MINNEAPOLIS -- Winning six of 10 bouts, including a crucial stretch of four wins in a row midway through the match, the top-ranked Augsburg University men's wrestling team claimed a 22-18 dual-meet victory over defending NCAA Division III co-national champion and current No. 11-ranked Johnson & Wales University on Friday evening at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Augsburg 22, No. 11 Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 18
RECORD: Augsburg 1-0 overall, Johnson & Wales 2-2 overall
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Last year's third place national tournament finisher and current No. 1-ranked team in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III tournament national poll, the Auggies claimed six wins, including three bonus-point victories, but the match wasn't decided until the final bout, as No. 4-ranked 184-pounder Brandt Bombard (SR, North Branch, Minn./North Branch HS) used a penalty point and second-period escape to hold off the Wildcats' Shane Reitsma 2-1.
• Opening the match at 197 pounds, No. 2-ranked 197 pounder Ethan Winkelman (SO, Hudson, Wis./Hudson HS) dominated his bout, using four takedowns to score a 16-1, third-period technical fall victory, improving to 6-0 on the year.
• The Wildcats scored wins in their next three bouts to take a 15-5 advantage, but the Auggies then took over with four straight wins, outscoring the Wildcats by a 31-1 margin in the bouts. The run started with a 6-1 victory by No. 8-ranked 141-pounder Cole Becker (SR, Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS). Becker scored a takedown in the first period and scored three points in the third period to improve to 6-1 on the season.
• At 149, No. 1-ranked Matthew Randolph (SO, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) used two takedowns, an escape and stalling point to improve to 6-0 on the season with a 9-0, major-decision win. Karsen Otis (JR, Combined Locks, Wis./Kimberly HS) also dominated in a 7-0 victory at 157 pounds, and at 165, No. 2-ranked Cooper Willis (SR, Kansasville, Wis./Union Grove HS) also had two takedowns in a 9-0 major-decision victory.

FOR THE FOES
• No. 5-ranked 285-pounder Adolfo Betancur scored the lone pin of the evening, a 3:18 pin of Augsburg's No. 7-ranked Tyler Raway (SR, Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake HS).
• No. 11-ranked 125-pounder Nico Rivera claimed a 21-4, third-period technical fall over Keno Vanier (SR, Edina, Minn./Richfield HS), and No. 4-ranked 133-pounder Peyton Ellis topped Augsburg's No. 9-ranked Chance Suddeth (JR, Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton HS) in a 9-1 major decision in the only meeting of ranked wrestlers.
• No. 6-ranked 165-pounder Jack Richardson moved up to 174 and edged Nick Alexander (JR, Kaukauna, Wis./Wrightstown HS) 5-2 in sudden-victory overtime.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Augsburg is now 7-1 in the all-time series with Johnson & Wales, dating to the 2008-09 season.
• Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 388-58-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 54 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season.
• Against strictly NCAA Division III opponents, Augsburg is 372-57-1 since the 1979-80 season. Since 1989-90, Augsburg is 297-47-1 against Division III opponents.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg hosts its annual Augsburg Invitational on Saturday (11/22) at 9 a.m. at Si Melby Hall.

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MEN'S WRESTLING - No. 1 Augsburg (1-0) 22, No. 11 Johnson & Wales (R.I.) 18
Friday, November 21, 2025 - Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. - Attendance: 700
Officials: Ronnie Schneider, Jim Peterson
197 -- No. 2 Ethan Winkelman (AUG, 6-0) tech. fall Anthony Fernandez (JWU, 5-3) 16-1 at 6:01 (Augsburg 5-0)
285 -- No. 5 Adolfo Betancur (JWU, 3-1) pinned No. 7 Tyler Raway (AUG, 4-2) 3:18 (Johnson & Wales 6-5)
125 -- No. 11 Nico Rivera (JWU, 7-0) tech. fall Keno Vanier (AUG, 3-3) 21-4 at 6:13 (Johnson & Wales 11-5)
133 -- No. 4 Peyton Ellis (JWU, 8-0) maj. dec. No. 9 Chance Suddeth (AUG, 4-3) 9-1 (Johnson & Wales 15-5)
141 -- No. 8 Cole Becker (AUG, 6-1) dec. Caiden Talento (JWU, 6-3) 6-1 (Johnson & Wales 15-8)
149 -- No. 1 Matthew Randolph (AUG, 6-0) maj. dec. Jared Spahn (JWU, 1-4) 9-0 (Johnson & Wales 15-12)
157 -- Karsen Otis (AUG, 6-1) dec. Mark Lattimore (JWU, 3-3) 7-0 (TIED 15-15)
165 -- No. 2 Cooper Willis (AUG, 5-1) maj. dec. Vincent Faldetta (JWU, 3-5) 9-0 (Augsburg 19-15)
174 -- No. 6 (@165) Jack Richardson (JWU, 8-0) dec. Nick Alexander (AUG, 0-1) 5-2 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 19-18)
184 -- No. 4 Brandt Bombard (AUG, 5-1) dec. Shane Reitsma (JWU, 6-2) 2-1 (Augsburg 22-18)