The Augustana wrestling team won its final non-conference dual of the season by defeating Dakota Wesleyan 40-9 Thursday night in Mitchell, S.D.
The Vikings, now 10-4 in duals this year and ranked sixth in the nation in NCAA Division II, won five of the six contested matches and were the beneficiary of winning three of the remaining bouts by forfeit.
Two of Augustana's wins came via pins. At 174 pounds,
Matt Morris pinned Blake Hodne Hodne in 5:22. Then at 285 pounds, Augie's
Lance Peters managed to pin Kyle Henderson in 4:02.
Augustana's
Nate Herda continued his late-season surge. Ranked fifth in the nation at 149 pounds, Herda scored a 21-8 major decision over Danny Hutcheson to bring his season record to 20-6.
Gavin Nelson remained unbeaten on the season when he edged DWU's Tanner LaValliere 6-4 in the 165-pound match. Nelson is now 14-0. At 157 pounds,
Kyle Svendsen picked up a 6-2 decision over the Tigers' Noah Ruml.
In a matchup of two nationally-ranked 141-pounders, Dakota Wesleyan's Jordan Harer, who is ranked seventh in NAIA, scored a 5-1 decision over Augustana's
Jay Sherer, who is ranked seventh in Division II.
Earning wins for the Vikings via forfeits were
Al Meger at 125 pounds,
Casey Mouw at 184 pounds and
Luke Heine at 197 pounds. DWU's 133-pounder, Malik Stewart, also won by forfeit.
Augustana returns to the mat on Sunday when the Vikings travel to Fayette, Iowa, for a showdown against No. 3 Upper Iowa. First place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings will be on the line as the Vikings and Peacocks sit atop the league standings with 5-0 records. The dual begins at 2 p.m.
#6 Augustana 40, Dakota Wesleyan 9
125 pounds: Al Meger (Augie) won by forfeit
133 pounds: Malik Stewart (DWU) won by forfeit
141 pounds: #7 Jordan Harer (DWU) dec. #7
Jay Sherer (Augie), 5-1
149 pounds: #5
Nate Herda (Augie) major dec. Danny Hutcheson (DWU), 21-8
157 pounds: Kyle Svendsen (Augie) dec. Noah Ruml (DWU), 6-2
165 pounds: Gavin Nelson (Augie) dec. Tanner LaValliere (DWU), 6-4
174 pounds: Matt Morris (Augie) pinned Blake Hodne (DWU), 5:22
184 pounds: Casey Mouw (Augie) won by forfeit
197 pounds: Luke Heine (Augie) won by forfeit
285 pounds: Lance Peters (Augie) pinned Kyle Henderson (DWU), 4:02
