Augsburg tops SJU 47-3

MINNEAPOLIS — Claiming victories in nine out of 10 bouts, including four pins and two technical falls, the No. 3-ranked Augsburg University men’s wrestling team claimed a 47-3 dual meet victory over Saint John’s University University on Saturday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.

Action began at 174 pounds, with Augsburg’s No. 9-ranked Solomon Nielsen (JR, Luverne, Minn./Luverne HS) claiming a 10-2 major decision. Nielson used four takedowns, an escape and a riding time point to claim his 12th victory of the season.

At 197 pounds, Lance Benick (JR, Scandia, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) made his season debut, posting a 10-6 decision over Dominic Skawiniak.

Picking up his fifth pin of the season, Tyler Kim (FY, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) claimed a 3:54 fall and moved to 12-3 on the season.

At 125 pounds, Augsburg’s Justin Stauffacher (FY, Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West) won by forfeit.

At 141 pounds, David Flynn (SR, Jordan, Minn./Jordan HS (Scott West)) claimed the eighth technical fall of his Auggie career. Flynn used three takedowns and a pair of four-point nearfalls along with an escape to claim the bonus-point victory.

At 149, No. 9-ranked Aaron Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) moved to 14-1 on the season with a technical fall victory over Dylan Hanson. Wilson used four 4-point nearfalls along with a takedown to pick up his 14th technical fall of his Auggie career.

The Auggies picked up pins in the final two bouts of the afternoon with No. 1-ranked Ryan Epps (SR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) and Lucas Jeske (SR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) earning pins at 4:09 and 3:29 respectively. Epps moves to 15-0 on the year, while Jeske made his season debut.

Against opponents from Divisions II and III, Augsburg is now 341-52-1 in dual meets since the 1989-90 season. Augsburg has lost just 48 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season.

Saint John’s picked up a 6-3 upset decision at 133 pounds, where Noah Becker picked up his seventh victory of the season over No. 2-ranked Victor Gliva (SR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS).

The Johnnies travel south to Iowa for a pair of competitions next weekend. SJU takes on Buena Vista for a 7 p.m. dual on Friday, Jan. 10, in Storm Lake and competes at the Central Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, in Pella.

Augsburg returns to action on Jan. 10-11, traveling to Louisville, Kentucky to defend its national title at the NWCA Division III National Duals.

RECORDS: Augsburg 3-0 overall, Saint John’s 1-1 overall
Official: Zach McGillis
Action begins at 174 pounds

No. 3 Augsburg 47, Saint John’s 3
174 — No. 9 Solomon Nielsen (AUG, 12-1) maj. dec. Jacob Scherber (SJU, 14-9) 10-2 (Augsburg 4-0)
184 — No. 3 Tanner Vassar (AUG, 13-0) fall Dan Gehrz (SJU, 5-8) 1:27 Augsburg 10-0)
197 — Lance Benick (AUG, 1-0) dec. Dominic Skawiniak (SJU, 7-8) 10-6 (Augsburg 13-0)
HWT — Tyler Kim (AUG, 12-3) fall Quincy Spiering (SJU, 3-5) 3:54 (Augsburg 19-0)
125 — Justin Stauffacher (11-3) wins by forfeit (Augsburg 25-0)
133 — Noah Becker (SJU, 7-1) dec. No. 2 Victor Gliva (AUG, 14-1) 6-3 (Augsburg 25-3)
141 — David Flynn (AUG, 6-0) tech. fall Anthony Hennen (SJU, 2-11) 6:07 (Augsburg 30-3)
149 — No. 9 Aaron Wilson (AUG, 14-1) tech. fall Dylan Hanson (SJU, 6-10) 4:49 (Augsburg 35-3)
157 — No. 1 (165) Ryan Epps (AUG, 15-0) fall Graham Evavold (SJU, 0-3) 4:09 (Augsburg 41-3)
165 — Lucas Jeske (AUG, 1-0) fall Julian Mares (SJU, 1-13) 3:29 (Augsburg 47-3)

Check out Auggies Wrestling at athletics.augsburg.edu and on Facebook and Twitter.

View More College News