Results and Play-by-Play
The Augustana wrestling team opened the dual portion of its schedule by dropping a close 21-12 decision to Augsburg Wednesday night in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Vikings, ranked 19th in the latest NCAA Division II national rankings, won 3 of the 10 contested matches, while the Auggies, ranked No. 2 in the Division III national poll, captured 7, including four matches that were decided by 2 points or less.
Gavin Nelson got the Vikings off to a good start. Ranked No. 8 in the nation at 165 pounds, Nelson rallied in the final 30 seconds of the bout to score a 7-6 decision over seventh-rated Orlando Ponce in the opening match of the dual. With the score tied 4-4, Ponce got a takedown with 37 seconds left in the match. Nelson escaped with 29 seconds remaining and registered a takedown of his own with 21 seconds on the clock to secure the win.
Augsburg gained the upper hand in the dual by winning the next 5 matches, all by decision. One of those wins came at 197 pounds, where No. 1 Jared Massey defeated Augustana's fourth-ranked
Ty Copsey 6-2 in the other match between nationally-ranked wrestlers.
A key match came at 184 pounds where Augsburg's Caleb Lines edged Augustana's
Luke Heine 5-3 in sudden victory overtime. Heine trailed 3-1 going into the final period but tied the score with an escape and a stalling point. But Lines got the quick takedown in overtime for the win.
Trailing 15-3 after 6 matches, Augustana won 2 straight bouts to close within 3 points at 15-12.
Cody Lensing recorded the only pin of the dual when he stuck Augsburg's Paul Bjorkstrand in 2:49.
Jay Sherer, ranked No. 3 at 141 pounds, followed with a convincing 12-5 victory over Jake Saatzer.
But the Auggies closed out the dual by winning a pair of close matches. Augsburg's Tony Valek, ranked No. 4 at 149 pounds, gained a reversal with 4 seconds left in the match to squeak past the Vikings'
Nate Herda 6-4. Herda had tied the score 4-4 with a takedown with 25 seconds on the clock.
Augsburg's other top-ranked wrestler, Jason Adams, then edged Augustana's
Marcus Edgington 4-3 in the 157-pound match. Edgington started the third period in the down position and got a quick escape. However, he could not get the takedown necessary to take the lead.
Augustana is now off until December 2 when the Vikings take on the University of Sioux Falls in a 7 p.m. dual at the Stewart Center.
No. 2 (Div. III) Augsburg (Minn., 1-0) 21, No. 19 (Div. II) Augustana (S.D., 0-1) 12
165 -- No. 8
Gavin Nelson (Augustana, 7-0) dec. No. 7 Orlando Ponce (Augsburg, 3-3) 7-6 (Augustana 3-0)
174 – No. 3 Zach Molitor (Augsburg, 5-1) dec.
Carl Serck (Augustana, 6-4) 7-2 (TIED 3-3)
184 – Caleb Lines (Augsburg, 4-2) dec.
Luke Heine (Augustana, 3-3 5-3 (SV1-OT) (Augsburg 6-3)
197 – No. 1 Jared Massey (Augsburg, 6-0) dec. No. 4
Ty Copsey (Augustana, 4-2) 6-2 (Augsburg 9-3)
HWT – No. 4 Andy Witzel (Augsburg, 4-0) dec.
Lance Peters (Augustana, 7-4) 5-3 (Augsburg 12-3)
125 – Josh Roberts (Augsburg, 5-1) dec.
Al Meger (Augustana, 6-5) 6-2 (Augsburg 15-3)
133 --
Cody Lensing (Augustana, 5-1) pinned Paul Bjorkstrand (Augsburg, 3-3) 2:49 (Augsburg 15-9)
141 – No. 3
Jay Sherer (Augustana, 11-2) dec. Jake Saatzer (Augsburg, 3-3) 12-5 (Augsburg 15-12)
149 – No. 4 (141) Tony Valek (Augsburg, 6-0) dec.
Nate Herda (Augustana, 6-5) 6-4 (Augsburg 18-12)
157 -- No. 1 Jason Adams (Augsburg, 6-0) dec.
Marcus Edgington (Augustana, 9-3) 4-3 (Augsburg 21-12)
