MARSHALL, Minn. – Augustana wrestling erased a nine-point deficit in its final three matches to tie Southwest Minnesota State and won 19-18 on a total match wins tiebreaker. The Vikings improve their overall duals record to 6-3 and remain undefeated in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference bouts at 2-0. Southwest Minnesota State falls to 10-2 overall and drops their NSIC-opening bout to fall 0-1 in conference duals.
TJ North started the Vikings off with a 4-2 decision over Travis Borchart in the 125-pound division and points proved tough to come by in this tight dual.
Ranked fifth at 133 pounds, Justin Reinsma evened the team score for SMSU with a 5-1 decision over Brandon Chesnut.
Brandon Charbonneau moves to 24-5 on the season and put the Vikings up 6-3 with a 3-2 decision in the 141-pound division. Augustana increased its lead to 9-3 when No. 5 Nate Herda defeated Ethan Hildebrandt 5-2 at 149 pounds.
The Mustangs then went on a three-match winning streak including to falls. Shawn Hatlestad lost in a 6-4 decision at 157 pounds and Parker Swanson was pinned in 2:31 in the 165-pound class. The Vikings were then down 12-9 in the team score.
SMSU’s Kyle Begin pinned Tim Weber and the Mustangs lead stretched to 18-9 with just three matches remaining.
Sean Derry swung the momentum in the favor of the Vikings with a 7-3 decision to push the Vikings three points closer.
No. 6 in the 197-pound decision, Jayd Docken defeated Micah Larson by an 8-3 margin and the Vikings were within three points, down 18-15 with one match to play.
At 285-pounds, Brian Schultz brought home a victory for Augustana with his 5-3 decision. The team score was tied 18-18 but the Vikings won the first tiebreaker which is individual matches won and Augustana held a 6-4 edge.
The Vikings head home for their first home dual of the 2012-13 season when they face Division III Augsburg, ranked No. 7 in D-III, on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m.
Augustana 19, Southwest Minnesota State 18
125 – TJ North (Augie) dec. Travis Borchert (SMSU), 4-2 | Augie leads 3-0
133 – No. 5 Justin Reinsma (SMSU) dec. Brandon Chesnut (Augie), 5-1 | Tied 3-3
141 – Brandon Charbonneau (Augie) dec. Ethan Hildebrandt (SMSU), 3-2 | Augie leads 6-3
149 – No. 5 Nate Herda (Augie) dec. Beau Buysse (SMSU), 5-2 | Augie leads 9-3
157 – Codie Lane (SMSU) dec. Shawn Hatlestad (Augie), 6-4 | Augie leads 9-6
165 – Jacob Begin (SMSU) fall Parker Swanson (Augie), 2:31 | SMSU leads 12-9
174 – Kyle Begin (SMSU) fall Tim Weber (Augie), 2:50 | SMSU leads 18-9
184 – Sean Derry (Augie) dec. Travis Peralta (SMSU), 7-3 | SMSU leads 18-12
197 – No. 5 Jayd Docken (Augie) dec. Micah Larson (SMSU), 8-3 | SMSU leads 18-15
285 - Brian Schultz (Augie) dec. Jon Gorter (SMSU), 5-3 | Tied at 18 –
Augie wins by tiebreaker (Match wins, 6-4)