Augsburg dominates in 54-0 win at Saint John’s
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Collecting bonus-point wins in five of its six bouts wrestled on Friday night, the No. 2-ranked Augsburg University wrestling team cruised to a 54-0 win over Saint John’s University in a dual meet at Sexton Arena.
Augsburg, ranked No. 2 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national poll, won all six of its bouts wrestled on Friday, and also won four weight classes by forfeit. The Auggies claimed three pins, a technical fall and a major decision among its six bout wins.
No. 2-ranked 141-pounder David Flynn (SO, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) improved to 14-3 on the season with his second technical-fall win of the season, a 15-0 triumph over Anthony Hennen. Of his 14 wins, eight are by bonus-point margins (four pins, two technical falls, two major decisions).
Sam Bennyhoff (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS), ranked No. 4 nationally at 133 pounds, improved to 27-5 with a 13-1 major decision over Andrew Smith. Of his 27 wins, 21 are bonus-point triumphs (eight pins, five technical falls, eight major decisions). He is now 85-21 in his Auggie career.
Ryan Epps (SO, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS), who moved into the No. 1 spot in the NWCA rankings at 157 this week, improved to 33-1 on the year with his 17th straight victory, a 6-1 win over Jerod Novak. He is now 67-8 in his two Auggie seasons.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 326-51-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 47 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season
Against strictly NCAA Division III opponents, Augsburg is now 316-50-1 since the 1979-80 season. Since the 1989-90 season, Augsburg is 241-40-1 against Division III opponents.
Against fellow Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools, Augsburg is now 209-7 since the 1975-76 season.
Since the 1979-80 season, Augsburg is 33-4 in dual meets against Saint John’s, winning the last five matches in a row.
UP NEXT
Augsburg’s White Team (junior varsity) competes at the Winona State Open on Saturday (2/17) at 9 a.m. Augsburg’s varsity closes out its regular season with a dual against Wisconsin-Stevens Point next Friday (2/16) at 7 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.
The Johnnies compete at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24, at Augsburg’s Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis. The top three placewinners at each weight advance to the NCAA Division III Championships March 9-10 in Cleveland, Ohio.
No. 2 Augsburg (12-2) 54, Saint John’s (1-4) 0
125 — No. 10 Victor Gliva (AUG, 25-4) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 6-0)
133 — No. 4 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 27-5) maj. dec. Andrew Smith (SJU, 14-12) 13-1 (Augsburg 10-0)
141 — No. 2 David Flynn (AUG, 14-3) tech. fall Anthony Hennen (SJU, 11-16) 15-0 (Augsburg 15-0)
149 — No. 3 Alex Wilson (AUG, 27-4) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 21-0)
157 — No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 33-1) dec. Jerod Novak (SJU, 15-11) 6-1 (Augsburg 24-0)
165 — No. 2 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 29-1) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 30-0)
174 — Tanner Vassar (AUG, 27-7) pinned Dan Gainer (SJU, 5-18) 1:22 (Augsburg 36-0)
184 — No. 8 Sebastian Larson (AUG, 23-7) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 42-0)
197 — No. 9 Lance Benick (AUG, 7-3) pinned Dominic Skawiniak (SJU, 5-20) 1:38 (Augsburg 48-0)
HWT — Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 8-21) pinned Quincy Spiering (SJU, 8-6) 2:55 (Augsburg 54-0)