MINNEAPOLIS - Claiming wins in six of 10 matches, Wartburg College scored a 19-13 dual-meet triumph over host Augsburg College in a battle of the top two teams in NCAA Division III wrestling on Thursday night before 1,117 fans at Si Melby Hall.

The Knights, now 20-1 on the season in dual meets, entered the match ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division III national poll (National Wrestling Coaches Association). The defending national champions avenged an earlier 22-10 loss to the Auggies in the championship match of the NWCA Division III National Duals on Jan. 14.

It was the first loss of the season for the Auggies, ranked No. 1 nationally. Augsburg is now 10-1 on the season. 

Augsburg is now 11-8 in the all-time series with the Knights. Since the teams have wrestled twice in duals over the past six seasons, it marks the first time that the teams have split the dual-meet series. 

Wartburg claimed two upset victories of top-ranked Augsburg wrestlers. At 133 pounds, Wartburg's Jake Helvey (Jr., Mitchelville, Iowa/Southeast Polk HS), ranked No. 3 nationally, handed Augsburg's Jafari Vanier (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) his first loss of the season with a 5-0 decision. At 157 pounds, Wartburg's Aaron Wernimont (So., Pocahontas, Iowa), ranked No. 4, claimed a 4-2 win over Augsburg's Jeremy Anderson (Jr., Thief River Falls, Minn.), claiming the eventual winning points with a reversal with 46 seconds left in the third period.

Augsburg's other two top-ranked wrestlers scored victories in the dual. Marcus LeVesseur (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), ranked No. 1 nationally at 165, maintained his unbeaten collegiate record with a 6-1 win over Jason Knipp (Sr., Gilbertville, Iowa). LeVesseur, who won Division III national titles at 157 pounds three times (2003, 2004, 2005), improved to 19-0 on the season and improved his collegiate career record to 143-0, the second-longest winning streak in college wrestling history, behind the 159 of Cael Sanderson at Iowa State (1998-2002). LeVesseur has yet to lose a college wrestling match.

Augsburg's Quincy Osborn (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), ranked No. 1 in the country at 141, claimed an 8-05 win over Zach McKray (So., Iowa City, Iowa) to improve to 32-2 on the season.

Augsburg's Robbie Gotreau (Jr., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS), ranked No. 3 nationally at 174, improved to 30-4 on the season with a 13-2, major-decision win over No. 4-ranked Jason Zastrow (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn./Blaine HS), giving the Auggies a 13-9 lead in the team match after seven weight classes. 

But Wartburg claimed victories in the final three bouts to clinch the match. Romeo Djoumessi (So., Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock HS), ranked No. 2 at 184, scored a 6-0 win over George Lynaugh (Jr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS); T.J. Miller (Jr., Cedar Falls, Iowa), ranked No. 2 at 197, scored an 8-5 win over Wally O'Connor (Jr., Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS); and Blake Gillis (Sr., Spencer Iowa), ranked No. 1 at heavyweight, claimed a 10-2, major-decision win over No. 7-ranked Andrew Neumann (Sr., Somerset, Wis.).

Wartburg's Robert Struthers (Jr., Emmetsburg, Iowa), ranked No. 7 at 125, opened the match with a 6-2 upset of Augsburg's No. 3-ranked Seth Flodeen (So., Cannon Falls, Minn.).

At 149, Augsburg's Jared Evans (Sr., Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS), ranked No. 4, improved to 26-3 on the season with a 1-0 win over Adam Weber (Fr., Waterloo, Iowa/Don Bosco HS), claiming two minutes of riding time in the second period for the bonus point in the bout.

Both teams return to action on Saturday (2/3) at 9 a.m.with competition at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Invitational. Augsburg will also have a split squad compete at the St. John's University North Country Open on Saturday at 9 a.m. 

College Wrestling -- No. 2 Wartburg (Iowa, 20-1) 19, No. 1 Augsburg (Minn., 10-1) 13 
Thursday, February 1, 2007 - Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
Action begins at 125 pounds -- Time of match: 1:47 -- Attendance: 1,117 -- Officials: Jerry Reker, Brad Hanson.

125 -- No. 7 Robert Struthers (WAR, 26-7) dec. No. 3 Seth Flodeen (AUG, 25-4) 6-2 (Wartburg 3-0).
133 -- No. 3 Jake Helvey (WAR, 22-5) dec. No. 1 Jafari Vanier (AUG, 14-1) 5-0 (Wartburg 6-0). 
141 -- No. 1 Quincy Osborn (AUG, 32-2) dec. Zach McKray (WAR, 8-6) 8-5 (Wartburg 6-3).
149 -- No  4 Jared Evans (AUG, 26-3) dec. Adam Weber (WAR, 25-11) 1-0 (TIED 6-6).
157 -- No. 4 Aaron Wernimont (WAR, 31-4) dec. No. 1 Jeremy Anderson (AUG, 27-1) 4-2 (Wartburg 9-6).
165 -- No. 1 Marcus LeVesseur (AUG, 19-0) dec. Jason Knipp (WAR, 10-2) 6-1 (TIED 9-9).
174 -- No. 3 Robbie Gotreau (AUG, 30-4) maj. dec. No. 4 Jason Zastrow (WAR, 23-4) 13-2 (Augsburg 13-9).
184 -- No. 2 Romeo Djoumessi (WAR, 27-1) dec. George Lynaugh (AUG, 22-5) 6-0 (Augsburg 13-12).
197 -- No. 2 T.J. Miller (WAR, 21-0) dec. Wally O'Connor (AUG, 14-12) 8-5 (Wartburg 15-13).
HWT -- No. 1 Blake Gillis (WAR, 32-1) maj. dec. No. 7 Andrew Neumann (AUG, 25-6) 10-2 (Wartburg 19-13).