Wartburg after defeating Augsburg on Thursday night in Waverly, Iowa (Photo/Wartburg Athletics)WAVERLY, Iowa -- Wartburg and Augsburg.
They are the two most dominant wrestling programs at the NCAA Division III level. Wartburg has captured 14 national titles and Augsburg 13.
For the past quarter-century, no other team has won a DIII national title.
That trend may continue this year with Wartburg ranked No. 1 and Augsburg No. 2.
The powerhouse programs battled once again Thursday night with Wartburg earning a dramatic 19-14 win before a packed house of 1,800 fans at Levick Arena.
The Knights also defeated the Auggies 24-15 last month at the National Duals
After Thursday's dual, Wartburg leads the series with Augsburg 22-16. The Knights have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including the last three.
Here are my top takeaways from Thursday's dual meet:
Final match decides it
The hard-fought dual between elite programs came down to the final bout at 141 pounds. Wartburg held a 16-14 lead, meaning the winner of bout No. 10 would lead his team to victory. Wartburg's Brady Fritz scored a clutch single-leg takedown with 59 seconds left to down national champion David Flynn of Augsburg 3-2. Fritz held off Flynn in the closing seconds, raising his arms as the sellout crowd erupted in cheers. Fritz also defeated Flynn at the National Duals.
Highlight reel move propels Rumph
Top-ranked Kristian Rumph of Wartburg executed a spectacular four-point move early in the match on his way to downing No. 2 Victor Gliva 8-6 at 133. The hard-charging Gliva fought back and trailed 6-4 late in the bout before Rumph drove in on a textbook double-leg takedown with 40 seconds left. Rumph prevailed 8-6, waving his arms after time expired as the Wartburg fans stood and cheered.
Auggies start fast
Augsburg started the dual with a win at 149 pounds as No. 3 Aaron Wilson downed Nick Meling 7-3. Meling was down 7-0, but avoided giving up a major decision with an escape and takedown in the final period.
Epps looks dominant
Two-time national champion Ryan Epps scored an early takedown and near fall en route to scoring a 15-0 technical fall over Martine Sandoval at 157. Epps led 6-0 after one period and 13-0 after two. He's looking primed to end his career with a third national title.
Jeske, Benick not in lineup
The Auggies wrestled without two-time national champion Lucas Jeske (165) and national champion Lance Benick (197). Augsburg coach Jim Moulsoff said the wrestlers were held out of the dual because of injuries and illness. He said both wrestlers are expected back for the Auggies.
No .1 Vassar edges No. 2 Briggs
Top-ranked Tanner Vassar of Augsburg shot in on a double-leg attack and finished for a takedown to earn a 3-1 win over No. 2 Kyle Briggs of Wartburg at 184. Vassar broke a 1-1 tie with just over a minute left and then rode Briggs out to clinch the triumph. That gave the Auggies a commanding 14-3 lead at intermission.
Woods delivers for Knights
Trailing by double digits in the dual, fourth-ranked Kobe Woods delivered a much-needed spark for Wartburg at 197. Woods fired in on a leg attack for the first takedown and took control from there in downing Wyatt Richardson 8-2.
Big boy battle
The heavyweight battle at 285 featured No. 9 Jordan Brandon of Wartburg against Tyler Kim of Augsburg. Brandon spun behind Kim for a first-period takedown and that was the difference in his 3-2 victory.
Forsyth earns tough win
The much-anticipated matchup between Jeske and sixth-ranked Max Forsyth of Wartburg didn't happen. But Forsyth still had his hands full against Augsburg's Moses Madimba. Forsyth held off Madimba's takedown attempt in the final seconds to escape with a 1-0 win at 165.
Nielsen gains command
Fifth-ranked Solomon Nielsen of Augsburg struck for two first-period takedowns en route to a 6-2 triumph over Paul Calo at 174. That gave the Auggies an 11-3 lead through the dual's first four matches.
Little guy comes up big
Eighth-ranked Brady Kyner of Wartburg scored an early takedown and rideout to take charge in his 125-pound bout against Justin Stauffacher. Kyner struck again on a second-period leg attack to build a 4-1 lead. He added three takedowns in the third period to win by a 12-4 major decision.
Final word
The Knights won the final five matches of the dual to prevail, but the Auggies were missing two national champions. Augsburg returns 120 points from last year's national championship team, including four national champions. But Wartburg is determined to come back strong after a tough finish at the 2019 national tournament. No doubt, the DIII nationals will be fun to watch next month. And Wartburg and Augsburg figure to be right in the thick of it.
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
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