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SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For the seventh time in program history and second year in a row, the top-ranked Augsburg University wrestling team claimed the title at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals, claiming a 26-9 win over No. 5-ranked Wabash College (Ind.) in the semifinals and a 20-13 win over No. 3-ranked Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) in the championship match on Saturday at the Kentucky Expo Center.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORES: Augsburg 26, Wabash (Ind.) 9; Augsburg 20, Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 13
LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center Exhibition Hall (semifinals), Freedom Hall (finals), Louisville, Ky.
RECORD: Augsburg 7-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• On Saturday, Augsburg wrestlers claimed victories in 14 of 20 bouts, including six wins in the title match, as Augsburg rallied from an early 10-3 deficit to claim the championship in the 24-team Division III tournament, which included nine of the top 10-ranked teams in the NWCA Division III national poll and 15 of the top 25-ranked teams. During the four matches in the two-day event, Augsburg wrestlers claimed wins in 31 of 40 bouts, including nine bonus-point wins and one forfeit. Augsburg, ranked No. 1 all season long in the NWCA's Division III national poll, is now 7-0 in dual meets.
• Augsburg won five of the final six bouts against Johnson & Wales in the championship match, keyed by a 17-2, technical fall victory by Tanner Vassar (JR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) at 174 pounds. An All-American at 174 after a seventh-place national finish last year, Vassar competed at 184 in the first half of the season, and entered the tournament ranked No. 4 in the weight class. He returned to 174 in the National Duals, and after a tight first period against JWU's Mike Gargano, Vassar used a reversal and four-point near-fall to spark his run to the win, improving to 7-3 on the year. Vassar dropped a 12-5 decision to Wabash's top-ranked Darden Schurg in the semifinals.
• Defending NCAA Division III 165-pound national champion Lucas Jeske (JR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) made his season debut this weekend and went 4-0, scoring a 7-6 win over Wabash's Kyle Hatch and a 9-2 triumph over JWU's Adrian Gonazlez. A two-time All-American for the Auggies, Jeske is now 68-9 in his career.
• Defending 157-pound national champion Ryan Epps (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) also went 4-0 at the National Duals. Epps, who had competed at 165 pounds during the first semester and entered the weekend ranked No. 1 there, moved back down to 157 this weekend. On Saturday, he scored a 10-6 win over Austin Bethel of Wabash in the semifinals, then scored an efficient 4-0 win over Tommy Grippi of JWU in the finals to improve to 17-1 on the season and 92-9 in his career.
• No. 4-ranked 197-pounder Lance Benick (SO, Scandia, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) also went 4-0 on the weekend, and had a crucial win in the finals, scoring a 7-3 triumph over JWU's No. 5-ranked Mike DiNardo. He used a first-period takedown and two-point near-fall to build a lead he would never relinquish, improving to 13-2 on the season. Benick also scored a 5-1 win over Wabash's Levi Miller in the semifinals.
• Also going 4-0 on the weekend was No. 3-ranked 141-pounder David Flynn (JR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)). He scored a 10-4 win over Wabash's Riley Lomenick in the semifinals, then edged JWU's No. 7-raked Joe Ferinde 2-1 in a tight match, improving to 10-1 in the process.
• Heavyweight Ethan Hofacker (JR, Spring Valley, Wis./Spring Valley HS) secured the championship victory for the Auggies in dramatic fashion, breaking a scoreless tie with a takedown with 10 seconds left in a 2-0 victory over JWU's Jayson Gomez in the final bout of the day. Hofacker is now 10-9 on the season.
• Against Wabash, No. 2-ranked 133-pounder Sam Bennyhoff (SR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) gave the Auggies a big boost with a dominating performance, scoring a 15-0, third-period technical-fall victory over Chris Diaz, his 10th straight win to start the season. He suffered his first loss with a 13-7 setback to JWU's Bobby Jordan in the finals. Bennyhoff is now 103-23 in his Auggie career, with 63 bonus-point wins (29 major decisions, 16 technical falls, 18 pins).
• Top-ranked 149-pounder Alex Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) claimed a 10-4 win over Riley Lomenick of Wabash in the semifinals, but suffered am 8-6 overtime loss to JWU's No. 3-ranked Da'mani Burns. Tied 6-6 going into sudden-victory overtime, Wilson was initially given a match-winning takedown on the edge of the mat 20 seconds into overtime, but the call was challenged and overturned on video review. Nine seconds later, Burns scored a takedown to claim the win. Wilson is now 17-2 on the season.
• Victor Gliva (JR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS), ranked No. 6 at 125, went 1-1 on the day, scoring a 6-2 win over Carlos Champagne of Wabash while dropping a 11-2 major decision to No. 2-ranked Jay Albis of JWU. Gliva is now 12-3 on the year. Solomon Nielsen (SO, Luverne, Minn./Luverne HS) also went 1-1 to move to 13-3 on the season, scoring a 6-1 win over Wabash's Ethan Herrin and falling 8-4 to JWU's No. 3-ranked Khamri Thomas.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Since the NWCA began the Division III National Duals in 2002, Augsburg has now won the title seven times (2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019). Augsburg has finished second five times, third twice, fourth once, sixth once and seventh once.
• Augsburg is now 58-15 in NWCA Division III National Duals competition since 2002. Augsburg also appeared in five NWCA National Duals competitions prior to the 2002 season, when the defending Division III national champion was invited to compete with Division I squads. Augsburg is now 63-24 all-time in NWCA National Duals competition.
• In its 73 NWCA Division III National Duals meets, Augsburg has now outscored its competition by a 2,023-to-876 margin, an average score of 27.7-to-12.0.
• This was the fifth time Augsburg and Johnson & Wales had met in NWCA Division III National Duals competition. Augsburg has now won four of the five meetings.
• Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 334-51-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 47 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season.
• Against strictly NCAA Division III opponents, Augsburg is 323-50-1 since the 1979-80 season. Since the 1989-90 season, Augsburg is 248-40-1 against Division III opponents.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg travels to face Division II Southwest Minnesota State in a dual meet next Saturday (1/12) at 2 p.m.
• Augsburg's White Team (junior varsity) will compete at the Cornell (Iowa) Matman Open next Saturday at 9 a.m.

