUG, 8-2) maj. dec. C.D. Johnson (SMSU) 9-0 (Augsburg 29-0)
174 -- Greg Frank (SMSU) dec. Brian Fischer (AUG, 0-3) 11-9 (Augsburg 29-3)
184 -- Garrett Long (AUG, 6-5) dec. Tyler Johnson (SMSU) 8-6 -- (Augsburg 32-3)
197 -- Kris Krier (AUG, 4-2) dec. Cody Chamblin (SMSU) 9-6 (Augsburg 35-3)
HWT -- Andy Witzel (AUG, 7-2) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 41-3).
