Wrestling 1/22/08 -- Augsburg 35, St. John's 3

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (1/22/08) -- Winning nine of 10 bouts, including two by pin, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its 22nd straight victory over in-state rival St. John's University, with a 35-3 triumph in a dual meet on Tuesday night at SJU's Sexton Arena.

Augsburg, the defending NCAA Division III national champions and winners of 10 of the last 17 national titles, is now 7-1 in dual meets this season. The Auggies are ranked No. 3 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, while the Johnnies are ranked No. 29. St. John's is now 9-11 on the season.

Augsburg continued its domination of Minnesota opponents with the victory over the Johnnies, its 70th straight victory over a Minnesota Division II or III opponent. Augsburg's last loss to a Minnesota Division II or III foe was a 25-13 loss to Minnesota State Mankato on Feb. 10, 1996. During the 70-match streak, Augsburg has outscored its foes by a 2,996-258 margin -- an average match score of 42.8 to 3.7 -- with 30 shutouts.

The Auggies' last loss to the Johnnies was a 25-21 decision in the 1985-96 season. Against opponents from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Augsburg is now 191-2 since the 1975-76 season. Augsburg has a 22-season, 92-match dual-meet winning streak against MIAC foes.

Against teams from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 225-18 since the 1989-90 season, losing just 13 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season. Against strictly Division III opponents, Augsburg is 233-21 since the 1979-80 season and 157-11 since the 1989-90 season.

Augsburg claimed two pins in Tuesday's dual with the Johnnies, from No. 4-ranked Travis Lang (JR, Bismarck, N.D.) at 133 pounds and Beau Hansen (FY, Albert Lea, Minn.) at 157. No. 2-ranked Willy Holst (SO, Prescott, Wis.) scored a major-decision victory at 149, as did Wallace O'Connor (SR, Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS) at 197.

Augsburg's two other ranked wrestlers, No. 4-ranked Seth Flodeen * (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn.) at 125 and No. 8-ranked Robbie Gotreau (SR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) at 184, also scored decision victories, as did Andy Witzel (SO, Fulda, Minn.) at heavyweight, Lucas Murray (FY, Anoka, Minn.) at 141 and George Lynaugh (SR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) at 174.

The lone victory for St. John's came at 165, as Matt Schrupp (JR, Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS) edged Brandon Klukow (JR, Albert Lea, Minn.) by a 4-3 margin at 165.

Augsburg returns to action on Friday (1/25) at 7 p.m., hosting Division II power Nebraska-Omaha at Si Melby Hall. St. John's travels to face Concordia-Moorhead in a dual next Wednesday (1/30) at 5 p.m. (JV) and 7 p.m. (varsity).

College Wrestling -- No. 3 Augsburg (7-1) 35, No. 29 St. John's (9-11) 3
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 -- Sexton Arena, Collegeville, Minn.
Match begins at 197 pounds.

197 -- Wallace O'Connor (AUG, 4-3) maj. dec. Jason Finley (SJU, 8-7) 9-1 (Augsburg 4-0).
HWT -- Andy Witzel (AUG, 18-9) dec. Noel Meyer (SJU, 6-2) 3-0 (Augsburg 7-0).
125 -- No. 4 Seth Flodeen * (AUG, 13-5) dec. Mogi Baatar (SJU, 18-6) 7-2 (Augsburg 10-0).
133 -- No. 4 Travis Lang (AUG, 23-1) pinned Jon Shellenberger (SJU, 5-8) 1:19 (Augsburg 16-0).
141 -- Lucas Murray (AUG, 20-3) dec. Grant Lydon (SJU, 3-12) 6-1 (Augsburg 19-0).
149 -- No. 2 Willy Holst (AUG, 21-2) maj. dec. Mike Cronan (SJU, 1-7) 21-8 (Augsburg 23-0).
157 -- Beau Hansen (AUG, 22-5) pinned Joe Lofboom (SJU, 3-7) 4:24 (Augsburg 29-0).
165 -- Matt Schrupp (SJU, 14-5) dec. Brandon Klukow (AUG, 21-8) 4-3 (Augsburg 29-3).
174 -- George Lynaugh (AUG, 14-6) dec. Andrew Staberg (SJU, 3-5) 7-2 (Augsburg 32-3).
184 -- No. 8 Robbie Gotreau (AUG, 18-8) dec. Dustin Baxter (SJU, 21-6) 7-3 (Augsburg 35-3).