AUGSBURG MEN'S/WOMEN'S WRESTLING NWCA NATIONAL DUALS NOTES

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 11
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The top-ranked Augsburg University men's wrestling team suffered a 24-15 loss to No. 2-ranked Wartburg College (Iowa) in the finals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals championships, after advancing to the finals with a 22-10 win over No. 4-seed Loras College (Iowa) on Saturday at Freedom Hall. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Augsburg 22, No. 4 Loras (Iowa) 10; No. 2 Wartburg (Iowa) 24, No. 1 Augsburg 15
LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.
RECORD: Augsburg 6-1 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The top-ranked team in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, Augsburg won seven of the 10 bouts against Loras in the semifinals, but could only record three wins in the title match against the Knights.
• No. 6-ranked 149-pounder Aaron Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) completed an impressive 4-0 weekend for the Auggies with a 14-1 major-decision win over Loras' Brock Parker and a 1:58 pin of Wartburg's Zayren Terukina. Wilson is now 18-1 on the season with 16 bonus-point wins (seven pins, eight technical falls and one major decision).
• No. 2-ranked 184-pounder Tanner Vassar (SR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) scored a 4-3 victory over Wartburg's Kyle Briggs, the No. 1-ranked 184-pounder nationally, following a 5-2 win over No. 8-ranked Shane Liegel of Loras. The lone unbeaten wrestler on the Auggie roster, Vassar is now 18-0 on the season. He and Wilson were the only Auggies to go 4-0 on the weekend.
• Two-time defending 157-pound national champion Ryan Epps (SR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) suffered a 8-4 upset loss to Loras' No. 5-ranked Brandon Murray, but rebounded with a 4:03 pin of Wartburg's No. 10-ranked Martine Sandoval. The split moved Epps' record to 18-1 on the year and 131-12 in his career.
• Lucas Jeske (SR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), the defending back-to-back national champion at 165 pounds, picked up his 90th career win with a 4-1 win over Loras' No. 4-ranked Eddie Smith, but suffered just the fourth pin against him in his college career with a third-period loss to Wartburg's Matt Forsyth.
• Victor Gliva (SR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS), ranked No. 2 nationally at 133, scored a 4-0 win over Loras, but dropped a 6-4 decision to Wartburg's top-ranked Kristian Rumph in the finals.
• Defending 141-pound national champion David Flynn (SR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) also went 1-1 on the day, with a 6-2 win over Loras and a 3-1 loss to Wartburg's No. 2-ranked Brady Fritz -- one of three No. 1-vs.-No. 2 meetings in the Wartburg dual.
• Top-ranked 197-pounder Lance Benick (JR, Scandia, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) clinched the victory for the Auggies against Loras with a dramatic 4-2 overtime win, but dropped a 5-1 decision to Wartburg's No. 4-ranked Kobe Woods.
• Heavyweight Tyler Kim (FY, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) picked up a win in his only match of the day, a 9-5 triumph over Loras' Wyatt Wriedt. Kim is now 13-4 on the year.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• This marked the 12th meeting in the finals between Augsburg and Wartburg in the 19-year history of the NWCA Division III National Duals. The teams are now tied 6-6 in those meetings. The two teams have split all 19 titles since 2002, with Wartburg winning 12 titles and Augsburg winning seven.
• Augsburg is now 61-16 all-time in Division III National Duals competition since it started in the 2001-02 season. Including five other appearances in NWCA Division I National Duals competition prior to 2002, when the Division II, Division III and NAIA defending national champions were invited to participate, Augsburg is now 66-25.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action next Saturday (1/18) at 9 a.m., competing at the Cornell (Iowa) Mike Duroe Open.

Championship Match -- No. 2 Wartburg (Iowa, 10-0) 24, No. 1 Augsburg (6-1) 15
Saturday, January 11, 2020 -- Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.
125 -- No. 5 Brady Kyner (WAR) dec. Justin Stauffacher (AUG, 12-6) 9-2 (Wartburg 3-0)
133 -- No. 1 Kristian Rumph (WAR) dec. No. 2 Victor Gliva (AUG, 16-2) 6-4 (Wartburg 6-0)
141 -- No. 2 Brady Fritz (WAR) dec. No. 1 David Flynn (AUG, 8-2) 3-1 (Wartburg 9-0)
149 -- No. 6 Aaron Wilson (AUG, 18-1) pinned Zayren Terukina (WAR) 1:58 (Wartburg 9-6)
157 -- No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 18-1) pinned No 10 Martine Sandoval (WAR) 4:03 (Augsburg 12-9)
165 -- Max Forsyth (WAR) pnned No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 4-1) 5:55 (Wartburg 15-12)
174 -- Paul Calo (WAR) dec. Nick Rogge (AUG, 13-2) 6-2 (Wartburg 18-12)
184 -- No. 2 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 18-0) dec. No. 1 Kyle Briggs (WAR) 4-3 (Wartburg 18-15)
197 -- No. 4 Kobe Woods (WAR) dec. No. 1 Lance Benick (AUG, 2-2) 5-1 (Wartburg 21-15)
HWT -- Jordan Brandon (WAR) dec. Zach Muller (AUG, 4-4) 7-4 (Wartburg 24-15)

