Augustana Wrestlers Win Home Opener

by KDLT Sports
January 20, 2013 6:24 PM


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 19-ranked Augustana, wrestling for the first time at home this season, defeated Augsburg College 23-13 on Sunday afternoon in Sioux Falls. Augustana (7-3) won six of the 10 bouts, including two major decisions and pin, over Augsburg (3-3) who is ranked seventh in NCAA Division III.

The afternoon started at 184 pounds where Sean Derry got the Vikings off to a fast start pinning Justin Bowland in 2:08 to give Augustana an early 6-0 lead.

Jayd Docken, ranked seventh in the country at 197 pounds, earned a 6-1 decision over Matthew Hechsel to push Augustana’s lead to 9-0 after two bouts.

Augsburg won the next three bouts starting with Chad Johnson’s 11-1 major decision over Brian Schultz. Johnson is ranked first in the country at the NCAA Division III level for Augsburg.

The Auggies won two straight decisions at 125 and 133 pounds starting with Mike Fuenffinger’s 3-1 overtime decision over TJ North. Tossaporn Suparat followed that with a 4-2 decision over Augustana’s Brandon Chesnut to give Augsburg a 10-9 lead heading into the 141-pound bout.

Brandon Charbonneau put the Vikings back in front 12-10 with a 6-3 decision over Tom Kuehn before Nate Herda extended it to 16-10 with a 12-4 major decision over Rashad Kennedy at 149 pounds.

At 157 pounds, Shawn Hatlestad battled to a 7-1 decision over Kurt Knutsen giving Augustana a 19-10 lead before Parker Swanson put the dual away with a 12-0 major decision over Quinten Strand at 165 pounds.

Augsburg won the 174-pound bout as Josh Kohler earned a 4-2 overtime decision over Tim Weber to bring the final score to 23-13 in favor of the Vikings.

Augustana has a big weekend ahead as the Vikings will host top-ranked St. Cloud State next Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on 13th-ranked Minnesota State on Saturday.

-Courtesy Augustana Athletics