SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 7 Augustana wrestling put on quite a show in its first home dual of the season with a 45-0 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Friday night inside the Elmen Center.
 
With the win, AU moves to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC while the Mustangs fall to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in conference action.
 
No. 2 Cael Larson got things started for the home team at 149 pounds, collecting six takedowns—including three in the third period—en route to a 22-7 tech fall over Jacob Messner.
 
Next at 157, #15 Connor Simmonds rattled off two takedowns, a three-point nearfall and two four-point nearfalls to claim the dominant 17-1 tech fall in 2:31 over Cade Lierman.
 
The hot streak continued at 165 with Payton Handevidt, who after going up 11-0 in the first period, scored ten points in the third period for the 23-4 tech fall over Caden Young. Handevidt tallied three four-point nearfalls in his seven minutes of action alongside three takedowns, an escape and a point for riding time.
 
Coy Gunderson added to the domination in stunning fashion. Following a 3-1 first period, Gunderson collected two reversals as Mason Buss logged a takedown and escape to make it 7-5. In the final third period, Gunderson rallied with four takedown and a four-point nearfall to claim the 23-8 tech fall.
 
With No. 3 Cade Mueller facing Adam Sylvester at 184, Mueller went ahead 6-1 after the first period following two takedowns. He would proceed to tally four more takedowns alongside an escape and a penalty point to go ahead 20-4 for the tech fall over Sylvester in 5:20.
 
No. 5 Max Ramberg battled with Kody Marschner in the first period, each logging a takedown before adding in an escape to make it 4-3. Ramberg then held his opponent scoreless in the second and rattled off an escape, takedown and four-point nearfall before collecting two takedowns and another four-point nearfall in the third period for the 22-4 tech fall.
 
Out of the intermission, Max Balow hit the mat at 285 and immediately logged a takedown in the first period. He added in another in the second and another in the third with an escape to lead himself to a 10-1 major decision against Evan Thompson.
 
After a scoreless first period at 133, Christian Olsen and Carlo Arreola locked into battle. Olsen then collected two takedowns and an escape in the second before adding in a takedown in the third period to seal the 10-1 major decision.
 
Braiden Kort took a convincing 6-1 by the end of the second period at 133. Despite giving up a takedown in the third, Kort added an escape, a reversal and a four-point nearfall before gaining a point for ride time en route to a 14-4 major decision over Chase Hanson.
 
In the final match of the night, Connor Whiteley logged three takedowns in the first period to take the 9-6 advantage. The second period was a locked-tight scoreless battle and Whiteley broke the stalemate with a takedown early in the third. Chase Murphy then tallied an escape and a takedown of his own to close in at 12-10 but Whiteley would strike again with an escape and hold off his opponent's last-second charge to take the 13-10 decision.
 
Full Results
*The matches began at 149
149: #2 Cael Larson (AUG) over Jacob Messner (SMSU) (TF 22-7 7:00)
157: #15 Connor Simmonds (AUG) over Cade Lierman (SMSU) (TF 17-1 2:31)
165: Payton Handevidt (AUG) over Caden Young (SMSU) (TF 23-4 7:00)
174: Coy Gunderson (AUG) over Mason Buss (SMSU) (TF 23-8 6:10)
184: #3 Cade Mueller (AUG) over Adam Sylvester (SMSU) (TF 20-4 5:20)
197: #5 Max Ramberg (AUG) over Kody Marschner (SMSU) (TF 22-4 6:36)
285: Max Balow (AUG) over Evan Thompson (SMSU) (MD 10-1)
125: Christian Olsen (AUG) over Carlo Arreola (SMSU) (MD 10-1)
133: Braiden Kort (AUG) over Chase Hanson (SMSU) (MD 14-4)
141: Connor Whiteley (AUG) over Chase Murphy (SMSU) (Dec. 13-10)
 
Extra Matches
133: Adam Polansky (SMSU) over Thurman Christensen (AUG) (Dec. 10-9)
149: Davin Rose (AUG) over Chance Burns (SMSU) (Fall 2:15)
174: Josh Wagener (AUG) over Noah Jensen (SMSU) (TF 19-4 6:42)
 
Up Next
Augustana is set to head to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 10 and 11.