Augsburg (2-0 overall), the No. 2-ranked team in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, claimed two pins, a technical fall and two major-decision wins to score the win over the Division II Dragons (2-1 overall).
Augsburg claimed back-to-back pins midway through the match, both in dramatic fashion. Kirk Anderson (SO, Comstock, Minn./Barnesville HS), the No. 6-ranked wrestler nationally at 133 pounds, pulled off a strong throw from the neutral position at the edge of the mat 16 seconds into the third period, scoring a 5:16 pin over Shane Novak (FY, New York Mills, Minn. Anderson is now 5-1 on the season with two pins.
In the next match at 141, Marcus Hamer (FY, Kimball, Minn.) rallied from a 7-4, second-period deficit with another dramatic throw, fighting off a single-leg attack with a spin move to score the pin at the 4:56 mark of the bout over Isaac Novaeck (FY, Greenbush, Minn./Greenbush-Middle River HS). Hamer is now 9-1 on the season with five pins.
Two-time defending national champion heavyweight Chad Johnson (SR, Ferryville, Wis./DeSoto HS) improved to 8-0 on the season and 113-13 on his career with a 15-0, second-period technical-fall victory over Gerad Fugleberg (JR, Fargo, N.D./Fargo South HS). The top-ranked heavyweight in Division III, Johnson scored two takedowns, an escape, two 2-point near-falls and two 3-point near-falls to score the third technical-fall victory of his career. Of his 113 career wins, 67 (59.3 percent) are bonus-point victories (39 pins, three technical falls, 26 major decisions).
Matt Hechsel (JR, Apple Valley, Minn.), the No. 3-ranked wrestler at 197 pounds, scored a 10-0, major-decision win over Tyler Schlosser (FY, Parkers Prairie, Minn.), building 4:55 of riding time to dominate the bout, improving to 9-0 on the season with his fifth bonus-point victory (four pins, one major decision).
Justin Bowland (SR, Foley, Minn.) improved to 7-3 with his fourth major-decision victory of the season, a 12-3 triumph over Shawn Porter (JR, Elk Grove, Calif.) at 165. Bowland scored five takedowns and had 2:45 riding time to claim the victory.
Mike Fuenffinger (JR, Hibbing, Minn.), the No. 2-ranked wrestler nationally at 125, improved to 6-0 on the season with an 8-5 win over Blake Bosch (FY, Wishek, N.D./South Border HS). He's now 49-17 in his Auggie career.
Will Keeter (JR, Twin Falls, Idaho), ranked No. 5 nationally at 157, fought off a strong challenge from Daniel Murakami (FY, Anchorage, Alaska/Service HS) in a match that went to sudden-victory overtime tied 1-1. Eighteen seconds into the extra session, Keeter scored a takedown to win the bout 3-1, improving to 8-2 on the season.
Rashad Kennedy (JR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) improved to 7-3 on the season with a 12-5 win over Garrett Hoffner (FY, Mahnomen, Minn.) at 149. Kennedy built a 5-1 lead after two periods and claimed 2:25 of riding time in the bout.
MSU Moorhead scored wins in the opening and closing bouts of the match. Matthew Lewellen (SR, Poway, Calif.) improved to 18-7 on the season at 184 with a 10-5 win over Augsburg's Miles Hammerlund (FY, Delano, Minn.). In the final bout of the evening, Michael Joseph (JR, San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS), the No. 6-ranked wrestler in Division II at 174, claimed a second-period, injury-default victory over Tommy Teigen (JR, Ham Lake, Minn./Meadow Creek Christian HS).
Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (12/14) at 9 a.m., as the varsity travels to the St. Cloud State Husky Open, and the White Team (junior varsity) travels to the Wartburg (Iowa) Dick Walker Invitational.
No. 2 (NCAA Div. III) Augsburg (2-0) 34,
(NCAA Div. II) Minnesota State Moorhead (2-1) 9
Results:
184 – Matthew Lewellen (MSUM, 18-7) dec. Miles Hammerlund (AUG, 3-5) 10-5 (MSU Moorhead 3-0)
197 – Mo. 3 Matt Hechsel (AUG, 9-0) maj. dec. Tyler Schlosser (MSUM, 9-7) 10-0 (Augsburg 4-3)
HWT – No. 1 Chad Johnson (AUG, 8-0) tech. fall Gerad Fugleberg (MSUM, 2-1) 15-0 at 4:46 (Augsburg 9-3)
125 – No. 2 Mike Fuenffinger (AUG, 6-0) dec. Blake Bosch (MSUM, 9-5) 8-5 (Augsburg 12-3)
133 – No. 6 Kirk Anderson (AUG, 5-1) pinned Shane Novak (MSUM, 9-8) 5:16 (Augsburg 18-3)
141 – Marcus Hamer (AUG, 9-1) pinned Isaac Novacek (MSUM, 3-4) 4:56 (Augsburg 24-3)
149 – Rashad Kennedy (AUG, 7-3) dec. Garrett Hoffner (MSUM, 8-3) 12-5 (Augsburg 27-3)
157 – No. 5 Will Keeter (AUG, 8-2) dec. Daniel Murakami (MSUM, 4-10) 3-1 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 30-3)
165 – Justin Bowland (AUG, 7-3) maj. dec. Shawn Porter (MSUM, 1-8) 12-3 (Augsburg 34-3)
174 – No. 6 Michael Joseph (MSUM, 19-8) inj. default over Tommy Teigen (AUG, 7-3) (Augsburg 34-9)
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