EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Josh Kohler (SR, Monticello, Minn.) and Chad Johnson (JR, Ferryville, Wis./De Soto HS) won individual championships for the Augsburg College wrestling team, as the Auggies competed at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Open on Saturday.
Kohler were two of 10 placewinners for Augsburg at Saturday’s tournament. No team results were kept in the open event.
Johnson, the defending NCAA Division III national champion and current No. 1-ranked heavyweight in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, improved to 28-1 on the season with four victories to win the title in his weight class. Johnson claimed two pins in his first two matches, a 20-5 technical-fall win in the semifinals over Division II wrestler Logan Hopp of Upper Iowa, and a 9-3 victory over Cole Tobin of Division I Wisconsin in the championship match.
Of Johnson’s 28 wins this season, 21 are bonus-point victories (13 pins, seven major decisions, one technical fall). Johnson is now 96-13 in his three seasons at Augsburg.
Kohler improved to 24-10 with his four victories on the day to claim the title at 174 pounds. He opened the meet with a 17-1 technical-fall win and 11-0 major-decision victory, while scoring a 3-1 win over Richard Carlson of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the finals.
Four Auggies placed second in their weight classes. Rashad Kennedy (SO, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) improved to 17-14 on the year with a 3-1 run at 149 pounds, while #Tossaporn “Boyd” Suparat# (SR, North Branch, Minn.) improved to 23-11 on the year with a 2-1 finish at 133. Justin Bowland (JR, Foley, Minn.) went 2-1 to finish second at 165 pounds, and Matt Hechsel (SO, Apple Valley, Minn.) went 2-1 to finish second at 197, improving to 26-9 on the season.
Roarke Langer (FY, Ellsworth, Wis.) finished third at 133 with a 2-1 finish, while Tom Kuehn (SO, Fargo, N.D./West Fargo HS) finished fifth at 141, Blong Kong (FY, St. Paul, Minn./Johnson HS) finished sixth at 125 and Michael Keilen (FY, Stoddard, Wis./La Crosse Central HS) finished sixth at 157.
Augsburg, ranked No. 22 in the latest NWCA Division III national poll, hosts No. 5-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse in a dual meet on Thursday (2/14) at 7 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.