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No. 2 Augustana Edges No. 18 MSU-Moorhead
Thursday, February 3, 2005
Sioux Falls, SD * The Augustana wrestling team needed some big points from its top wrestlers, and the big guns delivered as the second-ranked Vikings edged No. 18 Minnesota State-Moorhead 24-22 Thursday night at the Elmen Center.
The Vikings improved to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the North Central Conference. MSU-Moorhead fell to 7-3 overall and 2-1 against NCC opponents
Wrestling without four nationally-ranked starters, the short-handed Vikings received strong outings from their remaining nationally-ranked wrestlers to hold off the Dragons. Seniors Aaron Graumann and Tom Meester, competing in their final home matches, posted key wins. Graumann, ranked No. 2 at 125 pounds, opened the night with a 20-5 technical fall over Dave Burgard. Meester, ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds, wasted little time in pinning Brandon Gruchow, getting the fall in 1:30. That pin gave the Vikings the lead for good at 20-18.
Tim Boldt, ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds, gave Augustana some more breathing room with a 14-1 major decision over Dustin Uselman. That put the Vikings ahead 24-18 with one match to go.
MSU-Moorhead had a chance to tie with a pin at heavyweight, but Chris Tuchscherer managed only an 8-0 major decision over Ray O'Connor.
Augustana's other wins came from Ryan King and Austin Scarset. King, ranked No. 1 at 149 pounds, had his way with MSUM's Dan Meyer. King led 15-5 late in the match before getting a pin with 24 seconds left. Scarset, ranked No. 6 at 157 pounds, picked up a big win when he defeated No. 4 Josh Jansen 8-5. That win, coupled with King's fall, helped Augustana turn a 12-5 deficit into a 14-12 lead halfway through the dual.
MSU Moorhead regained the momentum at 165 and 174 pounds as Rockie Stavn defeated Augie's Ben Caven Johnson 6-2 and Eric Hageman beat Andrew Sorenson 9-3 to give the Dragons an 18-14 lead heading into the final three matches.
Augustana will be back in action on Saturday, February 12, when the Vikings travel to Chadron, Neb., for a triangular against Chadron State and No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney.