SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Fresh off a pair of convincing wins at home, including a 27-12 victory over MSU Moorhead on Thursday, the Augustana wrestling team returns to the road on Saturday to take on Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn., at 2 p.m.
The Vikings hit the road with a 2-1 overall record in duals, and an even 1-1 mark in the NSIC. After falling at Northern State, 21-13, in the conference opener on Jan. 3, the Vikings picked up an NSIC win on Thursday over the Dragons.
The Mustangs enter Saturday’s dual with an 0-3 mark in duals overall, with two of those losses coming in the NSIC, as they fell 35-6 at home against No. 1 St. Cloud State on Nov. 29, and fell 22-16 at Northern State on Jan. 10.
Augustana leads the all-time series with SMSU by a 28-5 margin, and won each of the last four meetings, including a 27-9 victory last season in the Elmen Center.
In their most recent action, the Vikings got off to a near-perfect start on Thursday at the Elmen Center. Ethan Cota posted 7-5 upset win over 125 lbs. No. 6 Cole Jones to stake the Vikings to a 3-0 lead, and even though the Vikings fell behind 6-3 after the 133 lbs. match, they got wins in the next five matches to secure the win.
Tyler Wagener posted an 18-0 technical fall at 149 lbs., followed by a 13-5 major decision from Colin Ayers at 157 lbs., that gave the Vikings a 15-6 lead.
After a couple of AU decision wins, Clayton Wahlstrom secured the dual win with a pin at 197 lbs. that staked the Vikings to a 27-9 lead, guaranteeing a win.
Following Saturday’s action, the Vikings return home to host Upper Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m., and then take on Minnesota State on Friday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.
Probable Lineup vs. SMSU
125: Ethan Cota
133: Brayden Curry
141: Jebben Keyes
149: Tyler Wagener
157: Colin Ayers
165: Jackson Sweeney
174: Lukas Poloncic
184: Daniel Bishop
197: Clayton Wahlstrom
285: Matt Naig
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