SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana College wrestling battled against No. 1 St. Cloud State for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title, but the Huskies broke through and snapped the Vikings' 11-dual win streak with a 19-12 win in front of 1,526 fans at the Elmen Center on Friday night.

Augustana suffers their first NSIC loss to close our regular season, falling to 18-5 overall, 7-1 in the NSIC. The Huskies improved to 17-2, 8-0 in NSIC competition.

Needing to get off to a quick start, No. 1 TJ North did just that. A well-executed 5-1 decision gave the Vikings a 3-0 lead after the 125 pound bout. No. 5 Mike Rhone of St. Cloud State tied the dual at 3-3 after a 12-5 decision at the 133 pound dual.  

Jeremiah Peterson and No. 4 Josh Howk battled at the 141 pound match. Peterson recorded an early takedown in the first period, but an escape from Howk pushed the score to 2-1 after the first period, in favor of Peterson. A late takedown in the third period gave Peterson the victory of 6-2 over Howk.

The Huskies' Larry Bomstad took control of the 149 pound dual, with a 7-1 decision over Jacob Anderson to tie the match at six apiece.

With the task at hand, Shawn Hatlestad battled against No. 1 Clint Poster. Both wrestlers were all tied up at 2-2 after the second period, but Hatlestad had a takedown with 18 seconds remaining to lead 4-3. Poster retaliated delivering a reversal with 10 seconds remaining to take the 157 pound match by a 5-4 decision.

St. Cloud State took the next two bouts, starting with No. 2 Gabe Fogarty winning by a 7-3 decision at 165 pounds, followed by Clayton Jennissen with a 5-3 decision at the 174 pound bout. The Huskies jumped ahead 15-6 over the Vikings.

Aero Amo turned in an impressive performance at 184 pounds, earning an 8-3 decision. Jayd Docken recorded an early takedown and a late reversal in the third period against VJ Giulio to win 5-2. Augustana trailed St. Cloud State 15-12 to head into the final bout.

Still within striking distance, the Vikings sent out Michael Lowman to take on No. 3 Austin Goergen in the 285 pound bout. Goergen secured a 12-1 major decision over Lowman to give the Huskies a 19-12 win and secure their fourth consecutive NSIC title.

The Vikings will now head to Mankato, Minn. for the NCAA Super Region 3 Championships on Feb. 28 and March 1. The top five wrestlers in each weight class will receive bids to the NCAA Championships on March 13 and 14 in St. Louis, Mo.

Match Scores:
125: #1 TJ North won by decision (5-1) over Tim Prescott; AC 3, SCSU 0
133: #5 Mike Rhone won by decision (12-5) over Morgan Engbrecht; AC 3, SCSU
141: Jeremiah Peterson won by decision (6-2) over #4 Josh Howk; AC 6, SCSU 3
149: Larry Bomstad won by decision (7-1) over Jacob Anderson; AC 6, SCSU 6
157: #1 Clint Poster won by decision (5-4) over Shawn Hatlestad; AC 6, SCSU 9
165: #2 Gabe Fogarty won by decision (7-3) over Parker Swanson; AC 6, SCSU 12
174: Clayton Jennissen won by decision (5-3) over Tim Weber; AC 6, SCSU 15
184: Aero Amo won by decision (8-3) over Dylon Braun; AC 9, SCSU 15
197: #5 Jayd Docken won by decision (5-2) over VJ Giulio; AC 12, SCSU 15
285: #3 Austin Goergen won by major decision (12-1) over Michael Lowman; AC 12, SCSU 19