EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Augsburg College wrestling team claimed three individual titles and 14 placewinners in competition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Don Parker Open on Saturday.
Sam Bennyhoff (SO, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) earned his first tournament championship of the season, sprinting through the meet with two technical falls and a major decision en route to the 133-pound title. He outscored his four opponents by a 54-7 margin on Saturday, including a 7-3 win over Hazen Rice of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the finals. Bennyhoff is now 25-7 on the season, including 15 bonus-point wins (eight major decisions, five technical falls, two pins).
No. 7-ranked 141-pounder David Flynn (FY, Jordan, Minn./Scott West) scored his second tournament win as an Auggie, improving to 27-7 on the season (18-4 at Augsburg) with four victories, including a pin and a 16-2, major-decision win in the championship match over Zach Scott of Rochester Community and Technical College. Of his 27 wins, 16 are bonus-point triumphs (three major decisions, two technical falls, 11 pins).
Ryan Epps (FY, Cannon Falls, Minn.), ranked No. 9 nationally at 149 pounds, scored his fourth tournament win of the season with his weight-class title, going 4-0 with a technical-fall victory over teammate Alex Wilson (SO, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) in the finals. Epps outscored his opponents by a 36-9 margin en route to the title, including a 7-6 win over Jake Barzowski of St. Cloud State in the semifinals. Wilson had two major decisions and a 4-2 win over Coltan Langaniere of Rochester Community and Technical College, the No. 4-ranked 149-pounder in the NJCAA national poll, improving to 32-8 on the season.
No. 3-ranked heavyweight Donny Longendyke (SR, Vadnais Heights, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) surpassed the 100-win plateau in his three seasons at Augsburg, finishing second in his weight class with a 4-1 day. He opened with two pins and reached the finals with two major-decision wins, but dropped a 4-0 decision to Rylee Streifel of Division I Minnesota in the finals. Longendyke is now 20-3 on the season, with 13 pins and two major decisions. A transfer following his first year at Division I Nebraska, Longendyke is now 144-29 in his college career with 82 pins, and now 103-8 in his Augsburg career with 59 pins.
Lucas Jeske (FY, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) finished third at 165 pounds, going 5-1 with a pin and major decision to improve to 16-6 on the season. Tone Fuenffinger (JR, Hibbing, Minn.) placed third at 157 pounds, going 4-1 with a pin and major decision, improving to 22-10.
Placing fourth for the Auggies were Victor Gliva (FY, Farmington, Minn.) at 125, Tanner Vassar (FY, Maple Lake, Minn.) at 157, Austin Boniface (SR, Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake HS) at 174 and Sebastian Larson (JR, River Falls, Wis.) at 197.
James Goman (SR, Lakeville, Minn./Trinity-River Ridge HS) placed sixth at 141, as did Bryce Zdanovec (JR, Little Chute, Wis.) at 157. Mike Hayes (SO, Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) earned consolation honors at 141.
UP NEXT: Augsburg returns to varsity action on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., closing the regular season with a dual-meet at Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
AUGSBURG RESULTS BY WEIGHT CLASS
- 125: Victor Gliva 1-1, 4th place.
- 133: Sam Bennyhoff 4-0, 1st place; Monty Frederiksen 1-2.
- 141: David Flynn 4-0, 1st place; James Goman 2-2, 6th place; Mike Hayes 2-1, consolation titlist.
- 149: Ryan Epps 4-0, 1st place; Alex Wilson 3-1, 2nd place
- 157: Tone Fuenffinger 4-1, 3rd place; Tanner Vassar 3-2, 4th place; Bryce Zdanovec 3-3, 6th place; Boone Young 1-1; Josh Verbeten 1-2; Kayde Bartels 0-2.
- 165: Lucas Jeske 5-1, 3rd place; Brady McFarland 3-2; Cameron Schmitz 0-2.
- 174: Austin Boniface 4-2, 4th place; Jackson Graham 2-2.
- 184: Jonny Zarnke 1-2.
- 197: Sebastian Larson 3-2, 4th place; Logan Hortop 1-2; Brent Chambers 0-2.
- HWT: Donny Longendyke 4-1, 2nd place; Ethan Hofacker 2-2.