No. 1 Augsburg (7-0) 20, No. 3 Johnson & Wales (12-4) 13
NWCA Division III National Duals Championship Match
Jan. 5, 2019 • Freedom Hall, Louisville, Ky.
Action begins at 125 pounds.
125 -- No. 2 Jay Albis (JWU, 21-4) maj. dec. No. 6 Victor Gliva (AUG, 12-3) 11-2 (Johnson & Wales 4-0).
133 -- Bobby Jordan (JWU, 7-6) dec. No. 2 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 10-1) 13-7 (Johnson & Wales 7-0).
141 -- No. 3 David Flynn (AUG, 10-1) dec. No. 7 Joe Ferinde (JWU, 19-9) 2-1 (Johnson & Wales 7-3).
149 -- No. 3 Da'mani Burns (JWU, 19-3) dec. No. 1 Alex Wilson (AUG, 17-2) dec. 8-6 (OT-SV1) (Johnson & Wales 10-3).
157 -- No. 1 (165) Ryan Epps (AUG, 17-1) dec. Tommy Grippi (JWU, 10-12) 4-0 (Johnson & Wales 10-6).
165 -- Lucas Jeske (AUG, 4-0) dec. Adrian Gonzalez (JWU, 12-8) 9-2 (Johnson & Wales 10-9).
174 -- No. 4 (184) Tanner Vassar (AUG, 7-3) tech. fall Mike Gargano (JWU, 17-9) 17-2 at 7:00 (Augsburg 14-10).
184 -- No. 3 Khamri Thomas (JWU, 18-4) dec. Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 13-3) 8-4 (Augsburg 14-13).
197 -- No. 4 Lance Benick (AUG, 13-2) dec. No. 5 Mike DiNardo (JWU, 19-5) 7-3 (Augsburg 17-13).
HWT -- Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 10-9) dec. Jayson Gomez (JWU, 8-8) 2-0 (Augsburg 20-13).

