Wrestling 2/10/02 -- Augsburg 33,
South Dakota State 16

BROOKINGS, S.D. (2/10/02) -- Augsburg College, the top-ranked team in NCAA Division III, the two-time defending Division III national champions and winners of seven of the last 11 national crowns, won three matches by fall and two more by forfeit to down South Dakota State 33-16 in college wrestling action Sunday afternoon at SDSU's Frost Arena.

The loss drops the Jackrabbits, ranked 12th in NCAA Division II, to 7-8. Augsburg remained undefeated at 16-0 and extended its dual meet winning streak to 24. Since 1989-90, Augsburg is 165-7 against opponents from Divisions II and III, and has lost just twice to Division II foes since the 1995-96 season.

All but one of Sunday's matches featured at least one ranked wrestler.

After spotting Augsburg an 18-0 lead after a pin by the Auggies' John Marchette at 133 pounds and successive forfeits at 141 and 149 pounds, South Dakota State reeled off four wins in six matches. Aaron Veskrna got the Jackrabbits on the board with a pin in 6 minutes, 20 seconds over Jeremy Jirele at 157 pounds. Veskrna's win was his 25th of the season against just one loss.

Tyler Jones started a string of three Jackrabbit victories with a 7-3 decision over Augsburg's Ricky Crone as he improved to 12-0 on the season. Both wrestlers came into the match ranked second in their respective divisions. Augsburg won the other battle of second-ranked wrestlers as the

Auggies' Tony Abbott * won an overtime tiebreaker over SDSU's Tyler Bryant, 2-1.

Todd Paszek, ranked fifth in Division II at 197 pounds, followed Jones' victory by knocking off off top-ranked Kevin Rasmussen by major decision, 11-2. Jon Madsen added a 3-2 victory at heavyweight over Mike Flanagan.

SDSU wrestles at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Southwest State, then closes out the dual season Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. match against Augustana at Frost Arena. Augsburg will attempt to win its 16th straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in the final MIAC Individual Championships, on Sat., Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.

AUGSBURG 33, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 16
133: #1 John Marchette, AUG, def. Nathan Wallman, by fall 2:47
141: #4 Brad Fisher *, AUG, won by forfeit
149: Jamell Tidwell, AUG, won by forfeit
157: #2 Aaron Veskrna, SDSU, def. Jeremy Jirele, by fall 6:20
165: #2 Tony Abbott *, AUG, dec. #2 Tyler Bryant, 2-1 (overtime tiebreaker)
174: #1 Nick Slack *, AUG, def. Scott King, by fall 4:04
184: #2 Tyler Jones, SDSU, dec. #2 Ricky Crone, 7-3
197: #5 Todd Paszek, SDSU, major dec. #1 Kevin Rasmussen, 11-2
HWT: #6 Jon Madsen, SDSU, dec. Mike Flanagan, 3-2
125: #1 Darin Bertram *, AUG, def. Brooks Small, by fall 1:17


College Wrestling -- Augsburg vs. South Dakota State
February 10, 2002, Frost Arena; Brookings, S.D.


Final Score: Augsburg 33, South Dakota State 16
Augsburg 16-0 in duals this season. SDSU is 7-8 in duals this season.
Augsburg ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III; SDSU ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II.


133 Pounds: John Marchette, Augsburg, def. Nathan Wallman, by fall 2:47 Augsburg 6, SDSU 0
First Period: 2:30 Marchette takedown, 0-2; 2:14 Wallman escape, 1-2; 1:48 Marchette takedown, 1-4; 1:25 Wallman escape, 2-4; 0:17 takedown Marchette, 2-6; 0:13 Marchette pin


141 Pounds: Brad Fisher *, Augsburg, won by forfeit
Augsburg 12, SDSU 0


149 Pounds: Jamell Tidwell, Augsburg, won by forfeit
Augsburg 18, SDSU 0


157 Pounds: Aaron Veskrna, SDSU, def. Jeremy Jirele, by fall 6:20
Augsburg 18, SDSU 6
First Period: 2:08 Veskrna takedown, 2-0; 1:14 Veskrna 3-point near-fall, 5-0.
Second Period: Jirele defers, Veskrna down. 1:39 Veskrna reversal, 7-0;1:13 Jirele escape, 7-1.
Third Period: Veskrna up. 6:20 Veskrna pin.


165 Pounds: Tony Abbott *, Augsburg, dec. Tyler Bryant, 2-1 (tiebreaker)
Augsburg 21, SDSU 6
First Period: 2:20 Bryant awarded penalty point, 1-0; 1:37 Caution to Augsburg bench.
Second Period: Abbott defers, Bryant up. 1:57 Abbott escape, 1-1.
Third Period: Neutral start. No scoring.
Overtime: Neutral start: No scoring.
Tiebreaker: Bryant wins flip, chooses down. Abbott holds on for win.


174 Pounds: Nick Slack *, Augsburg, def. Scott King, by fall 4:04
Augsburg 27, SDSU 6
First Period: 2:51 Slack takedown, 0-2; 0:43 Slack 3-point near-fall, 0-5; 0:17 Slack 2-point near-fall, 0-7.
Second Period: 1:53 Slack reversal, 0-9; 1:32 Slack 2-point near-fall, 0-11; 0:56 Slack pin.


184 Pounds: Tyler Jones, SDSU, dec. Ricky Crone, 7-3
Augsburg 27, SDSU 9
First Period: No scoring.
Second Period: Jones up. 0:50 Crone reversal, 0-2; 0:18 Jones escape, 1-2.
Third Period: Jones down. 1:38 Jones reversal, 3-2; 1:24 Crone escape, 3-3; 0:35 Jones takedown, 5-3; 0:01 Jones awarded point for unsportsmanlike conduct by Crone, 6-3; Jones 1:10 riding-time advantage, 7-3.


197 Pounds: Todd Paszek, SDSU, major dec. Kevin Rasmussen, 11-2
Augsburg 27, SDSU 13
First Period: 0:48 Paszek takedown, 2-0; 0:16 Paszek 3-point near-fall, 5-0.
Second Period: Paszek up. 1:40 Rasmussen escape, 5-1.
Third Period: Paszek down. 1:49 Paszek escape, 6-1; 1:34 Paszek takedown, 8-1; 0:58 Rasmussen escape, 8-2; :27 Paszek takedown, 10-2; Paszek 2:01 riding-time advantage, 11-2


Heavyweight: Jon Madsen, SDSU, dec. Mike Flanagan, 3-2
Augsburg 27, SDSU 16
First Period: No scoring.
Second Period: Madsen up. 1:56 Flanagan escape, 0-1; 1:31 Madsen takedown, 2-1; 1:28 Flanagan escape, 2-2.
Third Period: Madsen down. 1:58 Madsen escape, 3-2.


125 Pounds: Darin Bertram *, Augsburg, def. Brooks Small, by fall 1:17
Augsburg 33, SDSU 16
First Period: 2:55 Bertram takedown, 0-2; 1:43 Bertram pin.


Attendance: 412
SDSU wrestles at Southwest State Wednesday at 7 p.m., hosts Augustana at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.