Semifinals -- No. 1 Augsburg (6-0) 22, No. 4 Loras (Iowa, 6-1) 10
Saturday, January 11, 2020 -- Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.
125 -- Matt Randone (LOR) dec. Justin Stauffacher (AUG, 12-5) 2-1 (Loras 3-0)
133 -- No. 2 Victor Gliva (AUG, 16-1) dec. Brice Everson (LOR) 4-0 (TIED 3-3)
141 -- No. 1 David Flynn (AUG, 8-1) dec. Mason McMillen (LOR) 6-2 (Augsburg 6-3)
149 -- No. 6 Aaron Wilson (AUG, 17-1) maj. dec. Brock Parker (LOR) 14-1 (Augsburg 10-3)
157 -- No. 5 Brandon Murray (LOR) dec. No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 17-1) 8-4 (Augsburg 10-6)
165 -- No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 4-0) dec. No. 4 Eddie Smith (LOR) 4-1 (Augsburg 13-6)
174 -- No. 4 Jacob Krakow (LOR) maj. dec. No. 7 Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 13-2) 14-3 (Augsburg 13-10)
184 -- No. 2 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 17-0) dec. No. 8 Shane Liegel (LOR) 5-2 (Augsburg 16-10)
197 -- No. 1 Lance Benick (AUG, 2-1) dec. Brady Vogel (LOR) 4-2 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 19-10)
HWT -- Tyler Kim (AUG, 13-4) dec. Wyatt Wriedt (LOR) 9-5 (Augsburg 22-10)
 

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The top-ranked Augsburg University men's wrestling team clinched its 16th top-four finish in the 19-year history of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals championships, with two victories on Friday at the Kentucky Expo Center. The Auggies opened with a 43-3 win over Olivet (Mich.), then dispatched No. 8-ranked Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 27-14 in the quarterfinals.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Augsburg 43, Olivet (Mich.) 3; No. 1 Augsburg 27, No. 8 Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 14
LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.
RECORD: Augsburg 5-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The top-ranked team in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, Augsburg scored wins in 15 of its 20 bouts in the first day of the two-day event, including 11 bonus-point wins -- six pins, two technical falls and three major decisions.
• No. 2-ranked 184-pounder Tanner Vassar (SR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) claimed two second-period pins on the day, a 3:40 pin against Olivet and a 4:49 pin against Johnson & Wales. Now 16-0 on the season and 109-29 in his Augsburg career, Vassar now has 40 career pins, including 10 this season.
• Two-time defending 157-pound national champion Ryan Epps (SR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) claimed a 18-2, 4:50 technical fall win in his opener, then scored a 5:16 pin of Johnson & Wales' Da'mani Burns, the No. 8-ranked 149-pounder nationally. Epps is now 17-0 on the season and 130-11 in his career. He now has 57 career bonus-point wins (33 pins, nine technical falls and 15 major decisions). 
• Lucas Jeske (SR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), the defending back-to-back national champion at 165 pounds, claimed a 1:58 pin against Olivet and a 17-4 major decision win against Johnson & Wales. Now 89-9 in his Auggie career, Jeske now has 60 career bonus-point wins (37 pins, nine technical falls and 14 major decisions).
• No. 6-ranked 149-pounder Aaron Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) also claimed two bonus-point victories on Friday, a 72-second pin in the opener and a 17-0, 4:03 technical fall in the quarterfinals. Now 16-1 on the season with 14 bonus-point wins (six pins, eight technical falls), Wilson now has 64 career bonus-point wins (33 pins, 15 technical falls and 16 major decisions) in his 87-30 college career.
• Victor Gliva (SR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) returned to the win column with a pair of victories, including a 3:43 pin in his opener. He is now 16-1 on the season and 105-23 in his career, with 61 bonus-point wins (32 pins, 10 technical falls and 19 major decisions).
• One of the most dramatic wins on the day for the Auggies came in their very first bout, as Justin Stauffacher (FY, Belle Plaine, Minn./Belle Plaine HS (Scott West)) scored a late escape to claim a 3-2 win over Olivet's Garret Cleveland in the third overtime tiebreaker session, completing a marathon 13-minute match.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• The NWCA Division III National Duals titlists each of the last two seasons, Augsburg is now 60-15 all-time in Division III National Duals competition since it started in the 2001-02 season. Including five other appearances in NWCA Division I National Duals competition prior to 2002, when the Division II, Division III and NAIA defending national champions were invited to participate, Augsburg is now 65-24.
• Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 343-52-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 48 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season. Against strictly Division III opponents, Augsburg is 330-51-1 since the 1979-80 season and 255-41-1 since 1989-90.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg will face No. 4-ranked Loras (Iowa) in the National Duals semifinals on Saturday (1/11) at 10 a.m. (Central time) at Freedom Hall in Louisville, and will face either No. 2-ranked Wartburg (Iowa) or No. 3-ranked Wabash (Ind.) in the final match, with the championship match at 2 p.m. and the third-place match at 12 p.m.

