Omaha, NE -- Winning five of the first six matches and six of 10
overall, Augsburg College claimed a 23-13 victory over the University
of Nebraska-Omaha in a matchup of two Midwest small-college wrestling
powers on Friday night at UNO's Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse.
Augsburg, ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division III national
poll, built a 17-3 lead after the first six matches to claim the win
over the Mavericks, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II national poll
and the three-time defending Division II national champions.
The Auggies are now 9-0 in dual meets on the season, having won 75 of
90 individual matches in its nine team victories this season. Against
teams from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 216-16 since the
1989-90 season, losing just 11 matches to non-Division I opponents
since the 1995-96 season. Augsburg has won nine Division III national
titles in the last 16 seasons.
Augsburg now has a 2-1 edge in the series against the Mavericks. The
teams have battled the last three seasons, with each victory coming by
the visiting team. Nebraska-Omaha is now 4-2 in duals this season.
Augsburg's Marcus LeVesseur (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington
Kennedy HS), ranked No. 1 nationally at 165 pounds, maintained his
unbeaten collegiate record with his second straight victory over a
top-ranked Division II wrestler, scoring a 4-1 win over Ross Taplin of
Nebraska-Omaha. After topping Minnesota State Moorhead's Nate Baker,
who was ranked No. 1 at the time, 3-2 in a dual on Tuesday, LeVesseur
scored a decision win over Taplin, who moved into the top spot in the
national rankings on Wednesday.
LeVesseur, who won Division III national titles at 157 pounds three
times (2003, 2004, 2005), improved to 17-0 on the season and improved
his collegiate career record to 141-0, the second-longest winning
streak in college wrestling history, behind the 159 of Cael Sanderson
at Iowa State (1998-2002). LeVesseur has yet to lose a college
wrestling match.
George Lynaugh (Jr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) claimed the
lone pin of the evening, a second-period match ender over Austin Boehm
at 184 pounds, a 4:37 pin that clinched the team victory for the
Auggies. Lynaugh is now 22-4 on the season.
Augsburg's four top-ranked wrestlers all claimed victories. In addition
to LeVesseur, Quincy Osborn (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), who moved into
the top ranking at 141 pounds this week, improved to 30-2 on the season
with an 11-1, major-decision win over Sam Bribieseca, ranked No. 8 in
Division II.
Jeremy Anderson (Jr., Thief River Falls, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 157,
improved to 26-1 with an 8-5 win over UNO's Henry Wahle. Augsburg's
Jafari Vanier (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), ranked
No. 1 at 133, needed overtime to score a 9-7 win over Jeff Rau,
claiming a reversal in the final tiebreaker session. Vanier is now 14-0
on the season.
Seth Flodeen (So., Cannon Falls, Minn.), ranked No. 3 at 125, claimed
an 11-3, major-decision win in the match opener against Jimmy Ball.
Flodeen gave up an early takedown, but rallied back with consecutive
near-falls to take an 8-3 lead after one period, eventually claiming
the 11-3 win.
Two of Nebraska-Omaha's three top-ranked wrestlers scored victories. At
149, Todd Meneely scored a 11-4 decision over Augsburg's Jared Evans
(Sr., Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS), ranked No. 4 in Division
III. J.D. Naig, top-ranked at 174, scored a 10-2, major-decision win
over Augsburg's Robbie Gotreau (Jr., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS),
ranked No. 3 in Division III.
At 197, UNO's Jacob Marrs, ranked No. 2 nationally, claimed an 8-5 win
over Augsburg's Wally O'Connor (Jr., Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS),
and at heavyweight, in a battle of No. 7-ranked wrestlers in their
respective divisions, UNO's Tony Lewis scored a 7-3 win over Augsburg's
Andrew Neumann (Sr., Somerset, Wis.).
Augsburg returns to action with its third straight match against a
Division II opponent, hosting St. Cloud State on Sunday (1/28) at 2
p.m. at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis. UNO returns to action on Saturday
(1/27) at 7 p.m. with a match at Dana (Neb.), ranked No. 5 in the NAIA
national poll.
College Wrestling -- No. 1 in D-III Augsburg (9-0) 23, No. 2 in D-II
Nebraska-Omaha (4-2) 13
Friday, January 26, 2007 -- Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse, Omaha,
Neb.
Action begins at 125 pounds -- Attendance: 550 -- Match official -- Tom
Vincentini.