LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Augsburg College wrestler
Tony Valek (SR, Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West) improved to 23-0 on the season with a major-decision win, but his Auggies dropped a 27-13 decision to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in a dual meet on Sunday afternoon at UW-La Crosse's Mitchell Hall.
Valek remained unbeaten on the season with a 13-0 victory over Wisconsin-La Crosse's Bobby Dorn at 149 pounds, recording three takedowns and two near-falls, while building 4:33 of riding time. Of his 23 victories this season, 20 have been bonus-point decisions (10 pins, one technical fall, nine major decisions).
Augsburg, the No. 2-ranked team in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national polls, drops to 8-3 in dual meets this season, while No. 3-ranked UW-La Crosse improves to 16-2 on the season. Augsburg leads the all-time series against UW-La Crosse by a 6-3-1 margin.
In the final two bouts of the afternoon, Auggie wrestlers scored victories over ranked opponents. No. 4-ranked 197-pounder
Brad Baus (SR, Mukwonago, Wis.) collected his 16th pin of the season with a 3:54 match-ender over Zach Strickland of UW-La Crosse, improving to 21-9 on the season.
Top-ranked heavyweight
Chad Johnson (SO, Ferryville, Wis./DeSoto HS) improved to 26-1 on the season with a 3-2 decision over No. 7-ranked Billy Mayer. All the scoring came in the third period, as Johnson recorded an escape, Mayer notched a takedown and Johnson recorded another escape. But by riding out Mayer during the entire second period, Johnson accumulated 1:53 of riding time to claim the 3-2 victory.
In the other meeting of ranked wrestlers, UW-La Crosse's top-ranked Bebeto Yewah claimed a 24-11, technical-fall victory over
Will Keeter (SO, Twin Falls, Idaho) at 141 pounds. Two other ranked Eagles also claimed wins, as No. 3 Adam Sheley scored a 19-1, technical-fall win over
Boyd Suparat (JR, North Branch, Minn.) at 133, and No. 2-ranked Mike Schmitz claimed an 11-1, major-decision win over
Brandon Bahr (SR, Bemidji, Minn.) at 174.
Augsburg returns to action next Friday (2/10) at 7 p.m., with a dual meet at No. 17-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse (16-2) 27, No. 2 Augsburg (8-3) 13
Attendance: 400
Referee: Kevin Tann
125 -- Joey Nelson (UWL) dec.
Chad Bartschenfeld (AUG, 10-9) 8-4
(UW-La Crosse 3-0)
133 -- No. 3 Adam Sheley (UWL) tech. fall (5) Boyd Suparat (AUG, 15-9) 19-1 at 6:31
(UW-La Crosse 8-0)
141 -- No. 1 Bebeto Yewah (UWL) tech. fall (4) No. 6
Will Keeter (AUG, 23-5) 24-11 at 7:00
(UW-La Crosse 12-0)
149 -- No. 1
Tony Valek (AUG, 23-0) maj. dec. Bobby Dorn (UWL) 13-0
(UW-La Crosse 12-4)
157 -- JR Lewis (UWL) dec.
Kurt Knutsen (AUG, 6-9) 4-0
(UW-La Crosse 15-4)
165 -- Kevin O'Brien (UWL) dec.
Noel Sweeney (AUG, 13-5) 13-5
(UW-La Crosse 18-4)
174 -- No. 2 Mike Schmitz (UWL) maj. dec.
Brandon Bahr (AUG, 6-8) 11-1
(UW-La Crosse 22-4)
184 -- Grant Miller tech. fall (5)
Tony Castro (AUG, 7-6) 21-5 at 6:39
(UW-La Crosse 27-4)
197 -- No. 4
Brad Baus (AUG, 21-9) pinned No. 8 Zach Strickland (UWL) 3:54
(UW-La Crosse 27-10)
HWT -- No. 1
Chad Johnson (AUG, 26-1) dec. No. 7 Billy Mayer (UWL) 3-2
(UW-La Crosse 27-13)
