Wrestling 2/4/03 -- Augsburg 32, South Dakota State 10;
Augsburg 32, St. Cloud State 9
MINNEAPOLIS (2/4/03) -- Augsburg College dominated in two wrestling dual-meet victories over NCAA Division II North Central Conference opponents on Tuesday night, claiming seven of 10 individual matches in each meet in beating South Dakota State University 32-10 and St. Cloud State University 32-9 at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.

Augsburg, ranked second in the latest NCAA Division III national rankings, improves to 11-3 overall in dual meets with the twin victories. South Dakota State, ranked eighth in the Division II national poll, drops to 10-7 on the season, while St. Cloud State drops to 1-9 overall.

Augsburg has won eight of the last 12 NCAA Division III national titles and the last three straight. Against teams from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 176-10 since 1989-90, losing just five matches since 1995-96. Augsburg has won its last four matches in a row against South Dakota State and its last 12 matches in a row against St. Cloud State.

Mark Matzek (So., Ellsworth, Wis.) led the way for the Auggies with two dominating victories at 133 pounds. Matzek, ranked eighth in his weight class in the latest Division III individual rankings, scored a 12-4, major-decision win over South Dakota State's Kris Dozark (Sr., Fort Pierre, S.D.) in the first match, then scored a 19-3, technical-fall win over St. Cloud State's Derek Miller (So., Elmwood, Wis.) in the second match.

Marcus LeVesseur (Fr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) improved to 30-0 on the season with two wins -- a 15-2, major-decision win over South Dakota State's Joe Kenton (Fr., Rapid City, S.D.), and a 7-4 win over St. Cloud State's Dan Duch (Jr., Baldwin, Wis.). LeVesseur is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the latest Division III national poll.

Augsburg heavyweight Mike Flanagan (Sr., St. Paul, Minn./St. Thomas Academy HS) claimed the only pin of the first match, ending his match with South Dakota State's Cody Nehl (Fr., Watuga, S.D.) at the 3:00 mark. Flanagan, ranked fifth nationally, suffered a 12-2, major-decision loss to St. Cloud State's Dustin Darveaux (Sr., Pipestone, Minn.), the No. 2-ranked heavyweight in Division II, in the second match.

In the highlight match of the evening, South Dakota State's Tyler Jones (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.), the top-ranked 184-pounder in Division II, claimed a reversal with 1:32 left in the third period and held off an escape and late charge by Augsburg's Ricky Crone * (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) to claim a 4-2 win. Crone is ranked second in Division III at 184.

Another highlight match saw Augsburg's Joe Moon * (So., Ellendale, Minn./NR-H-E-G HS), ranked fifth in Division III at 174, build a 7-2 lead and hold off South Dakota State's Bryan Cowdin (So., Worthington, Minn.), ranked sixth in Division II in an exciting 8-5 decision.

Augsburg's lone pin of the second match came at 125, where Greg Brendemuehl (Fr., Medford, Minn.) scored a 1:40 match-ender against St. Cloud State's Stephen Clary (Fr., Plymouth, Minn.).

South Dakota State won three matches on the evening, with Tim Boldt (Fr., Arlington, S.D.), ranked fifth nationally at 197, scoring a major-decision, 14-4 win over Augsburg's Justin Sorensen (Fr., Owatonna, Minn.); and Jared Barnes (Fr., Alcester, S.D.) earning a 5-3 win in overtime against Augsburg's Ryan Stroud (So., Park Falls, Wis.) at 149.

St. Cloud State won its first two matches -- Luke Pohlmeier's (Jr., Annandale, Minn.) 3-2 win at 197 over Augsburg's Joe Cullen (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) and Darveaux's win over Flanagan at heavyweight -- and its top-ranked wrestler at 165, Matt Neumueller (Sr., Medford, Wis.), scored a 4-2 win over Augsburg's Billy Morgan (So., Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS), ranked sixth in Division III.

