The victory is the latest in a stretch of triumphs over higher-division and nationally ranked opponents for the Auggies, now 7-1 in dual meets. Last Friday, the Auggies claimed a 22-18 win at Division I North Dakota State. The Auggies will travel to face Nebraska-Omaha, the top-ranked team in Division II, this Friday (1/23), then will host Wisconsin-La Crosse, the No. 11-ranked team in Division III, on Sunday (1/25). Augsburg will have a rematch with No. 2-ranked Wartburg (Iowa) on Jan. 30; a meet at Minnesota State Moorhead, the No. 19-ranked team in Division II, on Feb. 1; and a meet with Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the No. 8-ranked team in Division III, on Feb. 13.
Augsburg leads the all-time series with Augustana 9-1, in a series that dates to the 1999-2000 season. Augsburg is now 234-20 against Divisions II and III teams since the 1989-90 season, losing just 15 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season.
Augsburg claimed three wins in the first four bouts to build a 9-3 lead in the dual with Augustana (6-3 overall), before the Vikings scored two wins to tie the match at 9-9 after six bouts. But at heavyweight, Augsburg's Andy Witzel (JR, Fulda, Minn.), ranked No. 4 in Division III, claimed a 6-2 lead over Lance Peters (SO, LeRoy, Minn.) to give the Auggies the lead to stay.
At 125, defending Division III national champion Seth Flodeen (SR, Cannon Falls, Minn.), currently ranked No. 5 nationally, claimed two reversals and three 3-point near-falls to score a 16-2, major-decision win over Augustana's Al Meger (SO, Owatonna, Minn.). And at 133, top-ranked Travis Lang (SR, Bismarck, N.D.) remained perfect at 26-0 on the season with his 23rd bonus-point victory, a 17-2, third-period technical-fall win over Sid Bice (FY, Winner, S.D.), taking advantage of three takedowns and three 3-point near-falls. This season, Lang now has 16 pins, three technical falls, three major decisions and a forfeit.
Augsburg's Willy Holst (SR, Prescott, Wis.), the top-ranked wrestler nationally at 149, opened the match with a 7-3 win over Augustana's No. 5-ranked Mike Long (SR, Parkston, S.D.), rallying from an early deficit with two takedowns and 3:06 of riding time. Jason Adams (JR, Coon Rapids, Minn.), ranked No. 5 at 157, improved to 25-3 on the year and gave the Auggies a 6-0 lead with a 4-2 win over Augustana's Carl Serck (FY, Hudson, S.D.). Zach Molitor (SO, Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS), ranked No. 7 at 174, improved to 20-5 on the season with a 6-4 win over Augustana's Marcus Edgington (FY, Sioux City, Iowa).
In the other meeting of ranked wrestlers on the night at 197 pounds, Augustana's No. 5-ranked Ty Copsey (SO, Glenwood, Iowa) claimed a key takedown in the closing seconds of the second period and held off a comeback by Augsburg's No. 2-ranked Jared Massey (JR, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS), handing the Auggie his first loss of the season with a 4-3 decision. Massey is now 14-1 on the campaign.
Augustana also claimed a match-ending upset, as Jay Sherer (SO, Columbus, Neb.) scored a 6-4 win over Augsburg's No. 7-ranked Tony Valek (FY, Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West) at 141. Augustana's other wins came from Gavin Nelson (SO, Missouri Valley, Iowa), 10-6 at 165 over Augsburg's Brandon Bahr (FY, Bemidji, Minn.), and from Nick Henning (SO, Fulda, Minn.) at 184, 8-2 over Augsburg's Garrett Long (JR, Cedar, Minn./St. Francis HS).
Both teams return to action with duals on Friday (1/23) at 7 p.m., with Augsburg traveling to face Nebraska-Omaha, while Augustana hosts Minnesota State Mankato.
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