CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Augustana wrestling team won a pair of matches and lost a narrow dual against the No. 1 team in the country to open a strong first day at the NWCA National Duals. 

#13 Augustana 35, #25 King 3
Christian Olsen opened in dominant fashion, recording a takedown and 12 nearfall points to close out tech fall in less than 1:30 of action to give the Vikings a 5-0 lead. After a loss at 133 pounds, Luke Koenen got the Vikings back on the winning path with five takedowns and a riding point for a 16-6 major decision, pushing the Vikings ahead 9-3. 

At 149 pounds, Nolan Ambrose racked up his seventh consecutive win to keep the scoring going. After falling behind early with a takedown, Ambrose earned a reversal to get within a point. After taking the lead with an escape and takedown in the second period, Ambrose closed out a decision with a takedown and riding point to push the Vikings ahead 12-3. 

Cael Larson earned one of his most dominant victories of the season at 157, tallying three takedowns, a bonus point and a riding point to close out an 11-2 major decision. Payton Handevidt followed with a major decision of his own after three takedowns, four nearfall points, an escape and a riding point closed a 15-1 win. 

Coy Gunderson saw a 1-0 lead into the third period at 174 pounds before a takedown, three nearfall points and riding point separated him and gave him a decision to increase the Viking lead to 23-3. Charlie Petit followed with four takedowns, four nearfall points and an escape to take a 17-2 tech fall in 4:01 of action. 

Max Ramberg earned a shutout while tallying three takedowns, a stall point, an escape and a riding point to cruise to a 12-0 major decision. In the most dramatic match of the night, Max Balow charged back after trailing 6-4 into the third period with an escape and takedown to close out a decision and finish off the Viking victories. 

#1 Central Oklahoma 19, #13 Augustana 15
After falling behind 9-0, Luke Koenen got the Vikings on the board. Koenen recorded an escape and takedown in the second period in the second period for a 4-1 lead and added a takedown in the third to close out a 7-4 victory. 

Nolan Ambrose followed that up with a defensive masterpiece at 149 pounds. After a scoreless first period, He recorded a second period escape to take a 1-0 lead. That would be enough as he rode out the third period, earning a riding point and closing a decision. 

Payton Handevidt earned the third Viking win of the dual with a comeback win. Trailing 2-1 into the third period, Handevidt got an early escape to tie the match and a takedown with 16 seconds remaining to close out a decision and bring the Vikings within 13-9.

UCO earned decisions at 174 and 184 to increase their lead to 10. Max Ramberg dominated another top 5 opponent at 197, winning by 7-0 decision and Jaret Peterson finished the dual with a decision of his own to close out a 19-15 loss against the No. 1 team in the country.

#13 Augustana 26, #8 McKendree 13
Olsen fell behind early in the first period before tallying a penalty point, escape and takedown to take a 5-3 lead. He would add a pair of takedowns in the second and allow just a point in the third to take a 12-5 decision and open the scoring. 

After McKendree took the lead with a major decision at 133 pounds, Luke Koenen put the Vikings back in front. He had a takedown in both the first and second periods while adding an escape to lead 7-1. He allowed an escape and takedown to narrow his lead but spent the last 1:13 of action on his feet to close out a decision. 

Ambrose dominated his match, earning a tech fall and growing the Viking lead to 11-4. He picked up five takedowns, an escape and a riding point to rack up the 17-2 tech fall. After a pair of McKendree victories brought them within a point, Gunner Mullen racked up four takedowns, four nearfall points, an escape and a riding point to close out a tech fall in his dual debut. 

Charlie Petit racked up a major decision at 184 pounds to put the match near out of reach. After the Bearcats picked up a decision that only brought them within seven points, Jaret Peterson earned a forfeit victory to finish the win. 

The Vikings will wrestle a pair of matches Saturday morning, starting with St. Cloud State at 9 a.m., with the winner advancing to the fifth place match. 

Full Results
#13 Augustana 35, #25 King 3
125 - Christian Olsen (AUG) over Roberto Garcia (King) TF 15-0
133 - Alex Fernandez III (King) over Braiden Kort (AUG) Dec 5-3
141 - Luke Koenen (AUG) over Ashtan Hendricks (King) MD 16-6
149 - #8 Nolan Ambrose (AUG) over Brennan Watkins (King) Dec 10-4
157 - #9 Cael Larson (AUG) over Joe Bertrand (King) MD 11-2    
165 - Payton Handevidt (AUG) over Sayfore Sieh (King) MD15-1
174 - #10 Coy Gunderson (AUG) over #4 Clint Morrisette (King) Dec 8-1
184 - Charlie Petit (AUG) over Caleb Charlton (King) TF 17-2
197 - #2 Max Ramberg (AUG) over David Bertrand (King) MD12-0    
285 - Max Balow (AUG) over Nathan Coley (King) Dec 8-7

#1 Central Oklahoma 19, #13 Augustana 15
125 - El Kirk (UCO) over Christian Olsen (AUG) Dec 5-0
133 - #1 Jason Henschel (UCO) over Braiden Kort (AUG) Fall 5:40    
141 - Luke Koenen (AUG) over #3 Josh Taylor (UCO) Dec 7-4
149 - #8 Nolan Ambrose (AUG) over Bam West (UCO) Dec 2-0
157 - #1 Gabe Johnson (UCO) over #9 Cael Larson (AUG) MD 9-1
165 - Payton Handevidt (AUG) over #14 Bryce Dauphin (UCO) Dec 5-2
174 - #6 Hunter Jump (UCO) over #10 Coy Gunderson (AUG) Dec 5-0
184 - #2 Branson Britten (UCO) over Charlie Petit (AUG) Dec 7-6
197 - #2 Max Ramberg (AUG) over #4 Garrett Wells (UCO) Dec 7-0
285 - Jaret Peterson (AUG) over Ryan Nichols (UCO) Dec 5-2

#13 Augustana 26, #8 McKendree 13
125 - Christian Olsen (AUG) over Colton King (MCK) Dec 12-5
133 - # 4 Thaddeus Long (MCK) over Braiden Kort (AUG) MD 17-4
141 - Luke Koenen (AUG) over Bradley Ruckman (MCK) Dec 8-5
149 - #8 Nolan Ambrose (AUG) over Caleb Lavine (MCK) TF 17-2
157 - James Hoskinson (MCK) over Cash Raymond (AUG) Dec 5-4
165 - #8 Sam Richardson (MCK) over Payton Handevidt (AUG) Dec 6-1
174 - Gunnar Mullen (AUG) over Shamon Handegan (MCK) TF 18-2
184 - Charlie Petit (Aug) over Ridge Schutte (McK) MD 12-3
197 - Casey Olszowka (MCK) over Owen Wasley (Aug) Dec 7-5
285 - Jaret Peterson (Aug) over Unknown (Unattached) Forfeit