Auggies edged in ‘Battle of the Burgs’
WAVERLY, Iowa — Claiming wins in the final four bouts of the dual, the No. 2-ranked Wartburg College wrestling team overcame a 13-6 lead by No. 1-ranked Augsburg University, as the Knights scored a 21-13 win in the annual “Battle of the Burgs” dual meet between the two NCAA Division III wrestling powers on Thursday.
Wartburg had six wins compared to Augsburg’s four in the dual, as the Knights overcame a 13-6 Auggie advantage after six weight classes with wins in the final four bouts, including a pin in the heavyweight bout. The Knights avenged an earlier loss to Augsburg, 21-17 in the finals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals on Jan. 5, as Augsburg took over the top spot in the NWCA Division III national poll, while Wartburg fell to No. 2.
Augsburg’s top-ranked 165-pounder, Lucas Jeske (SO, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) improved to 27-0 on the year with a 13-6 major-decision win over Wartburg’s Max Forsyth, the lone bonus-point win of the match for the Auggies. Jeske, who has been ranked No. 1 at 165 all season long, is now 53-8 in his two seasons as an Auggie. He now has 22 bonus-point wins (14 pins, one technical fall, seven major decisions) this season.
At 141, Augsburg’s No. 3-ranked David Flynn (SO, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) scored a 9-3 win over Wartburg’s Brenden Baker, giving Flynn a 13-3 record on the season.
No. 10-ranked 125-pounder Victor Gliva (SO, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) opened the match with a 6-2 win over Brady Kyner of Wartburg. Gliva is now 24-4 on the year and 56-11 in his first two seasons as an Auggie.
FOR THE FOES
Wartburg won five of the six meetings of ranked wrestlers in the dual. No. 8-ranked 133-pounder Brock Rathburn topped Augsburg’s No. 4-ranked Sam Bennyhoff (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) 9-6, and top-ranked 149-pounder Cross Cannone topped Augsburg’s No. 4-ranked Alex Wilson (JR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) 6-2.
The Knights gained wins in the final four bouts of the dual, as top-ranked 174-pounder Eric DeVos beat Augsburg’s No. 10-ranked Tanner Vassar (SO, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) 11-4, No. 4-ranked Tyler Lutes beat No. 7-ranked Sebastian Larson (SR, River Falls, Wis./River Falls HS) at 184, and No. 2-ranked Kyle Fank edged Augsburg’s No. 7-ranked Lance Benick (FY, Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) at 174. No. 2-ranked Lance Evans ended the dual with a first-period pin at heavyweight.
Wartburg is now 19-16 in the all-time series with Augsburg.
UP NEXT: Augsburg competes at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Don Parker Open on Saturday (2/3) at 10 a.m.
February 1, 2018
Levick Arena, Waverly, Iowa
Attendance: 2,700
No. 2 Wartburg (Iowa, 17-2) 21, No. 1 Augsburg (Minn., 11-2) 13
125 — No. 10 Victor Gliva (AUG, 24-4) dec. Brady Kyner (WAR, 12-6) 6-2 (Augsburg 3-0)
133 — No. 8 Brock Rathbun (WAR, 16-5) dec. No. 4 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 26-5) 9-6 (TIED 3-3)
141 — No. 3 David Flynn (AUG, 13-3) dec. Brenden Baker (WAR, 10-8) 9-3 (Augsburg 6-3)
149 — No. 1 Cross Cannone (WAR, 25-0) dec. No. 4 Alex Wilson (AUG, 22-4) 6-2 (TIED 6-6)
157 — No. 3 Ryan Epps (AUG, 28-1) dec. No. 1 Logan Thomsen (WAR, 24-1) 10-6 (Augsburg 9-6)
165 — No. 1 Lucas Jeske (AUG, 27-0) maj. dec. Max Forsyth (WAR, 19-6) 13-2 (Augsburg 13-6)
174 — No. 1 Eric DeVos (WAR, 9-0) dec. No. 10 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 22-6) 11-4 (Augsburg 13-9)
184 — No. 4 Tyler Lutes (WAR, 19-1) dec. No. 7 Sebastian Larson (AUG, 18-6) 6-3 (Augsburg 13-12)
197 — No. 2 Kyle Fank (WAR, 24-2) dec. No. 7 Lance Benick (AUG, 3-2) 5-4 (Wartburg 15-13)
HWT — No. 2 Lance Evans (WAR, 15-0) pinned Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 7-19) 1:28 (Wartburg 21-13)