DUBUQUE, Iowa — Winning 15 of 20 bouts, the top-ranked Augsburg University wrestling team scored a pair of dual-meet victories over No. 21-ranked Millikin University and No. 7-ranked Loras College at the Loras Key City Classic on Saturday.
Augsburg, ranked No. 1 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national poll, won eight of 10 bouts in a 31-9 win over No. 21-ranked Millikin (Ill.), then won seven of 10 bouts in a 25-12 win over No. 7-ranked Loras (Iowa).
No. 2-ranked 133-pounder Sam Bennyhoff (SR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) reached a career milestone with his 100th victory, scoring a 12-3, major-decision win against Millikin and a 5-3 decision over Loras. Last year’s national runner-up at 133, Bennyhoff is now 100-22 in his Auggie career and 7-0 with two major decisions and a pin this season.
Top-ranked 165-pounder Ryan Epps (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS), last year’s 157-pound Division III national champion, improved to 13-1 on the season, but it took two overtime decisions to do so. He rallied in the final 30 seconds to tie Millikin’s Bradan Birt, the No. 3-raked 157-pounder nationally, then scored an overtime takedown to win 8-6. He then scored a 3-1 overtime win over Loras’ Eddie Smith. Epps is now 88-9 in his three seasons at Augsburg.
No. 1-ranked 149-pounder Alex Wilson (JR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) scored two victories to improve to 15-0 on the season, with an 11-6 win against Millikin and a 16-0, technical-fall win over Loras. Wilson now has seven technical falls, three pins and two major decisions among his 15 victories, and is 108-31 in his career.
Tanner Vassar (JR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) scored two bonus-point victories at 184 to improve to 5-1 on the season, scoring a first-period pin against Millikin, then claiming a 15-0, technical-fall victory against Loras. Vassar has three pins and a technical fall among his five victories so far this year.
No. 6-ranked 125-pounder Victor Gliva (JR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) improved to 9-2 on the season with two strong victories, a 9-0 major-decision against Millikin and a 10-4 win against Loras. Gliva has four pins and a a major decision among his nine wins, and is now 70-17 in his Auggie career.
Aaron Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) improved to 9-2 on the season with two victories, including a 16-0 technical-fall win against Millikin. Wilson has two pins, a technical fall and three major decisions among his nine wins.
At 141, No. 4-ranked David Flynn (JR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) was taken to overtime in both of his matches, topping Millikin’s Chris Williams 3-1 while dropping a 7-5 decision to No. 6-ranked Kevin Kelly of Loras. Flynn is now 6-1 on the year.
No. 8-ranked 197-pounder Lance Benick (SO, Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) also went 1-1 on the day, as he was edged 5-4 by No. 2-ranked Keajion Jennings of Millikin before scoring a 10-7 win over Guy Patron of Loras.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 330-51-1 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 319-50-1 since the 1979-80 season. Since the 1989-90 season, Augsburg is 244-40-1 against Division III opponents.
UP NEXT
Augsburg takes its annual holiday trip to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the Citrus Invitational on Dec. 29-30.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 31, Millikin (Ill.) 9; Augsburg 25, Loras (Iowa) 12
LOCATION: Five Flags Center, Dubuque, Iowa
RECORD: Augsburg 3-0 overall
No. 1 Augsburg (2-0) 31, No. 21 Millikin (4-3) 9
125 — No. 6 Victor Gliva (AUG, 8-2) maj. dec. Elijah Diaz (MIL, 3-3) 9-0 (Augsburg 4-0).
133 — No. 2 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 6-0) maj. dec. Ren Dazey (MIL, 8-6) 12-3 (Augsburg 8-0).
141 — No. 4 David Flynn (AUG, 6-0) dec. Chris Williams (MIL, 1-1) 3-1 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 11-0).
149 — No. 1 Alex Wilson (AUG, 14-0) dec. Tristan Birt (MIL, 9-2) 11-6 (Augsburg 14-0).
157 — Aaron Wilson (AUG, 8-2) tech. fall Wilyonde Bell (MIL, 10-6) 16-0 (Augsburg 19-0).
165 — No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 12-1) dec. No. 3 (157) Bradan Birt (MIL, 9-2) 8-6 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 22-0).
174 — Austin Hedrick (MIL, 4-0) pinned Nick Rogge (AUG, 11-3) 4:33 (Augsburg 22-6).
184 – Tanner Vassar (AUG, 4-1) pinned A.J. Fox (MIL, 5-6) 2:45 (Augsburg 28-6).
197 — No. 2 Keajion Jennings (MIL, 10-1) dec. No. 8 Lance Benick (AUG, 8-2) 5-4 (Augsburg 28-9).
HWT — Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 8-6) dec. Frank Tomaskovic (MIL, 6-1) 3-0 (Augsburg 31-9).
No. 1 Augsburg (3-0) 25, No. 7 Loras (5-1) 12
125 — No. 6 Victor Gliva (AUG, 9-2) dec. Matt Randone (LOR, 11-3) 10-4 (Augsburg 3-0).
133 — No. 2 Sam Bennyhoff (AUG, 7-0) dec. Brice Everson (LOR, 7-3) 5-3 (Augsburg 6-0).
141 — No. 6 Kevin Kelly (LOR, 13-1) dec. No. 4 David Flynn (AUG, 6-1) 7-5 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 6-3).
149 — No. 1 Alex Wilson (AUG, 15-0) tech. fall Clint Lembeck (LOR, 0-2) 16-0 (Augsburg 11-3).
157 — Aaron Wilson (AUG, 9-2) dec. Brandon Murray (LOR, 11-3) 4-2 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 14-3).
165 — No. 1 Ryan Epps (AUG, 13-1) dec. Eddie Smith (LOR, 12-3) 3-1 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 17-3).
174 — Sam Schuler (LOR, 9-7) dec. Nick Rogge (AUG, 11-4) 4-2 (Augsburg 17-6).
184 – Tanner Vassar (AUG, 5-1) tech. fall Javier Soto (LOR, 9-5) 15-0 (Augsburg 22-6).
197 — No. 8 Lance Benick (AUG, 9-2) dec. No. 4 Guy Patron Jr. (7-2) 10-7 (Augsburg 25-6).
HWT — Quin Gilliam (LOR, 2-0) pinned Ethan Hofacker (AUG, 8-7) 2:41 (Augsburg 25-12).
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