COLUMBUS, Ohio (1/18/03) -- As expected, Augsburg College and Wartburg College will meet in the championship match of the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Division III National Duals, after both teams went 3-0 on the first day of the two-day meet at Ohio State University.

Augsburg, the No. 2 seed in the 16-team tournament and No. 3-ranked team in the Division III national polls, outscored its three opponents 101-13 to advance to Sunday's 3 p.m. (Eastern time) championship match against Wartburg, the No. 1-ranked team nationally.

In the opening match Saturday, Augsburg dispatched Ohio Northern, ranked 14th nationally, 40-4, winning nine of 10 weight classes. Augsburg duplicated the feat in the quarterfinal match, winning nine of 10 to topple No. 7-ranked Buena Vista (Iowa) 36-3).

In the semifinal match, Augsburg won eight bouts to beat the No. 9-ranked College of New Jersey 25-6. Augsburg is now 6-1 in dual meets this season, its lone loss coming in a 25-9 setback to Wartburg at Si Melby Hall on Nov. 27.

Wartburg opened its tournament by beating No. 28 Wisconsin-Stevens Point 27-10, then blasted fellow Iowa rival No. 8 Luther 40-3, and did the same to another Iowa rival in blitzing No. 4 Loras 30-6.

Last year, Augsburg topped Wartburg 29-12 in the National Duals championship, en route to winning its third straight NCAA Division III national championship and eighth in the last 12 seasons. Augsburg outscored its rivals 143-28 in the National Duals.

This season, the tables have been turned, with the more experienced Wartburg squad holding the top ranking over the young Auggies. But the two teams proved Saturday that they are still the undisputed kings of small-college wrestling.

Augsburg's Marcus LeVesseur (Fr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) led the way at 157 pounds, with two pins and a major decision to improve to 23-0 as the only unbeaten wrestler on the Auggie roster. LeVesseur, a transfer from the Division I University of Minnesota, is currently ranked fourth nationally.

Teammate Ricky Crone * (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked third nationally at 184, also went 3-0 on Saturday, with a technical fall and major decision among his wins. Joe Moon * (So., Ellendale, Minn./New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva HS), ranked fifth in Division III at 174, went 3-0 with a pin and major decision.

Jamell Tidwell (So., Burnsville, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), ranked fourth nationally at 141, went 3-0 with two major decisions. Heavyweight Mike Flanagan (Sr., St. Paul, Minn./St. Thomas Academy HS), ranked fourth nationally, went 3-0, as did 165-pounder Billy Morgan (So., Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central Area HS).

Mark Matzek (So., Ellsworth, Wis.) won both his matches at 133. Bryan Miller (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville HS) went 2-1 at 125, with a major decision.

College Wrestling -- Augsburg at NWCA Division III National Duals
January 18, 2003 at Ohio State University French Fieldhouse, Columbus, Ohio.
All match action begins at 125 pounds.

11 a.m. -- Augsburg 40, Ohio Northern 4
125 -- Doug West (ONU) maj. dec. Bryan Miller (AUG, 3-2), 19-9 (Ohio Northern 4-0).
133 -- Jared Evans (AUG, 18-6) dec. Ty Klofta (ONU) 6-0 (Ohio Northern 4-3).
141 -- Jamell Tidwell (AUG, 29-2) maj. dec. Nathan Shearer (ONU) 11-0 (Augsburg 7-4).
149 -- Josh Erlandson (AUG, 20-5) dec. Steve Showalter (ONU) 6-5 (Augsburg 10-4).
157 -- Marcus LeVesseur (AUG, 21-0) pinned John Manning (ONU) 2:06 (Augsburg 16-4).
165 -- Billy Morgan (AUG, 15-5) pinned Josh Cross (ONU) 6:28 (Augsburg 22-4).
174 -- Joe Moon * (AUG, 19-4) maj. dec. Kevin Ryan (ONU) 12-1 (Augsburg 26-4).
184 -- Ricky Crone * (AUG, 21-4) tech. fall. Blake Mattern (ONU) 16-0 (Augsburg 31-4).
197 -- Justin Sorensen (AUG, 22-12) dec. Jeremy Kosch (ONU) 6-4 (Augsburg 34-4).
HWT -- Mike Flanagan (AUG 25-5) inj. default over Damar Pentorn (ONU) (Augsburg 40-4).

3 p.m. -- Augsburg 36, Buena Vista (Iowa) 3
125 -- Bryan Miller (AUG, 4-2) maj. dec. Joe Honts (BV) 19-9 (Augsburg 4-0).
133 -- Mark Matzek (AUG, 24-4) dec. Mike Vagher (BV) 6-0 (Augsburg 7-0).
141 -- Jamell Tidwell (AUG, 30-2) maj. dec. Taylor Wood (BV) 13-4 (Augsburg 11-0).
149 -- Ryan Stroud (AUG, 17-7) dec. David Loewens (BV) 4-2 (Augsburg 14-0).
157 -- Marcus LeVesseur (AUG, 22-0) pinned Aaron Loewens (BV) 3:41 (Augsburg 20-0).
165 -- Billy Morgan (AUG, 16-5) dec. Pat Wilsbacher (BV) 7-4 (Augsburg 23-0).
174 -- Joe Moon * (AUG, 20-4) pinned Matt Doebel (BV) 4:43 (Augsburg 29-0).
184 -- Ricky Crone * (AUG, 22-4) maj. dec. Shane Hunter (BV) 12-0 (Augsburg 33-0).
197 -- Adam Buthe (BV) dec. Justin Sorensen (AUG, 22-13) 6-2 (Augsburg 33-3).
HWT -- Mike Flanagan (AUG 26-5) dec. Mike Irvin (BV) 5-3 (Augsburg 36-3).

8:30 p.m. -- Augsburg 25, College of New Jersey 6
125 -- Bryan Miller (AUG, 5-2) dec. James Marrero (NJ) 2-1 (Augsburg 3-0).
133 -- Mark Matzek (AUG, 25-4) dec. Dave Ilaria (NJ) 8-3 (Augsburg 6-0).
141 -- Jamell Tidwell (AUG, 31-2) dec. P.J. Morrealle (NJ) 7-5 (Augsburg 9-0).
149 -- Pat Brady (NJ) dec. Ryan Stroud (AUG, 17-8) 7-5 (Augsburg 9-3).
157 -- Marcus LeVesseur (AUG, 23-0) maj. dec. Greg Ilaria (NJ) 9-0 (Augsburg 13-3).
165 -- Billy Morgan (AUG, 17-5) dec. Sean Flynn (NJ) 8-4 (Augsburg 16-3).
174 -- Joe Moon * (AUG, 21-4) dec. Paul Vaccaro (NJ) 9-3 (Augsburg 19-3).
184 -- Ricky Crone * (AUG, 23-4) dec. Josh Pavlov (NJ) 4-0 (Augsburg 22-3).
197 -- Rich Gildner (NJ) dec. Justin Sorensen (AUG, 22-14) 6-4 (Augsburg 22-6).
HWT -- Mike Flanagan (AUG 27-5) dec. Carlos Panfili (NJ) 2-1 (Augsburg 25-6).