LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Winning 13 of 20 bouts on the day, the Augsburg University men’s wrestling team remained in the hunt for a National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals title, claiming two victories on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the two-day tournament.
Augsburg, the No. 3-ranked team in the latest NWCA Division III tournament rankings and No. 2 in the dual-meet rankings, scored seven wins in its ten bouts, with two pins and a major decision, in topping No. 23/19 Luther College (Iowa) 29-12, then won six bouts, including two by pin, in a 24-12 win over No. 10/12 Loras College (Iowa).
Parker Venz (SO, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) claimed two victories by pin on Friday, giving him a team-leading 14 falls on the season. He scored a 1:18 pin of Garret Kiljas of Luther in his opener, then dispatched Derek Ventechier of Loras in 4:00. Venz is now 19-4 on the season with 14 pins and two technical falls. In his two-season career, Venz is now 35-15, with 27 career pins.
No. 5-ranked 285-pounder Tyler Kim (JR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) scored two wins over ranked opponents on Friday, improving to 24-1 on the season. In his opener, he scored his second win over Luther’s No. 7-ranked Cullen Quick this season, as he scored a takedown in overtime to claim a 3-1 victory. He then scored his third career win over Loras’ No. 12-ranked Wyatt Wreidt in four all-time meetings, rallying for a 5-3 victory.
No. 5-ranked 141-pounder Sam Stuhl (JR, Ellsworth, Wis./Ellsworth HS) scored two victories at 141 pounds to improve to 25-2 on the season, while his younger brother, 14th-ranked 149-pounder Charlie Stuhl (SO, Ellsworth, Wis./Ellsworth HS), also claimed two wins on the day. The brothers are now a combined 48-4 on the season — Sam is 25-2, while Charlie is 23-2.
No. 2-ranked 157-pounder Tyler Shilson (SR, Maple Grove, Minn./Centennial HS) opened with a 1:10 pin in the match against Luther, but suffered his first loss of the year against Luther, as No. 6-ranked Zeke Smith scored a 4-1 win. Shilson is now 19-1 on the year.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Augsburg has won seven NWCA Division III National Duals titles since the tournament began in the 2001-02 season (2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019). Augsburg is now 63-16 all-time in Division III National Duals competition since it started in the 2001-02 season. Including five other appearances in NWCA Division I National Duals competition prior to 2002, when the Division II, Division III and NAIA defending national champions were invited to participate, Augsburg is now 68-25.
UP NEXT
Augsburg will face No. 6/3 Wisconsin-La Crosse in the National Duals semifinals on Saturday (1/7) at 10 a.m. (Central Time), then will compete in either the title match or third-place match at 2 p.m. (CT), facing either top-ranked Wartburg (Iowa) or No. 2/4 Johnson & Wales (R.I.).
No. 3/2 Augsburg 29, No. 23/19 Luther (Iowa) 12
125 — Miguel Garcia (LUT) dec. Wyatt Kaczrowski (AUG, 14-11) 6-3 (LUTHER 3-0)
133 — No. 11 Cade Willis (AUG, 9-6) maj. dec. Christian Chavez (LUT) 11-2 (AUGSBURG 4-3)
141 — No. 5 Sam Stuhl (AUG, 24-2) dec. Tyler DiFiore (LUT) 8-1 (AUGSBURG 7-3)
149 — No. 14 Charlie Stuhl (AUG, 22-2) dec. Clayton McDonough (LUT) 9-3 (AUGSBURG 10-3)
157 — No. 2 Tyler Shilson (AUG, 19-0) pinned Bryce McDonough (LUT) 1:10 (AUGSBURG 16-3)
165 — Marcus Mandler (LUT) pinned No. 5 Cooper Willis (AUG, 19-4) 1:12 (AUGSBURG 16-9)
174 — No. 15 Seth Goetzinger (AUG, 18-2) maj. dec. Luis Cruces (LUT) 15-1 (AUGSBURG 20-9)
184 — No. 5 Donovan Corn (LUT) dec. No. 6 Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann (AUG, 19-4) 4-0 (AUGSBURG 20-12)
197 — No. 14 Parker Venz (AUG, 18-4) pinned Garrett Kiljas (LUT) 1:18 (AUGSBURG 26-12)
285 — No. 5 Tyler Kim (AUG, 23-1) dec. No. 7 Cullen Quick (LUT) 3-1 (OT-SV1) (AUGSBURG 29-12)
No. 3/2 Augsburg 24, No. 10/12 Loras (Iowa) 12
125 — Derek Steele (AUG, 12-5) pinned Jared Hensley (LOR) 1:31 (AUGSBURG 6-0)
133 — Mason McMillen (LOR) dec. No. 11 Cade Willis (AUG, 9-7) 10-4 (AUGSBURG 6-3)
141 — No. 5 Sam Stuhl (AUG, 25-2) dec. Eric Kinkaid (LOR) 9-4 (AUGSBURG 9-3)
149 — No. 14 Charlie Stuhl (AUG, 23-2) dec. Jalen Schropp (LOR) 10-4 (AUGSBURG 12-3)
157 — No. 6 Zeke Smith (LOR) dec. No. 2 Tyler Shilson (AUG, 19-1) 4-1 (AUGSBURG 12-6)
165 — No. 5 Cooper Willis (AUG, 20-4) dec. Gabe Fiser (LOR) 3-2 (AUGSBURG 15-6)
174 — Zeb Gnida (LOR) dec. No. 15 Seth Goetzinger (AUG, 18-3) 10-7 (AUGSBURG 15-9)
184 — No. 1 Shane Liegel (LOR) dec. No. 6 Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann (AUG, 19-5) 6-1 (AUGSBURG 15-12)
197 — No. 14 Parker Venz (AUG, 19-4) pinned Derek Venteicher (LOR) 4:00 (AUGSBURG 21-12)
285 — No. 5 Tyler Kim (AUG, 24-1) dec. No. 12 Wyatt Wreidt (LOR) 5-3 (AUGSBURG 24-12)
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