No. 1 Augsburg (6-0) 26, No. 5 Wabash (5-2) 9
NWCA Division III National Duals Semifinals
Jan. 5, 2019 • Exhibition Hall, Louisville, Ky.
Action begins at 125 pounds.
125 -- No. 6 Victor Gliva (AUG, 12-2) dec. Carlos Champagne (WAB, 2-1) 6-2 (Augsburg 3-0).
133 -- No. 2 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 10-0) tech. fall Chris Diaz (WAB, 4-9) 15-0 at 6:26 (Augsburg 8-0).
141 -- No. 3 David Flynn (AUG, 9-1) dec. Riley Lomenick (WAB, 14-6) 10-4 (Augsburg 11-0).
149 -- No. 1 Alex Wilson (AUG, 17-1) dec. No. 8 Griffin Schermer (WAB, 14-5) 7-3 (Augsburg 14-0).
157 -- No. 1 (165) Ryan Epps (AUG, 16-1) dec. Austin Bethel (WAB, 3-3) 10-6 (Augsburg 17-0).
165 -- Lucas Jeske (AUG, 3-0) dec. Kyle Hatch (WAB, 12-2) 7-6 (Augsburg 20-0).
174 -- No. 1 Darden Schurg (WAB, 18-1) dec. No. 4 (184) Tanner Vassar (AUG, 6-3) 12-5 (Augsburg 20-3).
184 -- Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 13-2) dec. Ethan Herrin (WAB, 10-8) 6-1 (Augsburg 23-3).
197 -- No. 4 Lance Benick (AUG, 12-2) dec. Levi Miller (WAB, 13-9) 5-1 (Augsburg 26-3).
HWT -- Wade Ripple (WAB, 13-6) pinned Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 9-9) 2:21 (Augsburg 26-9).
 

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For the 15th time in its 18 all-time appearances, the top-ranked Augsburg University wrestling team has advanced to the semifinals at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals, claiming a 36-3 win over the University of Chicago and a 29-6 win over the No. 10-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday at the Kentucky Expo Center's Freedom Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORES: Augsburg 36, Chicago (Ill.) 3; Augsburg 29, Wisconsin-La Crosse 6
LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center Freedom Hall, Louisville, Ky.
RECORD: Augsburg 5-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg wrestlers won 17 of 20 bouts on Friday, including seven bonus-point decisions and one forfeit, in remaining unbeaten on the season in dual meets. Augsburg has been ranked No. 1 all season long in the NWCA's Division III national poll.
• Augsburg will face No. 5-ranked Wabash (Ind.) in the semifinals on Saturday (1/5) at 10 a.m. (Central time) in Louisville, with the winner advancing to face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 3-ranked Johnson & Wales (R.I.) and No. 2-ranked Wartburg (Iowa), and the losers meeting in the third-place match. Both the finals and third-place match will be at 1 p.m. (Central time).
• Defending NCAA Division III 165-pound national champion Lucas Jeske (JR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) made his season debut, after not competing for the Auggies during the first semester, with two pins on Friday, scoring a 2:48 pin of Chicago's Will Britain in his opener and a 3:34 pin of UW-La Crosse's Jackson Schoen in his second match. Jeske is now 66-9 in his Auggie career with 32 pins.
• Victor Gliva (JR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) opened the two bouts with a pair of major-decision victories, improving to 11-2 on the season with a 10-0 win over David Traub of Chicago and a 9-1 win over Sawyer Sarbacker of UW-La Crosse. He now has seven bonus-point wins (four pins, three major decisions) among his 11 victories.
• No. 4-ranked 197-pounder Lance Benick (SO, Scandia, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) had one of the most dramatic wins of the day in his opener in a win over Chicago's John Jayne, a Team USA 2017 Junior World Championships competitor in judo. After giving up a takedown and four-point near-fall late in the first period, Benick rallied back in a close match, then converted his own takedown and four-point near-fall in the final 19 seconds of the third period to claim a 10-8 victory. He then scored a 14-5, major-decision win in his second bout to improve to 11-2 on the season.
• Defending 157-pound national champion Ryan Epps (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS), who had competed at 165 pounds during the first semester and entered the weekend ranked No. 1 there, moved back down to 157 and claimed two victories -- a 6-0 win over Jason Crary of Chicago and a 4-1 win over UW-La Crosse's No. 9-ranked 157-pounder Grant Zamin. Against Zamin, Epps snapped a 1-1 tie with a takedown with 1:14 left and earned a riding-time point to cap the win, improving to 15-1 on the season.
• No. 2-ranked 133-pounder Sam Bennyhoff (SR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) was efficient in his two victories, scoring a 14-4, major-decision win in his opening bout, and claiming a 6-2 triumph in his second bout to improve to 9-0 on the season and 102-22 on his career. Of his 102 career wins, he now has 62 bonus-point victories (29 major decisions, 15 technical falls, 18 pins).
• No. 3-ranked 141-pounder David Flynn (JR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) moved to 8-1 on the season with a pair of strong victories on Friday, a 10-0, major-decision win in his opener and a 4-2 win in the second match. He is now 81-26 in his collegiate career, including a 53-12 mark in his two-plus seasons at Augsburg.
• Top-ranked 149-pounder Alex Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) suffered his first loss of the season, as he was upset 7-5 by Cole Riemer of Chicago, surrendering an escape and takedown early in the third period. He came back with an 8-2 win in his second match to move his record to 16-1 on the season.
• No. 4-ranked 184-pounder Tanner Vassar (JR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS), an All-American at 174 last season, moved back down to 174 and went 1-1 on the day, with an 8-2 win in his opener and a 10-9 loss to No. 3-ranked 174-pounder Sawyer Massie of UW-La Crosse. Vassar nearly rallied back from an 8-2, first-period deficit against Massie, but dropped to 6-2 on the season.
• Solomon Nielsen (SO, Luverne, Minn./Luverne HS) scored a forfeit win in his opener, then dominated in a 10-4 win over UW-La Crosse's Adam Gusky in his second match, improving to 12-2 on the campaign.
• Heavyweight Ethan Hofacker (JR, Spring Valley, Wis./Spring Valley HS) had an impressive day on Friday, going 1-1. In his opener against Chicago's Patrick Mulkerin, the pair went to overtime tied 1-1, and neither scored in the first sudden-victory session. In the first pair of 30-second tiebreakers, Mulkerin scored an escape with eight seconds left, but in Hofacker's opportunity, he got a reversal and four-point near-fall to claim a 7-2 win. Hofacker was then edged 2-0 in a strong effort against UW-La Crosse's No. 4-ranked Konrad Ernst in his second match.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Since the NWCA began the Division III National Duals in 2002, the trophy has rested at either Augsburg or Wartburg. Augsburg has won the title six times (2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018), while Wartburg has won the crown 11 times.
• Augsburg has now reached the NWCA Division III National Duals semifinals in 15 of the 18 Division III tournaments. In addition to its six titles, Augsburg has finished second five times, third twice, fourth once, sixth once and seventh once.
• Augsburg is now 56-15 in NWCA Division III National Duals competition since 2002. Augsburg also appeared in five NWCA National Duals competitions prior to the 2002 season, when the defending Division III national champion was invited to compete with Division I squads. Augsburg is now 61-24 all-time in NWCA National Duals competition.

