Play-by-Play (PDF)
The Augustana wrestling team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action with an impressive 36-6 victory over Southwest Minnesota State Friday night at the Elmen Center.
The eighth-ranked Vikings improved to 5-4 on the season and 1-0 in the NSIC while the Mustangs slipped to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC.
Augustana won all 9 contested matches. The Vikings were open at 285 pounds.
Nick Henning and
Al Meger both recorded impressive wins to stake Augustana to a 10-6 lead that the Vikings would not relinquish. The dual started at 197 pounds. Henning, who is ranked sixth in the nation at 184 pounds, moved up a weight class to fill in for
Ty Copsey. Henning answered the challenge by recording a 16-6 major decision over Alex Huls.
Meger followed with a dominating effort against SMSU's Jordan Bartozek in the 125-pound bout. Meger built a 9-0 lead midway through the second period before pinning Bartozek in 3:56.
Laramie Shaffer and
Jay Sherer followed with 3-2 wins at 133 and 141 pounds, setting the stage for
Nate Herda at 149 pounds. Herda scored a takedown 13 seconds into overtime to claim a 3-1 sudden victory over SMSU's Demond Carter and increase the Viking lead to 19-6.
Marcus Edgington picked up the Vikings' other pin of the night as he stuck Chris Hale at the 2:58 mark. The pin boosted the Augustana advantage to 25-6.
Gavin Nelson and
Carl Serck each recorded major decision victories in their matches. Nelson improved to 9-0 on the season with a 14-6 win over Trent Molacek at 165 pounds, while Serck outmuscled Micah Larson 15-4 at 174 pounds.
Luke Heine, filling in for Henning at 184 pounds, capped the night with a 3-1 win over C.D. Johnson. The score was tied 1-1 until Heine got a takedown with 23 seconds left in regulation to pull out the win.
Augustana returns to the mat next Friday, January 22, at No. 9 St. Cloud State. That dual begins at 7 p.m.
#8 Augustana 36, Southwest Minnesota State 6
125: Al Meger (Augie) pinned Jordan Bartoszek (SMSU), 3:56
133: Laramie Shaffer (Augie) dec. AJ Jennings (SMSU), 3-2
141: #2
Jay Sherer (Augie) dec. Brandan Schunk (SMSU), 3-2
149: Nate Herda (Augie) dec. Demond Carter (SMSU), 3 -1 (SV1)
157: #7
Marcus Edgington (Augie) pinned Chris Hale (SMSU), 2:58
165: Gavin Nelson (Augie) major dec. Trent Molacek (SMSU), 14-6
174: Carl Serck (Augie) major dec. Micah Larson (SMSU), 15-4
184: Luke Heine (Augie) dec. CD Johnson (SMSU), 3-1
197: #6
Nick Henning (Augie) major dec. Alex Huls (SMSU), 16-6
285: Brian Rodas (SMSU) wins by forfeit
