Augsburg improves to 11-1, topple Blugolds 34-3
MINNEAPOLIS — The top-ranked Augsburg University wrestling team claimed wins in nine of 10 bouts in a 34-3 triumph over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.
Augsburg, the top-ranked team in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings, won the first nine bouts to take a 34-0 lead into the heavyweight battle. The Auggies claimed four of its first five wins by bonus-point margins, with a forfeit, technical fall and two major decisions.
No. 5-ranked 133-pounder Sam Bennyhoff (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) dominated from start to finish in an 18-2 technical fall win over Cody Vogel. He built an 8-0 lead after two periods with two takedowns and a two-point near-fall, then collected three takedowns and a four-point near-fall in the third period to close the match 45 seconds early. Bennyhoff is now 23-2 on the season with 17 bonus-point wins (eight pins, five technical falls, four major decisions).
Ryan Epps (SO, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS), the No. 4-ranked 157-pounder nationally, improved to 23-1 on the season with his second win by major decision of the season, a 14-3 win over Hunter DeLeon. Epps dominated throughout, with 3:30 of riding time, to go with four takedowns and a four-point near-fall.
Top-ranked 165-pounder Lucas Jeske (SO, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) remained unbeaten at 22-0 with an 11-6 win over Seth Vosters. Jeske built a 9-2 lead on the strength of four takedowns in the first two periods, then held off a reversal and takedown by Vosters in the third period to hang on for the victory. Jeske has been ranked No. 1 nationally at 165 all season long.
David Flynn (SO, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) improved to 11-3 on the year with an 8-3 win over Jordan Meyer, who had entered the match at 22-1 on the season. Trailing 1-0 after two tightly contested periods, Flynn pulled ahead with a reversal seven seconds into the final frame, then after a Meyer escape, Flynn used two takedowns and a two-point near-fall to pull away for the win.
No. 7-ranked 174-pounder Lance Benick (FY, Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) also rallied from a second-period deficit to edge Ramsey Bloy, who had entered the match at 21-1 on the year, by a 5-3 decision. Benick, now 3-1 after joining the team at the semester break, trailed 1-0 early in the second period, but claimed two takedowns, including one with 38 seconds left in the third period, and an escape to preserve the victory.
Tanner Vassar (SO, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS), ranked No. 6 at 174, used 1:42 of riding time to claim the extra point and a 3-2 win over Tyler Vogt. Vassar rode out Vogt for the entire second period, and used two escapes to improve to 23-5 on the year.
Jonny Zarnke (SO, Chaska, Minn./Chaska HS) moved down a weight class to 184 and claimed a 6-4 win over Evan Lawrence. He scored a takedown and two-point near-fall in the closing minute of the first period, then scored a second-period takedown to build a 6-1 lead, holding on for the win.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Augsburg is now 8-0 in the all-time series with UW-Eau Claire.
- Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 325-50-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 46 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season
- Against strictly NCAA Division III opponents, Augsburg is now 315-49-1 since the 1979-80 season. Since the 1989-90 season, Augsburg is 240-39-1 against Division III opponents.
FOR THE FOES
UW-Eau Claire’s lone win came at heavyweight, as Tyler Burt claimed a 5-2 win over Ethan Hofacker (SO, Spring Valley, Wis./Spring Valley HS). Tied 2-2 in the final seconds, Burt claimed a penalty point on a technical violation, then scored a takedown with five seconds left to clinch the win.
WHITE TEAM COMPETES AT WORTHINGTON OPEN
Augsburg’s White Team (junior varsity) competed at the Minnesota West Community and Technical College-Worthington Open on Saturday. Click here for Augsburg results.
UP NEXT
Augsburg competes at the Saint John’s University North Country Open next Saturday (1/27) at 9 a.m. in Collegeville, Minn.
Sunday, January 21, 2018 — Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
Time of match 1:44.
Attendance: 300.
Official: Kurt Nathe.
Action begins at 125 pounds.
No. 1 Augsburg (11-1) 34, Wisconsin-Eau Claire (10-5) 3
125 — No. 10 Victor Gliva (AUG, 20-3) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 6-0).
133 — No. 5 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 23-2) tech. fall Cody Vogel (UWEC, 3-5) 18-2 at 6:15 (Augsburg 11-0).
141 — No. 7 David Flynn (AUG, 11-3) dec. Jordan Meyer (UWEC, 22-3) 8-2 (Augsburg 14-0).
149 — No. 5 Alex Wilson (AUG, 21-3) maj. dec. Carter Focht (UWEC, 18-9) 18-6 (Augsburg 18-0).
157 — No. 4 Ryan Epps (AUG, 23-1) maj. dec. Hunter DeLeon (UWEC, 10-10) 14-3 (Augsburg 22-0).
165 — No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 22-0) dec. Seth Fosters (UWEC, 10-6) 11-6 (Augsburg 25-0).
174 — No. 6 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 23-5) dec. Tyler Vogt (UWEC, 15-11) 3-2 (Augsburg 28-0).
184 — Jonny Zarnke (AUG, 12-15) dec. Evan Lawrence (UWEC, 25-13) 6-4 (Augsburg 31-0).
197 — No. 7 Lance Benick (UWEC, 3-1) dec. Ramsey Bloy (UWEC, 21-2) 5-3 (Augsburg 34-0)
HWT — Tyler Burt (UWEC, 14-8) dec. Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 7-16) 5-2 (Augsburg 34-3).