MINNEAPOLIS (2/1/07): Claiming wins in six of 10 matches, Wartburg
College scored a 19-13 dual-meet triumph over host Augsburg College
in a battle of the top two teams in NCAA Division III wrestling on
Thursday night before 1,117 fans at Si Melby Hall.
The Knights, now 20-1 on the season in dual meets, entered the match
ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division III national poll (National Wrestling
Coaches Association). The defending national champions avenged an
earlier 22-10 loss to the Auggies in the championship match of the NWCA
Division III National Duals on Jan. 14.
It was the first loss of the season for the Auggies, ranked No. 1
nationally. Augsburg is now 10-1 on the season.
Augsburg is now 11-8 in the all-time series with the Knights. Since the
teams have wrestled twice in duals over the past six seasons, it marks
the first time that the teams have split the dual-meet series.
Wartburg claimed two upset victories of top-ranked Augsburg wrestlers.
At 133 pounds, Wartburg's Jake Helvey (Jr., Mitchelville,
Iowa/Southeast Polk HS), ranked No. 3 nationally, handed Augsburg's
Jafari Vanier (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) his
first loss of the season with a 5-0 decision. At 157 pounds, Wartburg's
Aaron Wernimont (So., Pocahontas, Iowa), ranked No. 4, claimed a 4-2
win over Augsburg's Jeremy Anderson (Jr., Thief River Falls, Minn.),
claiming the eventual winning points with a reversal with 46 seconds
left in the third period.
Augsburg's other two top-ranked wrestlers scored victories in the dual.
Marcus LeVesseur (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS),
ranked No. 1 nationally at 165, maintained his unbeaten collegiate
record with a 6-1 win over Jason Knipp (Sr., Gilbertville, Iowa).
LeVesseur, who won Division III national titles at 157 pounds three
times (2003, 2004, 2005), improved to 19-0 on the season and improved
his collegiate career record to 143-0, 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.
Augsburg's Quincy Osborn (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), ranked No. 1 in
the country at 141, claimed an 8-05 win over Zach McKray (So., Iowa
City, Iowa) to improve to 32-2 on the season.
Augsburg's Robbie Gotreau (Jr., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS),
ranked No. 3 nationally at 174, improved to 30-4 on the season with a
13-2, major-decision win over No. 4-ranked Jason Zastrow (Sr., Coon
Rapids, Minn./Blaine HS), giving the Auggies a 13-9 lead in the team
match after seven weight classes.
But Wartburg claimed victories in the final three bouts to clinch the
match. Romeo Djoumessi (So., Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock HS),
ranked No. 2 at 184, scored a 6-0 win over George Lynaugh (Jr., Inver
Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS); T.J. Miller (Jr., Cedar Falls, Iowa),
ranked No. 2 at 197, scored an 8-5 win over Wally O'Connor (Jr.,
Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS); and Blake Gillis (Sr., Spencer Iowa),
ranked No. 1 at heavyweight, claimed a 10-2, major-decision win over
No. 7-ranked Andrew Neumann (Sr., Somerset, Wis.).
Wartburg's Robert Struthers (Jr., Emmetsburg, Iowa), ranked No. 7 at
125, opened the match with a 6-2 upset of Augsburg's No. 3-ranked Seth
Flodeen (So., Cannon Falls, Minn.).
At 149, Augsburg's Jared Evans (Sr., Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area
HS), ranked No. 4, improved to 26-3 on the season with a 1-0 win over
Adam Weber (Fr., Waterloo, Iowa/Don Bosco HS), claiming two minutes of
riding time in the second period for the bonus point in the bout.
Both teams return to action on Saturday (2/3) at 9 a.m.with competition
at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Invitational. Augsburg will also have a
split squad compete at the St. John's University North Country Open on
Saturday at 9 a.m.
College Wrestling: No. 2 Wartburg (Iowa, 20-1) 19, No. 1 Augsburg
(Minn., 10-1) 13
Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
Action begins at 125 pounds: Time of match: 1:47: Attendance: 1,117:
Officials: Jerry Reker, Brad Hanson.
