MINNEAPOLIS (11/15/03) -- Augsburg College's Joe Moon * (Jr., Ellendale, Minn./New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva HS) avenged last year's national semifinal loss to Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Cody Koenig with a 5-3 decision in the 174-pound championship match on Saturday at the Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open wrestling tournament, held at Si Melby Hall.

Moon and Koenig met in the 174-pound Gold-class final, in the only meeting of nationally-ranked wrestlers on Saturday. Moon entered the season ranked third in the country at 174, while Koenig, the defending NCAA Division III national champion, was the top-ranked wrestler entering this season at 174. It's Moon's first victory over Koenig, after going 0-3 against him last season, including a loss by pin in last year's national semifinal match.

Moon was one of six Augsburg wrestlers to win weight-class titles in the top classes (Gold). Jamell Tidwell * (Jr., Burnsville, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), ranked second nationally at 141 pounds, won his weight class with four decisions. Justin Sorensen (So., Owatonna, Minn.), ranked fifth nationally at 197, won his class with two decisions, a major decision and a pin.

Mark Simmonds (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Edison HS), a transfer from Southwest State making his Auggie debut, went 4-0 with a pin to win the top heavyweight class. Clint Hodgdon * (Jr., Ostrander, Minn./LeRoy-Ostrander HS) and Brad Tupa (Jr., Dundas, Minn./Faribault HS) shared the title at 184 pounds.

Augsburg, last year's national runner-up, was ranked first in the preseason Division III national rankings on Oct. 24.

Luther College (Iowa), ranked eighth nationally in the Division III preseason national rankings, claimed three individual champions in the top brackets -- Nate Hansen at 133, Ryan LeBeau at 157 and Garrett South at 165. South was ranked fifth nationally in the preseason individual national rankings at 165.

Matt Vos of St. John's, ranked No. 1 nationally at 125 pounds, won his weight class with three decisions, incluing a 4-2 triumph over Terry Morgan of Luther in the championship match.

No team scores were kept at the open meet, which attracted more than 200 wrestlers from 16 colleges.

Weight-class champions:
125 Gold -- Matt Voss, St. John's
125 Silver -- Josh Meissner, University of Mary (N.D.)
133 Gold -- Nate Hansen, Luther (Iowa)
133 Silver -- Nick Mueller, Wisconsin-La Crosse and Luke Adams, unattached (co-champions)
133 Bronze -- Ryan Rogers, Luther (Iowa)
141 Gold -- Jamell Tidwell *, Augsburg
141 Silver -- Travis Ayres, Jamestown (N.D.)
141 Bronze -- John Motta, Jamestown (N.D.)
149 Gold -- Mike Champagne, University of Mary (N.D.)
149 Silver -- J.T. Jordan, Luther (Iowa)
149 Bronze -- Tony Mosel, unattached
157 Gold -- Ryan LeBeau, Luther (Iowa)
157 Silver -- Matt Steffenson, Itasca Community College (Minn.)
165 Gold -- Garrett South, Luther (Iowa)
165 Silver -- Chad Minnettle, unattached and Matt Houtsma, Rochester Community College (co-champions)
174 Gold -- Joe Moon *, Augsburg
174 Silver -- Matt Michaelson, University of Mary (N.D.)
174 Bronze -- Nick Wilkes, Itasca Community College (Minn.)
184 Gold -- Clint Hodgdon *, Augsburg and Brad Tupa, Augsburg (co-champions)
184 Silver -- Jeremiah Enger, unattached
197 Gold -- Justin Sorensen, Augsburg
197 Silver -- Stacey Mello, Jamestown (N.D.)
HWT Gold -- Mark Simmonds, Augsburg
HWT Silver -- Nate Kuisle, unattached

Augsburg wrestlers' results:
125 Gold -- Clint Strom 0-2.
125 Silver -- Adam Schlepp 2nd, 3-1; Josh Hansen 5th, 2-1.
133 Gold -- Ben Moss 3rd, 2-1.
133 Silver -- Jeremy VanSchyndel 6th, 2-2.
141 Gold -- Jamell Tidwell * 1st, 4-0; Mark Matzek 5th, 3-1.
141 Silver -- Rich Taylor 5th (tie), 2-1; Adam Ketcher 5th (tie), 2-1.
149 Gold -- Dustin Dahlblom 2nd, 3-1; Jared Evans 6th, 2-2; Josh Erlandson 7th, 3-1; Clarke Athman 0-2.
157 Gold -- David Whipps 2nd, 3-1.
165 Gold -- Chris McAlpine 4th, 2-2; Tyler Marr 0-2; Kirk Rall 0-2; Ryan Valek 0-2.
174 Gold -- Joe Moon * 1st, 4-0.
184 Gold -- Clint Hodgdon * 1st (tie), 3-0; Brad Tupa 1st (tie), 3-0; Rich Miller 6th, 2-2.
197 Gold -- Justin Sorensen 1st, 4-0; Joe Cullen 1-2; Chris Sogge 0-2.
197 Silver -- Andrew Neumann 2nd, 2-1.
HWT Gold -- Mark Simmonds 1st, 4-0; Jeremiah Knabe 4th, 2-2; Matt Michelson 6th, 1-2; Dylan Soberg 0-2.
HWT Silver -- Lucas Johnson 2nd, 1-1.