Who: #1 Wartburg College vs. #2 Augsburg College
What: 2017 Battle of the Burgs
When: 2/2/2017 7:30 p.m.
Where: Si Melby Hall, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Arguably the most exciting dual in all of Division III will take place tonight, February 2nd, in Si Melby Hall as the #1 Wartburg Knights take on the #2 Augsburg Auggies. The historic Battle of the Burgs will feature a rematch of this year’s NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals finals match, where Wartburg defeated Augsburg by a score of 31-9.
This storied rivalry features two of the best teams in Division III, with either Wartburg or Augsburg winning the NCAA team championship for the past 22 years. In recent years, Augsburg was victorious in Hershey, PA, bringing home the team title in 2015. Wartburg brought back the title in 2016 with a championship in Cedar Rapids.
The 18-0 Knights currently feature nine ranked wrestlers, while the 10-1 Auggies have five ranked wrestlers. Projected matches are as follows:
125 lbs. Barring a 125 lb. start, the dual may open with a heated match between Augsburg’s fifth-ranked Victor Gilva and Wartburg’s sixth-ranked Arnulfo Olea. In the last meeting between this pair, Gilva came out on top.
133 lbs. Both teams are without ranked wrestlers at this weight. Fans can look forward to an always intense meeting of Wartburg’s Connor Campo and Augsburg’s Sam Bennyhoff.
141 lbs. The Knight’s fourth-ranked Cross Cannone will take on seventh-ranked David Flynn of the Auggies. Cannone will enter the dual on a ten-match winning streak, with 22 match wins already this season.
149 lbs. Two-time NCAA DIII champion at 149 pounds, Kenny Martin, will face ninth-ranked Ryan Epps. Epps is one of two ranked first-year wrestlers for the Auggies.
157 lbs. Logan Thompsen enters the Battle of the Burgs ranked second. Thompsen will face either Tone Fuenffinger or Tanner Vassar. Thompsen remains undefeated in Division III.
165 lbs. Third-ranked Andrew Steiert is one of two options for the Knights in the Battle of the Burgs. Fellow senior Brady Meyer has the possibility of taking the mat for Wartburg. Augsburg
174 lbs. Wartburg’s Eric Devos is currently ranked second in DIII. Brice Duhe could also potentially take the mat for the Knights. Augsburg may use Austin Boniface or Jackson Graham at this weight.
184 lbs. Top-ranked first-year, Owen Webster will be wrestling for the Auggies. Webster will face fifth-ranked Bryan Levsen.
197 lbs. Kyle Fank will represent Wartburg College in the Battle of the Burgs. Fank will face either Logan Hortop or Sebastian Larson. Fank is currently ranked second and is on an 18 match winning streak.
285 lbs. One may argue that the Battle of the Burgs is saving the best for last, as second-ranked Lance Evans will face third-ranked Donny Longendyke. Evans defeated Longendyke by a score of 4-0 in their last meeting at the NWCA National Duals. Evans is currently ranked the most dominant wrestler in Division III.