Quarterfinals -- No. 1 Augsburg (5-0) 27, No. 8 Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 14
Friday, January 10, 2020 -- Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.
125 -- Christopher Caban (JWU) dec. Justin Stauffacher (AUG, 12-4) 5-2 (JWU 3-0)
133 -- No. 2 Victor Gliva (AUG, 16-1) dec. Hayden Brown (JWU) 6-0 (TIED 3-3)
141 -- Jordan Robinson (JWU) dec. No. 1 David Flynn (AUG, 7-1) 4-3 (OT-TB1) (JWU 6-3)
149 -- No. 6 Aaron Wilson (AUG, 16-1) tech. fall Kyle Althenn (JWU) 17-0 at 4:03 (Augsburg 8-6)
157 -- No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 17-0) pinned No. 8 (149) Da'mani Burns (JWU) 5:16 (Augsburg 14-6)
165 -- No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 3-0) maj. dec. Christian Murphy (JWU) 17-4 (Augsburg 18-6)
174 -- No. 7 Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 13-1) dec. Cameron Altobelli (JWU) 15-9 (Augsburg 21-6)
184 -- No. 2 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 16-0) pinned Nicholas Munsch (JWU) 4:49 (Augsburg 27-6)
197 -- Giovanni Santiago (JWU) pinned No. 1 Lance Benick (AUG, 1-1) 0:47 (Augsburg 27-12)
Johnson & Wales penalized 1 team point for unsportsmanlike conduct (Augsburg 27-11)
HWT -- No. 10 Michael DiNardo (JWU) dec. Tyler Kim (AUG, 12-4) 2-1 (Augsburg 27-14)

First Round -- No. 1 Augsburg (4-0) 43, Olivet (Mich.) 3
Friday, January 10, 2020 -- Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.
125 -- Justin Stauffacher (AUG, 12-3) dec. Garret Cleveland (OC, 5-11) 3-2 (OT-TB3) (Augsburg 3-0)
133 -- No. 2 Victor Gliva (AUG, 15-1) pinned Kyle Schaaf (OC, 3-3) 3:43 (Augsburg 9-0)
141 -- No. 1 David Flynn (AUG, 7-0) maj. dec. Andre Bourlier (OC, 7-7) 13-0 (Augsburg 13-0)
149 -- No. 6 Aaron Wilson (AUG, 15-1) pinned Zachary Wells (OC, 5-4) 1:12 (Augsburg 19-0)
157 -- No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 16-0) tech. fall Liam Kinjorski (OC, 5-3) 18-2 at 4:50 (Augsburg 24-0)
165 -- No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 2-0) pinned Adam Hall (OC, 11-6) 1:58 (Augsburg 30-0)
174 -- Nick Rogge (AUG, 13-1) maj. dec. Nicholas Worden (OC, 8-6) 15-2 (Augsburg 34-0)
184 -- No. 2 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 15-0) pinned Hiram Robinson (OC, 4-7) 3:40 (Augsburg 40-0)
197 -- Wyatt Richardson (AUG, 7-4) dec. Austin Engle (OC, 6-5) 8-4 (Augsburg 43-0)
HWT -- Dominick Wilson (OC, 11-2) dec. Zach Muller (AUG, 4-3) 4-0 (Augsburg 43-3)
 

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Augsburg University's men's wrestling team will attempt to defend its back-to-back National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals championships this weekend, as the tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Kentucky Expo Center (Freedom Hall/Exhibition Hall) in Louisville, Ky.

The No. 1-seed in the 24-team tournament, Augsburg will receive a first-round bye and will face the winner of the Roger Williams (R.I.) vs. Olivet (Mich.) 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 2 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 seven times (2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019), 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 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 63-24 all-time in NWCA National Duals competition. In its 73 Division III National Duals meets, Augsburg has outscored its competition by a 2,023-876 margin, an average score of 27.7 to 12.0.

Augsburg is ranked No. 1 in the latest NWCA Division III national rankings, released on Tuesday. Eight Auggies are ranked in the top 10 in their individual weight classes, including four No. 1 wrestlers -- defending national champions David Flynn (SR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) at 141, Ryan Epps (SR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) at 157, Lucas Jeske (SR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) at 165 and Lance Benick (JR, Scandia, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) at 197.

Two Auggies are ranked No. 2 in their weight classes -- Victor Gliva (SR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) at 133 and Tanner Vassar (SR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) at 184. Aaron Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) is ranked No. 6 at 149, and Solomon Nielsen (JR, Luverne, Minn./Luverne HS) is ranked No. 7 at 174.