No. 1 Augsburg (5-0) 29, No. 10 Wisconsin-La Crosse (6-2) 6
NWCA Division III National Duals Quarterfinals
Jan. 4, 2019 • Freedom Hall, Louisville, Ky.
Action begins at 125 pounds.
125 -- No. 6 Victor Gliva (AUG, 11-2) maj. dec. Sawyer Sarbacker (UWL, 5-6) 9-1 (Augsburg 4-0).
133 -- No. 2 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 9-0) dec. Josh Stenger (UWL, 8-4) 6-2 (Augsburg 7-0).
141 -- No. 3 David Flynn (AUG, 8-1) dec. Hayden Schlough (UWL, 8-4) 4-2 (Augsburg 10-0).
149 -- No. 1 Alex Wilson (AUG, 16-1) dec. Logan Schlough (UWL, 8-6) 8-2 (Augsburg 13-0).
157 -- No. 1 (165) Ryan Epps (AUG, 15-1) dec. No. 9 Grant Zamin (UWL, 10-2) 4-1 (Augsburg 16-0).
165 -- Lucas Jeske (AUG, 2-0) pinned Jackson Schoen (UWL, 7-3) 3:34 (Augsburg 22-0).
174 -- No. 3 Sawyer Massie (UWL, 11-1) dec. No. 4 (184) Tanner Vassar (AUG, 6-2) 10-9 (Augsburg 22-3).
184 -- Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 12-2) dec. Adam Gusky (UWL, 5-7) 10-4 (Augsburg 25-3).
197 -- No. 4 Lance Benick (AUG, 11-2) maj. dec. Cullen Bauer Trottier (UWL, 5-2) 14-5 (Augsburg 29-3).
HWT -- No. 4 Konrad Ernst (UWL, 12-0) dec. Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 9-8) 2-0 (Augsburg 29-6).

