Twelve of the 13 Augsburg wrestlers who competed in the tournament placed among the top four in their weight classes, as the Auggies scored 178.0 points to win the eight-team open tournament. Augsburg is the top-ranked team in the NCAA Division III standings. Host Northwestern (Iowa), ranked No. 15 in the NAIA national poll, finished second with 114.0 points.
At 157 pounds, No. 5-ranked Jason Adams (SR, Coon Rapids, Minn.) won all four of his matches by bonus-point margins to claim his title, with three major decisions and a pin to improve to 28-2 on the season. At 133 pounds, No. 6-ranked Paul Bjorkstrand (SR, Burnsville, Minn.) won each of his three matches by bonus-point margins for his title, with two pins and a technical fall. Bjorkstrand is now 22-5 on the season.
At 141, No. 5-ranked Jafari Vanier (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) improved to 6-2 on the season with his weight class title, with two major decisions among his four victories. Andy Witzel (SR, Fulda, Minn.), ranked No. 7 nationally at heavyweight, had two pins of under a minute in length among his three victories en route to the championship. He scored a 42-second pin in the title match.
At 125, Josh Roberts (SO, Grand Forks, N.D./Central HS) went 3-0 to score his title, while Beau Hansen (JR, Albert Lea, Minn.) went 3-0 with two first-period pins to claim the championship.
Cody Hansen (FY, Albert Lea, Minn.) earned runner-up honors at 141, while Lucas Murray (JR, Anoka, Minn.) placed third at 149, as did Jake Grygelko (SR, Loretto, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) at 165 and Brad Baus (SO, Mukwonago, Wis.) at 184. Jamie Rocha (SR, Santa Maria, Calif./Righetti HS) placed fourth at 125, as did #Jake Saatzer (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) at 141.
Augsburg returns to action next Friday (1/22) at 7 p.m., hosting Division II power Nebraska-Omaha at Si Melby Hall.
Team results:
1. Augsburg 178.0; 2. Northwestern-Iowa 114.0; 3. Waldorf (Iowa) 99.5; 4. Baker (Kan.) 94.0; 5. St. John's 67.5; 6. Morningside (Iowa) 49.5; 7. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 38.0; 8. Winona State (club) 14.5.
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