Wrestling 1/5/01 -- Augsburg 41, Augustana (S.D.) 9

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (1/5/01) -- Claiming victories in eight of 10 matches, including three by pin, Augsburg College dominated action in a 41-9 dual-meet victory over Augustana College in a nonconference wrestling match Friday night at Augustana's Elmen Center.

Augsburg, now 3-0 in dual meets this season, is the defending NCAA Division III national champion and top-ranked team in the latestNWCA Brute-Adidas NCAA Division III national poll. Augustana drops to 2-1 overall.

Darin Bertram (Jr., Herman, Minn./Herman-Norcross HS, 125 pounds), Blaine Kuhlman (Fr., Medford, Minn., 141 pounds) and Kevin Rasmussen (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.) all scored pins for the Auggies, who claimed their second straight victory over Augustana, a Division II squad. Since 1989-90, Augsburg is 136-7 against Divisions II and III opponents, and has lost just two matches to Division II opponents since the 1995-96 season.

Augsburg also benefitted from two forfeit victories, at 157 and 174 pounds. Nik Lewandowski (Sr., Hastings, Minn.) scored a technical fall victory at 184 pounds, and Tony Abbott (Jr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy HS) and Ben Bauer (Sr., Faribault, Minn.) also notched wins.

Augustana's two victories came from Jacob Ramos (Jr., Wauseon, Ohio), with a pin victory at 133, and Seth Webster (Jr., Custer, S.D.), claiming a 13-11 win at 149.

Augsburg returns to action Sunday (1/7), hosting Division III rival Wartburg (Iowa) at 1 p.m. at the University of Minnesota's Williams Arena, as a precursor to the Gophers' dual meet with Oklahoma State. Augustana hosts Northern State (S.D.) in a dual meet on Wednesday (1/10)

Augsburg (3-0 dual meets) def. Augustana (S.D., 2-1) 41-9
At Augustana's Elmen Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.

125 -- Darin Bertram (Augsburg, 16-1) pinned Charles Swanson (7-7) 4:02 (Augsburg 6-0).
133 -- Jacob Ramos (Augustana, 9-5) pinned Bryan Miller (12-4) 6:59 (Tied 6-6).
141 -- Blaine Kuhlman (Augsburg, 7-4) pinned Ryan Carlson (8-4) 6:44 (Augsburg 12-6).
149 -- Seth Webster (Augustana, 7-5) dec. Tony Quance (8-2) 13-11 (Augsburg 12-9).
157 -- Jeremy Jirele (Augsburg, 12-1) won by forfeit (Augsburg 18-9).
165 -- Tony Abbott (Augsburg, 12-1) dec. Todd Kirkparick (10-9) 5-4 (Augsburg 21-9).
174 -- Nick Slack (Augsburg, 12-0) won by forfeit (Augsburg 27-9).
184 -- Nik Lewandowski (Augsburg, 14-2) by technical fall over Jeremy Murphy (0-1) (Augsburg 32-9).
197 -- Kevin Rasmussen (Augsburg, 14-3) pinned Ben McKenzie (2-6) 3:48 (Augsburg 38-9).
HWT -- Ben Bauer (Augsburg, 17-1) dec. James Garvey (11-6) 5-4 (Augsburg 41-9).