MINNEAPOLIS -- The top-ranked Augsburg University wrestling team claimed wins in nine of 10 bouts in a 34-3 triumph over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 34, Wisconsin-Eau Claire 3
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORD: Augsburg 11-1 overall, UW-Eau Claire 10-5 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg, the top-ranked team in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, won the first nine bouts to take a 34-0 lead into the heavyweight battle. The Auggies claimed four of its first five wins by bonus-point margins, with a forfeit, technical fall and two major decisions.
• No. 5-ranked 133-pounder Sam Bennyhoff (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) dominated from start to finish in an 18-2 technical fall win over Cody Vogel. He built an 8-0 lead after two periods with two takedowns and a two-point near-fall, then collected three takedowns and a four-point near-fall in the third period to close the match 45 seconds early. Bennyhoff is now 23-2 on the season with 17 bonus-point wins (eight pins, five technical falls, four major decisions).
• Alex Wilson (JR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS), ranked No. 5 nationally at 149, improved to 21-3 on the season with an 18-6 win over Carter Focht. Building 3:52 of riding time, Wilson overcame an early takedown  and used four takedowns of his own, along with a reversal and a four-point near-fall, to score the convincing win. Of his 21 wins, 17 are by bonus-point margins (seven pins, five technical falls, five major decisions).
• Ryan Epps (SO, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS), the No. 4-ranked 157-pounder nationally, improved to 23-1 on the season with his second win by major decision of the season, a 14-3 win over Hunter DeLeon. Epps dominated throughout, with 3:30 of riding time, to go with four takedowns and a four-point near-fall.
• Top-ranked 165-pounder Lucas Jeske (SO, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) remained unbeaten at 22-0 with an 11-6 win over Seth Vosters. Jeske built a 9-2 lead on the strength of four takedowns in the first two periods, then held off a reversal and takedown by Vosters in the third period to hang on for the victory. Jeske has been ranked No. 1 nationally at 165 all season long.
• David Flynn (SO, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) improved to 11-3 on the year with an 8-3 win over Jordan Meyer, who had entered the match at 22-1 on the season. Trailing 1-0 after two tightly contested periods, Flynn pulled ahead with a reversal seven seconds into the final frame, then after a Meyer escape, Flynn used two takedowns and a two-point near-fall to pull away for the win.
• No. 7-ranked 174-pounder Lance Benick (FY, Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) also rallied from a second-period deficit to edge Ramsey Bloy, who had entered the match at 21-1 on the year, by a 5-3 decision. Benick, now 3-1 after joining the team at the semester break, trailed 1-0 early in the second period, but claimed two takedowns, including one with 38 seconds left in the third period, and an escape to preserve the victory.
• Tanner Vassar (SO, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS), ranked No. 6 at 174, used 1:42 of riding time to claim the extra point and a 3-2 win over Tyler Vogt. Vassar rode out Vogt for the entire second period, and used two escapes to improve to 23-5 on the year.
• Jonny Zarnke (SO, Chaska, Minn./Chaska HS) moved down a weight class to 184 and claimed a 6-4 win over Evan Lawrence. He scored a takedown and two-point near-fall in the closing minute of the first period, then scored a second-period takedown to build a 6-1 lead, holding on for the win.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Augsburg is now 8-0 in the all-time series with UW-Eau Claire.
• Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 325-50-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 46 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season
• Against strictly NCAA Division III opponents, Augsburg is now 315-49-1 since the 1979-80 season. Since the 1989-90 season, Augsburg is 240-39-1 against Division III opponents.

FOR THE FOES
• UW-Eau Claire's lone win came at heavyweight, as Tyler Burt claimed a 5-2 win over Ethan Hofacker (SO, Spring Valley, Wis./Spring Valley HS). Tied 2-2 in the final seconds, Burt claimed a penalty point on a technical violation, then scored a takedown with five seconds left to clinch the win.

WHITE TEAM COMPETES AT WORTHINGTON OPEN
• Augsburg's White Team (junior varsity) competed at the Minnesota West Community and Technical College-Worthington Open on Saturday. Click here for Augsburg results.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg competes at the Saint John's University North Country Open next Saturday (1/27) at 9 a.m. in Collegeville, Minn.

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No. 1 Augsburg (11-1) 34, Wisconsin-Eau Claire (10-5) 3
Sunday, January 21, 2018 -- Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
Time of match 1:44.
Attendance: 300.
Official: Kurt Nathe.
Action begins at 125 pounds.

125 -- No. 10 Victor Gliva (AUG, 20-3) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 6-0).
133 -- No. 5 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 23-2) tech. fall Cody Vogel (UWEC, 3-5) 18-2 at 6:15 (Augsburg 11-0).
141 -- No. 7 David Flynn (AUG, 11-3) dec. Jordan Meyer (UWEC, 22-3) 8-2 (Augsburg 14-0).
149 -- No. 5 Alex Wilson (AUG, 21-3) maj. dec. Carter Focht (UWEC, 18-9) 18-6 (Augsburg 18-0).
157 -- No. 4 Ryan Epps (AUG, 23-1) maj. dec. Hunter DeLeon (UWEC, 10-10) 14-3 (Augsburg 22-0).
165 -- No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 22-0) dec. Seth Fosters (UWEC, 10-6) 11-6 (Augsburg 25-0).
174 -- No. 6 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 23-5) dec. Tyler Vogt (UWEC, 15-11) 3-2 (Augsburg 28-0).
184 -- Jonny Zarnke (AUG, 12-15) dec. Evan Lawrence (UWEC, 25-13) 6-4 (Augsburg 31-0).
197 -- No. 7 Lance Benick (UWEC, 3-1) dec. Ramsey Bloy (UWEC, 21-2) 5-3 (Augsburg 34-0)
HWT -- Tyler Burt (UWEC, 14-8) dec. Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 7-16) 5-2 (Augsburg 34-3).