The fourth-ranked Augustana College wrestling team picked up its biggest in of the season, knocking off top-ranked Nebraska-Omaha 20-19 Friday night at the Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha.
The Vikings, who improved to 14-2 on the season, avenged one of its losses in defeating the Mavericks, UNO, the defending Division II national champions, edged the Vikings 20-18 in the finals of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in January.
The Vikings and Mavericks each won five matches.
Aaron Graumann, ranked No. 2 at 125 pounds, got Augustana off to a good start with a 5-3 win over No. 5 Dustin Tovar. Graumann got a takedown with 18 seconds left in regulation to earn the win
Ryan King, ranked No. 1 at 149 pounds, picked up a big victory for the Vikings when he recorded a 10-8 overtime decision over No. 2 Shane Unger. King scored a takedown with 18 seconds left in the 1-minute extra period to make the team score 7-6 in favor of UNO.
Nebraska-Omaha got a decision at 157 pounds and a major decision at 165 pounds to increase its lead to 14-6, before Augustana made its move.
At 174 pounds, fifth-ranked
Dusty Wilking pinned Steve Conlin in 4:08 to make the score 14-12.
Tom Meester, the defending national champion and top-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, then gave the Vikings the lead with a 16-4 major decision over Nate Oviatt.
Tim Boldt, ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds, continued Augustana's momentum with a 14-4 major decision over Ben Strandberg, giving the Vikings a 20-14 advantage.
In the heavyweight match, UNO's two-time national champion Les Sigman recorded a five-point 17-2 technical fall over Augie's
Cris Bietz to account for the final score.
Augustana is now idle until the North Central Regional Tournament February 27 in Marshall, Minn. That meet will also serve as the North Central Conference championships.
(Individual records updated after matches)
125: Aaron Graumann, AC (28-4) dec. Dustin Tovar UNO (19-9) 5-3
133: Dan Hilario UNO (10-6) dec. Justin Bohlke, AC (18-9), 8-3
141: Eli Dominguez UNO (29-7) major dec. Andre Vander Velde AC (17-8), 19-8
149: Ryan King AC (16-1) dec. Shane Unger UNO (33-8), 10-8 (OT)
157: Patrick Allibone UNO (28-7) dec. Austin Scarset AC (21-9), 4-0
165: JD Naig UNO (17-4) major dec. Matt McDougall AC (8-6), 10-1
174: Dusty Wilking AC (5-1) WBF Steve Conlin UNO (24-11), 4:08
184: Tom Meester AC (30-2)major dec. Nate Oviatt UNO (22-15), 16-4
197: Tim Boldt AC (23-4) major dec. Ben Strandberg (14-18) , 14-5
HWT: Les Sigman UNO (45-3) major dec. Cris Bietz AC (21-8), 7:26 (17-2)
