Thanks to a major decision win and two victories over ranked wrestlers, MSU Moorhead held a 13-11 lead after six bouts. But Augsburg won the last four matches -- two by major decision -- to claim the victory and improve to 3-0 in dual meets this season. MSU Moorhead, ranked No. 14 in the latest NCAA Division II national poll, is now 4-1 on the season.
Augsburg, the defending NCAA Division III national champions and winners of 10 of the last 17 national titles, is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division III national poll (National Wrestling Coaches Association) national poll. Augsburg is now 11-0 in the all-time series with the Dragons, dating to the 1991-92 season. Against teams from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 221-17 since the 1989-90 season, losing just 12 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season.
Beau Hansen (FY, Albert Lea, Minn.) gave the Auggies the lead for good at 157 pounds with a 9-1, major-decision victory. Brandon Klukow (JR, Albert Lea, Minn.) and Matt Curtis (SO, Coon Rapids, Minn.) followed with decision victories at 165 and 174, respectively, and George Lynaugh (SR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) moved up to 184 for the first time this season and closed the match with an 18-6 win, converting eight takedowns and taking advantage of 3:18 of riding time.
Augsburg's Travis Lang (JR, Bismarck, N.D.), ranked No. 6 nationally at 133, claimed a 12-2, major-decision victory, improving to 16-1 on the season. Lucas Murray (FY, Anoka, Minn.) followed with a 17-6, major-decision win at 141. Andy Witzel (SO, Fulda, Minn.) also claimed a win for the Auggies, with a 3-1 triumph over MSUM's Jon Swart (FY, Fargo, Minn./North HS) at heavyweight.
The Dragons' Joe Werner (JR, Richville, Minn./Perham HS) scored the biggest upset of the evening, claiming an 11-second pin of Augsburg's Seth Flodeen (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn.), the top-ranked wrestler in Division III at 125 and defending national runner-up.
In the lone meeting of ranked wrestlers, MSUM's Shane Walton (SR, Pine River, Minn./Pine River-Backus HS), ranked No. 6 in Division II at 149, claimed an 18-15 victory over Augsburg's Willy Holst (SO, Prescott, Wis.), ranked No. 2 in Division III. Walton is now 9-4 on the season, while Holst suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 14-1. A third-period takedown and two-point near-fall enabled Walton to overcome a 1:25 riding-time advantage for Holst.
Matt Nelson (JR, Burnsville, Minn.), ranked No. 7 at 197, opened the match for the Dragons with a 12-1, major-decision win.
Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (1/5) at 9 a.m. at the Dickinson State (N.D.) Blue Hawk Classic. MSU Moorhead returns to action on Wednesday (1/9) at 7 p.m. with a home dual meet against the University of Mary (N.D.).
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