BROOKINGS, S.D. - The Augustana wrestling team began their 2018-19 campaign with five student-athletes placing at the Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D. on Sunday. 

Senior Clayton Wahlstrom and Sophomore Daniel Bishop were the top finishers for the Vikings, who both placed fourth at 197 pounds and 184 pounds respectively. Wahlstrom dropped his first match but came back to secure three wrestleback wins to take fourth. Bishop also lost his first bout of the day but battled back to finish fourth.

Juniors Bailey Neises (165lbs) and Lukas Poloncic (184lbs) finished fifth. Neises finished the day 2-2 ending on a victory to over South Dakota State's Kenny O'Neil to claim fifth. Poloncic also went 2-2 finishing with a victory over Nebraska's Colton Wolfe.

At 285 pounds, Senior Luke Nohns picked up wins in his first two matches. However, Nohns would drop his last two matches to finish sixth.

Dylan Schuck (157lbs), Ethan Cota (125lbs), and Taylor Jeffries (133lbs) each picked up one win on the day.

On Saturday, Augustana had eight wrestlers compete unattached at the Yellowjacket Open in Rochester, Minn., where three wrestlers placed first. All freshmen, Hunter Burnett took first at 141 pounds, Jacob Tvinnereim won at 157 pounds, and Steven Hajas placed first at 285lbs. 

Other Vikings who placed Saturday included Jack Huffman and Michael Suda who placed third and fourth respectively at 133 pounds and Kolby Kost who placed fifth at 174 pounds.

The Vikings will now compete next Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Dakota Wesleyan Open in Mitchell, S.D. The meet will begin at 9 a.m. and will run all day.