No. 1 Augsburg (4-0) 36, University of Chicago (5-2) 3
NWCA Division III National Duals
Jan. 4, 2019 • Freedom Hall, Louisville, Ky.
Action begins at 125 pounds.
125 -- No. 6 Victor Gliva (AUG, 10-2) maj. dec. David Traub (CHI, 5-9) 10-0 (Augsburg 4-0).
133 -- No. 2 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 8-0) maj. dec. Louis DeMarco (CHI, 7-8) 14-4 (Augsburg 8-0).
141 -- No. 3 David Flynn (AUG, 7-1) maj. dec. Alec Gleason (CHI, 7-9) 10-0 (Augsburg 12-0).
149 -- Cole Riemer (CHI, 14-4) dec. No. 1 Alex Wilson (AUG, 15-1) 7-5 (Augsburg 12-3).
157 -- No. 1 (165) Ryan Epps (AUG, 14-1) dec. Jason Crary (CHI, 7-5) 6-0 (Augsburg 15-3).
165 -- Lucas Jeske (AUG, 1-0) pinned Will Britain (CHI, 11-5) 2:48 (Augsburg 21-3).
174 -- No. 4 (184) Tanner Vassar (AUG, 6-1) dec. Ben Sarasin (CHI, 16-5) 8-2 (Augsburg 24-3).
184 -- Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 11-2) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 30-3).
197 -- No. 4 Lance Benick (AUG, 10-2) dec. John Jayne (CHI, 0-1) 10-8 (Augsburg 33-3).
HWT -- Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 9-7) dec. Patrick Mulkerin (CHI, 12-9) 7-2 (OT-TB1) (Augsburg 36-3).

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Augsburg University, the top-ranked team in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, is the No. 1 seed at the 2019 NWCA Division III National Duals, to be held on Friday and Saturday (1/4-5) at the Kentucky Expo Center (Freedom Hall/Exhibition Hall) in Louisville, Ky. Augsburg has been in the No. 1 spot in the latest NWCA Division III national rankings all season long, and has a 3-0 dual-meet record entering the NWCA Division III National Duals.

Augsburg will receive a first-round bye in the 24-team tournament, and will face the winner of the University of Chicago (Ill.) vs. Centenary (N.J.) match on Friday at 10 a.m. (Central time). Quarterfinal matches will on Friday at 2 p.m., with semifinals on Saturday at 10 a.m. and the championship match on Saturday at 1 p.m. Fifteen of the 24 teams in the Division III field are ranked in the top 25 in the latest NWCA Division III national poll, including nine of the top 10-ranked teams.

Since the NWCA began the Division III National Duals in 2002, the trophy has rested at either Augsburg or Wartburg (Iowa). Augsburg has won the title six times (2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018), while Wartburg has won the crown 11 times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017). Augsburg has placed second five times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2012, 2017), placed third twice (2008, 2011), placed fourth in 2014, sixth in 2015 and seventh in 2016.

Augsburg is 54-15 in NWCA Division III National Duals competition since 2002. Augsburg also appeared in five NWCA National Duals competitions prior to the 2002 season, when the defending Division III national champion was invited to compete with Division I squads. Augsburg is 59-24 all-time in NWCA National Duals competition. In its 69 Division III National Duals meets, Augsburg has outscored its competition by a 1,912-845 margin, an average score of 27.7 to 12.2.

Due to weather and travel issues, the Auggies were unable to compete in their traditional holiday break competition, the Citrus Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Augsburg's last competition came on Dec. 15, when it swept a pair of ranked opponents at the Loras (Iowa) Key City Classic in Dubuque, Iowa, winning eight of 10 bouts in a 31-9 win over No. 21-ranked Millikin (Ill.), and seven of 10 bouts in a 25-12 win over No. 7-ranked Loras.

Augsburg enters the National Duals with eight individuals ranked among the top six wrestlers in their weight classes, including two top-ranked wrestlers -- Alex Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) at 149 and Ryan Epps (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) at 165. Sam Bennyhoff (SR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) is ranked No. 2 at 133, while David Flynn (JR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) is ranked No. 3 at 141.

Ranked fourth in their classes are Tanner Vassar (JR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) at 184 and Lance Benick (SO, Scandia, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) at 197. Ranked sixth are Victor Gliva (JR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) at 125 and Aaron Wilson (JR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) at 157.