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Augustana Gains Six All-Americans, Sit in Third Place at National Championships

March 10, 2010

The Augustana wrestling team enjoyed a solid first day at the at the 2010 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships Friday in Omaha, Neb. The Vikings won 13 out of 17 matches as they earned six All-Americans, including four semifinalists.

In the team standings, Augustana is in third place. Nebraska-Omaha holds a comfortable lead. The host Mavericks have 57 points with eight wrestlers remaining, including seven in the semifinals. St. Cloud State is second  with 32.5 points, while Augustana is third with 29.5 points. Gannon and Wisconsin-Parkside round out the top five. They are tied for fourth place with 27.5 points.

St. Cloud State has four wrestlers remaining with two in the semifinals. Augustana has six competitors remaining, with four in the semifinals. Gannon has five wrestlers left, but only one semfinalist, while Wisconsin-Parkside has four wrestlers left, including two semifinalists.

Augustana advanced four wrestlers into Saturday's semifinals during Friday night's second session. Among those winning their second-round matches were No. 7 Laramie Shaffer, who beat No. 8 Scott Berens of Central Oklahoma 3-1 at 133 pounds and No. 7 Jay Sherer, who won dramatic 2-1 match in the second overtime against top-ranked Andre Harrison of Fort Hays State in a 141-pound bout. With the score tied 1-1 heading into the second overtime, Sherer got an escape with 1 second left in the period. Sherer then rode out Harrison for 30 seconds to hang on for the win.

At 149 pounds, No. 4 Nate Herda edged No. 5 Latra Collick of Newberry 6-4. Herda took down Collick with 8 seconds left in the match for the game-winning points. Rounding out the group was No. 2 Ty Copsey, who defeated Mitch Knapp of West Liberty 7-2.

Two Vikings lost their second round matches. At 157 pounds, #5 Marcus Edgington dropped a 3-1 decision to #4 George Ivanov of Nebraska-Omaha. Ivanov collected a takedown with 2 seconds left in regulation to pick up the win. Then at 165 pounds, top-ranked Josh Shields of Mercyhurst pinned Augustana's Gavin Nelson in 33 seconds.

Edgington avoided elimination with another triumph in sudden victory in the wrestlebacks as he outlasted Minnesota State's Justin Turek 3-1. Each wrestler got an escape from the down position in regulation to account for a 1-1 score. In sudden victory, Edgington got the winning takedown to ensure him All-American status.

Nelson advanced to Saturday's action with a 10-5 victory over No. 7 Kyle Keane of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

After losing his first-round match at 125 pounds, Al Meger remained alive in the wrestlebacks with a dramatic 3-1 win over #5 Cody Zimmerman of Wisconsin-Parkside. Meger got a takedown in sudden victory to pick up the win. However, Meger's tournament came to an end in the second round of the wrestlebacks when he was defeated by Terrell McKinney of Nebraska-Omaha 15-6.

Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m.

Official NCAA Championship Web Site - CLICK HERE

Augustana Results

125 pounds - Al Meger (1-2, eliminated)
First Round: Seth Wright (N.M Highlands) def. Al Meger (Augie), 10-8
Consolation First Round: Al Meger (Augie) dec. #5 Cody Zimmerman (Wis.-Parkside), 3-1 (sudden victory)
Consolation Second Round: Terrell McKinney (Neb.-Omaha) major dec. Al Meger (Augie), 15-6

133 pounds - #7 Laramie Shaffer (2-0)
First Round: #7 Laramie Shaffer (Augie) dec. Michael Magaha (Lewis), 4-2
Second Round: #7 Laramie Shaffer (Augie) dec. #8 Scott Berens (Central Okla.), 3-1
Semifinals: #7 Laramie Shaffer (Augie) vs. #1 Shane Valko (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) Saturday

141 pounds - #7 Jay Sherer (2-0)
First Round: #7 Jay Sherer (Augie) def. Joshua Falk (Findlay), 5-3
Second Round: #7 Jay Sherer (Augie) dec. #1 Andre Harrison (Ft. Hays State), 2-1 (2OT)
Semifinals: #7 Jay Sherer (Augie) vs. #4 Jeremy Parker (Limestone) Saturday

149 pounds - #4 Nate Herda (2-0)
First Round: #4 Nate Herda (Augie) dec. Tyler Juby (MSC), 17-12
Second Round: #4 Nate Herda (Augie) dec. #5 Latra Collick (Newberry), 6-4
Semifinals: #4 Nate Herda (Augie) vs. #3 Esai Dominguez (Neb.-Omaha) Saturday

157 pounds - #5 Marcus Edgington (2-1)
First Round: #5 Marcus Edgington (Augie) dec. Andy Lamancusa (Mercyhurst), 6-4 (sudden victory)
Second Round: #4 George Ivanov (Neb.-Omaha) dec. #5 Marcus Edgington (Augie), 3-1
Consolation Second Round: #5 Marcus Edgington (Augie) dec. Justin Turek (Minn. State), 3-1 (sudden victory)

165 pounds - Gavin Nelson (2-1)
First Round: Gavin Nelson (Augie) dec. Derrick Adkins (Central Okla.), 5-3
Second Round: #1 Josh Shields (Mercyhurst) pinned Gavin Nelson (Augie), :33
Consolation Second Round: Gavin Nelson (Augie) dec. Kyle Keane (Pittsburgh-Johnstown), 10-5

197 pounds - #2 Ty Copsey (2-0)
First Round: #2 Ty Copsey (Augie) dec. Daniel Stevenson (Findlay), 6-2
Second Round: #2 Ty Copsey (Augie) dec. Mitch Knapp (West Liberty), 7-2
Semifinals: #2 Ty Copsey (Augie) vs. #3 Jacob Marrs (Neb.-Omaha), Saturday