Top-ranked Augsburg dominates in 37-6 win over UW-Stevens Point

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (2/12/99) -- Augsburg College, the top-ranked team in the NCAA Division III national wrestling poll, maintained its perfect record this season against Division II and III opponents with a 37-6 dual-meet victory at Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday night (2/12).

Augsburg has been the top-rated team in the BRUTE-Adidas Division III wrestling national rankings for the past three seasons running; UW-Stevens Point was the No. 11-rated team in the most recent poll (Jan. 28). The Auggies are now 11-2 in dual meets this season, 11-0 against non-Division I opponents.

*Ben Bauer (So., Faribault, Minn.) improved to 30-3 on the season with a second-period pin victory at heavyweight to open the match, while *Justin Baker (Jr., Kerkhoven, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg HS) improved to 23-9 with his 1:06 pin at 157 pounds. *Nick Slack (Fr., Belle Plaine, Minn.) followed Baker's pin up with one of his own, a 2:20 decision at 165, to go to 24-7 on the season.

*Darin Bertram (Fr., Herman, Minn./Herman-Norcross HS, 125, now 24-8), *Josh Cagle (Jr., Faribault, Minn., 149, now 29-2), *Jim Peterson (Sr., Eyota, Minn./Dover-Eyota HS, 174, now 28-6) and *Nik Lewandowski (So., Hastings, Minn., 184, now 24-6) all picked up major-decision victories, while *Josh Clausen (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) improved to 25-3 with a 3-1 win at 197.

*John Marchette (So., Canton, Ohio/North Canton Hoover HS) dropped his record to 18-4 with a 9-2 loss at 133, while *Brian Jones (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.), fell to 20-4 with a 4-2 overtime loss to UW-SP's Jaime Hegland at 149. Hegland was rated second in the most recent national individual rankings, while Jones was rated fifth.

Augsburg hosts St. Cloud State on Sunday (2/14/99) at 2 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.

Augsburg 37, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 6
Order of matches (new draw system according to NCAA rules):
HWT - *Ben Bauer (A) pinned Mark Burger 3:33 (Augsburg 6-0)
125 - *Darin Bertram (A) maj. dec. Corey Bauer 8-0 (Augsburg 10-0)
133 - Chet Zdanczewicz (SP) dec. *John Marchette 9-2 (Augsburg 10-3)
141 - Jaime Hegland (SP) dec. *Brian Jones 4-2 in overtime (Augsburg 10-6)
149 - *Josh Cagle (A) maj. dec. Ross Buchinger 16-5 (Augsburg 14-6)
157 - *Justin Baker (A) pinned Bob Weix 1:06 (Augsburg 20-6)
165 - *Nick Slack (A) pinned Eric Schadrie 2:20 (Augsburg 26-6)
174 - *Jim Peterson (A) maj. dec. Wes Kapping 9-0 (Augsburg 30-6)
184 - *Nik Lewandowski (A) maj. dec. Joe Bavinka 11-0 (Augsburg 34-6)
197 - *Josh Clausen (A) dec. Ben Kureck 3-1 (Augsburg 37-6)