|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WAVERLY, Iowa (1/30/04) -- Sidestepping a major decision for No. 2-ranked Augsburg College in the opening match, the No. 1-ranked Wartburg College wrestling team compiled 23 of the final 30 points en route to a 23-11 dual-meet decision over their NCAA Division III rivals in front of a capacity crowd of 1,500 at Knights Gymnasium on Friday night.
The Knights' victory increased their 2003-04 record-setting dual record to 25-1. It also was the fourth straight over their Lutheran rivals in the series. Augsburg dropped to 10-3 on the season, suffering its second consecutive setback.
Against teams from Divisions II and III, Augsburg drops to 187-12 since 1989-90, losing just seven matches since the 1995-96 season. Against Division III opponents, Augsburg is 209-17 since the 1979-80 season and 133-7 since 1989-90. Of those seven losses to Division III foes in the last 15 years, five have been to Wartburg, which has won its last four duals in a row over the Auggies. Augsburg is 8-5 all-time against Wartburg.
Augsburg looked ready to avenge its 20-17 loss to Wartburg at the NWCA Division III National Duals title match as top-ranked 125-pounder Matt Shankey (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) amassed four takedowns in an 11-2 win over fourth-ranked Justin McClintock to open the dual.
However, it was all Wartburg the rest of the way.
Senior 133-pounder Ozzie Saxon scored nine points in the third period of his major decision at 133 over Greg Brendemuehl (So., Medford, Minn.) and was followed by a win for sophomore 141-pounder Dustin Hinschberger. Hinschberger, upping his season record to 27-4, upended third-ranked Jamell Tidwell (Jr., Burnsville, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) 4-1, giving the Knights the lead for good.
The two sides traded wins over the next four weights, highlighted by top-ranked 149-pounder Bart Mehlert staying unbeaten for the Knights by winning his 24th decision in a row and Augsburg's No.1-ranked Marcus LeVesseur (So., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) gaining his 71st consecutive win, with a 6-2 decision victory over No. 3-ranked Cory Connell. LeVesseur, now 27-0, has yet to lose a collegiate match in his two seasons.
After second-ranked Joe Moon (Jr., Ellendale, Minn./New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva HS) pulled the Auggies within 14-11 with an 11-0 major at 174, Wartburg closed out the evening with three straight wins. Third-ranked Ryan Sturm and second-ranked Akeem Carter both took decisions, while freshman fourth-ranked heavyweight Blake Gillis avenged an earlier loss to third-ranked Mark Simmonds (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Edison HS) with a 6-1 win.
Augsburg finishes its weekend on the road on Sunday (2/1) with a 2 p.m. dual at Division II South Dakota State. Wartburg hosts No. 8 Luther (Iowa) on Saturday (1/31) at 7 p.m.