WAVERLY, Iowa -- The No. 2 Wartburg wrestling team (17-2 overall) compiled a comeback win to defeat No. 1 Augburg (11-2) 21-13 Thursday in the annual Battle of the Burgs. With the win, the Knights own the Swens-Milboy trophy belt and have won all four duals in this trophy series. In addition, the Orange and Black avenged their loss to the Auggies in the NWCA National Duals finals.
Senior Kyle Fank (Independence) gave Wartburg its first lead with his win at 197. He rallied with a takedown in the last few seconds of the third period to earn his 14th-straight win. "This is what you want," he said after the match. "A packed gym, the crowd behind you, and a last second score. I just knew I had to stay on him, as he was going to get tired eventually. It wasn't the best match I have wrestled, but I knew I had to score.
"This (Battle of the Burgs) is the biggest dual of the year, the two top ranked teams in the country and a ranked guy at every weight," he continued.
Head coach Eric Keller said, "Fank never gave up mentally, I saw a lot of heart from him tonight. He was able to be successful from the work that he puts in every day and found a way to win."
Levick Arena was full and had fans standing around the upper railing. "Tonight was an unbelievable environment," said Keller. "You learn a lot from a hard fought battle and we are getting closer to wrestling at our full potential.
Results:
125: #10 Victor Gliva (AU) won by 6-2 dec vs. Brady Kyner (WB) AU leads 3-0
133: #8 Brock Rathbun (WB) won by 9-6 dec vs #4 Sam Bennyhoff (AC) Tied 3-3
141: #3 David Flynn (AU) won by 9-3 dec vs Brenden Baker (WB) AU 6-3
149: #1 Cross Cannone (WB) won by 6-2 dec vs. #4 Alex Wilson (AU) Tied 6-6
157: #3 Ryan Epps (AU) won by 10-6 dec vs #1 Logan Thomsen (WB) AU 9-6
165: #1 Lucas Jeske (AU) won by 13-2 maj dec vs. Max Forsyth (WB) AU 13-6
174: #1 Eric DeVos (WB) won by 11-4 vs #10 Tanner Vassar (AU) AU 13-9
184: #4 Tyler Lutes (WB) won by 6-3 dec vs #7 Sebastian Larson (AU) AU 13-12
197: #2 Kyle Fank (WB) won by 5-4 dec vs #7 Lance Benick (AU) WB 15-13
285: #2 Lance Evans (WB) win by fall 1:28 vs Ethan Hofacker (AU) WB 21-13
Notes:
-133, 149, 157, 174 was a rematch of National Duals
-133, 157 had a different outcome
-Rathbun increased his winning streak to six.
-Baker's second collegiate match at 141
-Cannone remains undefeated (25-0)
-Thomsen's first loss of the season
-DeVos remains undefeated (9-0)
-DeVos increased his winning streak to 27, which dates back to the National Championship match of 2016
-Fank increased his winning streak to 14
-Evans remains undefeated (15-0)
-This was Evan's 10th pin of the season.
-Match started at 125
-Attendance: 2700
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