Jamell Tidwell (So., Burnsville, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), ranked fourth in Division III at 141, claimed a 10-2, major-decision win over St. Cloud State's John Dirksen (Jr., Clearwater, Minn.).

Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (2/8) at 10 a.m. at the Paul Solberg Invitational (formerly All-Lutheran Tournament) at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. South Dakota State hosts Southwest State (Minn.) in a nonconference match next Tuesday (2/11) at 7 p.m. St. Cloud State hosts Minnesota State-Moorhead on Friday (2/7) at 7 p.m.

Augsburg 32, South Dakota State 10
February 4, 2003 -- Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
Action begins at 197 pounds. Time of match 1:14.
Officials: Brian Kelvington, Byron Olson. Attendance: 255.
197 -- Tim Boldt (SDSU, 25-5) maj. dec. Justin Sorensen (AUG, 24-21) 14-4 (SDSU 4-0).
HWT -- Mike Flanagan (AUG, 30-7) pinned Cody Nehl (SDSU, 8-15) 3:00 (Augsburg 6-4).
125 -- Greg Brendemuehl (AUG, 22-7) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 12-4).
133 -- Mark Matzek (AUG, 27-5) maj. dec. Kris Dozark (SDSU, 16-14) 12-4 (Augsburg 16-4).
141 -- Jamell Tidwell (AUG, 34-2) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 22-4).
149 -- Jared Barnes (SDSU, 24-7) dec. Ryan Stroud (AUG, 19-10) 5-3 (1st OT) (Augsburg 22-7).
157 -- Marcus LeVesseur (AUG, 29-0) maj. dec. Joe Kenton (SDSU, 17-8) 15-2 (Augsburg 26-7).
165 -- Billy Morgan (AUG, 19-8) dec. Shawn Vanhove (SDSU, 11-13) 5-1 (Augsburg 29-7).
174 -- Joe Moon * (AUG, 26-4) dec. Bryan Cowdin (SDSU, 11-7) 8-5 (Augsburg 32-7).
184 -- Tyler Jones (SDSU, 21-1) dec. Ricky Crone * (AUG, 27-5) 4-2 (Augsburg 32-10).

Augsburg 32, St. Cloud State 9
February 4, 2003 -- Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
Action begins at 197 pounds. Time of match 1:10.
Officials: Byron Olson, Brian Kelvington. Attendance: 255.
197 -- Luke Pohlmeier (SCSU, 3-7) dec. Joe Cullen (AUG, 14-15) 3-2 (SCSU 3-0).
HWT -- Dustin Darveaux (SCSU, 29-2) maj. dec. Mike Flanagan (AUG, 30-8) 12-2 (SCSU 7-0).
125 -- Greg Brendemuehl (AUG, 23-7) pinned Stephen Clary (SCSU, 1-11) 1:40 (SCSU 7-6)
133 -- Mark Matzek (AUG, 28-5) tech. fall Derek Miller (SCSU, 6-11) 19-3 at 6:51 (Augsburg 11-7).
SCSU one team point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct (Augsburg 11-6).
141 -- Jamell Tidwell (AUG, 35-2) maj. dec. John Dirksen (SCSU, 1-11) 10-2 (Augsburg 15-6).
149 -- Josh Erlandson (AUG, 25-9) dec. Blake Christopherson (SCSU, 3-13) 7-5 (Augsburg 18-6).
157 -- Marcus LeVesseur (AUG, 30-0) dec. Dan Duch (SCSU, 6-12) 7-4 (Augsburg 21-6).
AUG one team point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct (Augsburg 20-6).
165 -- Matt Neumueller (SCSU, 18-4) dec. Billy Morgan (AUG, 19-9) 4-2 (Augsburg 20-9).
174 -- Joe Moon * (AUG, 27-4) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 26-9).
184 -- Ricky Crone * (AUG, 28-5) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 32-9).