MINNEAPOLIS (11/20/04) -- Nine Augsburg College wrestlers earned or shared individual weight-class titles at its season-opening event, the annual Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open on Saturday at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall. No team scores were kept at the open meet, which attracted more than 200 wrestlers from 19 colleges.

Defending NCAA Division III 133-pound national champion Mark Matzek * (Sr., Ellsworth, Wis.), the top-ranked wrestler in his class in the preseason national rankings, shared his weight-class title with teammate Ben Moss (So., Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central HS). Matzek claimed two major-decision victories in his three wins on the day.

Jamell Tidwell * (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS), a two-time All-American currently ranked No. 2 nationally at 141 pounds, cruised to his weight-class title, with two major decisions and a technical fall before beating Upper Iowa's Kyle Burkle 4-0 in the title match.

Ryan Valek (Jr., Belle Plaine, Minn.), ranked fourth nationally at 165 pounds, shared his weight-class title with teammate Casey Flaherty (Sr., Big Lake, Minn.), a transfer from Division I Minnesota.

Justin Sorensen (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.), a 2003 national tournament qualifier at 197 pounds, repeated his Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open title from a season ago, claiming a 13-0 major-decision win in his opener and a 4-2 triumph over Loras' Mitch Hager in the title match. Auggie teammate Joe Cullen (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn.), an All-American last season currently ranked No. 5 nationally, was upset 8-4 by Hager in the semifinals and finished fourth.

Brad Tupa (Jr., Dundas, Minn./Faribault HS) made an impressive showing to win the title at 184 pounds, with a 16-1 technical-fall win in his opening match and a 9-4 win over St. John's Dan Willaert in the championship match.

Auggie newcomers Travis Birhanzl (Jr., Montevideo, Minn./Yellow Medicine East HS) and Robbie Gotreau (Fr., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) shared the title at 174 pounds, with Birhanzl recording a pin and major decision in his tournament run and Gotreau claiming a major decision.

Ryan Stroud (Jr., Park Falls, Wis.), a 2003 national tournament qualifier, returned to the Auggie lineup after missing last season due to injury and finished second at 149 pounds. Stroud claimed a pin and major decision before falling 14-6 to Ellsworth Community College's (Iowa) Damian Sweitlik, a junior college All-American last season. Tony Biggs (Fr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) also placed second for the Auggies in gold-division wrestling at 157 pounds.

Some of the most competitive action in the meet came at heavyweight, where Augsburg returning All-American Mark Simmonds (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) placed third. Simmonds, ranked No. 4 in the preseason national polls, lost to top-ranked and defending national champion Ryan Allen of Wisconsin-La Crosse 4-2 in the semifinals. Allen lost 3-2 to Cole Konrad, a University of Minnesota wrestler competing unattached at the Augsburg meet. Konrad is currently ranked No. 2 in the Division I national rankings at heavyweight.

Augsburg will have its first dual meet of the season on Wednesday (11/24) at 7 p.m., hosting St. John's University at Si Melby Hall. The Auggies' opponent is a change from previously published schedules..

Weight-class champions:
125 Gold -- Tyler Mumblo, unattached
125 Silver -- Benjamin Sevigny, unattached
133 Gold -- Mark Matzek *, Augsburg; and Ben Moss, Augsburg (co-champions)
133 Silver -- Trevor Brady, Itasca CC (Minn.)
133 Bronze -- Jacob Pedersen, unattached
141 Gold -- Jamell Tidwell *, Augsburg
141 Silver -- Matt Hanson, Buena Vista (Iowa)
149 Gold -- Damian Sweitlik, Ellsworth CC (Iowa)
149 Silver -- Chad Zubke, Itasca CC (Minn.)
149 Bronze -- Collin McKillip, Wisconsin-La Crosse
157 Gold -- Shawn Plumley, Southwest Minnesota State
157 Silver -- Bobby Larson, Dubuque (Iowa)
165 Gold -- Ryan Valek, Augsburg; and Casey Flaherty, Augsburg (co-champions)
165 Silver -- Dan Taylor, Rochester CC (Minn.)
165 Bronze -- Adam Swalla, Wartburg (Iowa)
174 Gold -- Travis Birhanzl, Augsburg; and Robbie Gotreau, Augsburg (co-champions)
174 Silver -- Harry Joseph, Ellsworth CC (Iowa)
184 Gold -- Brad Tupa, Augsburg
184 Silver -- Mike Dewall, Ellsworth CC (Iowa)
197 Gold -- Justin Sorensen, Augsburg
197 Silver -- Chris Thoresen, Itasca CC (Minn.)
HWT Gold -- Cole Konrad, unattached
HWT Silver -- Chris Abbott, unattached

Augsburg wrestlers' results:
125 Gold -- Adam Schlepp 1-2.
133 Gold -- Ben Moss 1st (tie), 3-0; Mark Matzek * 1st (tie), 3-0.
141 Gold -- Jamell Tidwell * 1st, 4-0; Josh Hansen 4th, 2-2; Rich Taylor 6th, 2-2.
149 Gold -- Ryan Stroud 2nd, 3-1; Greg Brendemuehl 5th, 3-1.
149 Bronze -- Matt Eller 2nd, 2-1.
157 Gold -- Tony Biggs 2nd, 3-1; Mitch Collins 4th, 2-2; Tim Matzek 0-2.
165 Gold -- Ryan Valek 1st (tie), 3-0; Casey Flaherty 1st (tie), 3-0.
165 Silver -- Jon Priess 4th, 2-2.
174 Gold -- Robbie Gotreau, 1st (tie), 3-0; Travis Birhanzl, 1st (tie), 3-0; Kirk Rall 1-2.
174 Silver -- Brian Fischer 2nd, 3-1.
184 Gold -- Brad Tupa 1st, 4-0.
197 Gold -- Justin Sorensen 1st, 4-0; Joe Cullen 4th, 2-2.
197 Silver -- Wally O'Connor 7th, 1-1.
HWT Gold -- Mark Simmonds 3rd, 3-1; Jeremiah Knabe 6th, 2-2; Dylan Soberg 0-2.
HWT Silver -- Danny Manley 6th, 2-2.