SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana wrestling team dominated the team up the road, defeating Sioux Falls 44-6 on Saturday night at a packed Elmen Center. The Vikings won nine matches, including eight bonus point victories.

Cole Welte opened the dual with a quick tech fall, collecting a takedown and 12 nearfall points to clean up a first-period victory. After AU dropped a pin at 133 pounds, Luke Koenen tallied three takedowns, an escape and a riding point to capture a major decision and give the Vikings a 9-6 lead. 

At 149 pounds, Nolan Ambrose got to work early and often. He earned a pair of takedowns in the first and reversal in the second to lead 8-1. In the third, Ambrose recorded two takedowns, three nearfall points, a reversal, a stall point and a riding point to finish up a tech fall as time expired, growing the lead to 14-6. 

Cael Larson scrapped to victory at 157 pounds to extend the lead. He picked up a takedown in each of the first two periods and held on after a comeback attempt in the third, winning 7-5 and growing the lead to 17-6. 

After the intermission, Payton Handevidt got in on the action with three takedowns, an escape and a riding point to finish off a major decision and extend the lead to 21-3. Coy Gunderson kept it rolling with a first period pin and Charlie Petit added a second period pin to put the match out of reach. 

In the final two matches of the night, Sam McEnelly earned a win via injury default and Jaret Peterson recorded a tech fall. In Peterson's match, he led 3-0 with a first period takedown and then earned two stall points to take a 5-0 lead. He went to work in the third, recording three takedowns, an escape, two stall points, four nearfall points and a riding point to finish the 22-2 tech fall. 

The Vikings hit the road next weekend, taking on St. Cloud State at 1 p.m., on Jan. 31. 

Full Results
125 - Cole Welte (AUG) over Gabino Vargas (USF) (TF 15-0 2:36)
133 - Bray Skinner (USF) over Brandon Board (AUG) (Fall 2:43) 
141 - Luke Koenen (AUG) over Jordon Oehme (USF) (MD 11-3)
149 - Nolan Ambrose (AUG) over Westin Sherlock (USF) (TF 21-6 7:00)
157 - Cael Larson (AUG) over Cooper Sanders (USF) (Dec 7-5)
165 - Payton Handevidt (AUG) over Lane Fink (USF) (MD 11-2)
174 - Coy Gunderson (AUG) over Ashtin Johnson (USF) (Fall 1:44)
184 - Charlie Petit (AUG) over Mishael Mauck (USF) (Fall 3:45)
197 - Sam McEnelly (AUG) over Hank Meyer (USF) (Inj. 3:00)
285 - Jaret Peterson (AUG) over Andreas Barnett (USF) (TF 22-2 7:00)
Exhibition: Max Balow (AUG) over Jesse Garcia (USF) (Fall 4:38)