MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Cornell used victories in four consecutive weight classes as a springboard to defeat Augustana 22-15 on Tuesday, November 11 in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It was the opening dual meet of the season for both teams.
 
Junior Jimmy Panozzo (Carl Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.) got the Vikings off to a good start when he decisioned Scott Smith 6-0 at 125 pounds.
 
However, the Rams won the next four weight classes to take a 15-3 lead. Phillip Opelt, ranked 10th in NCAA Division III, beat sophomore Sean McMahon (Andrew HS, Tinley Park, Ill.) 8-4 at 133 and Jared Brathor defeated freshman Colin Tomkins (Grandville HS, Grandville, Mich.) 9-6 at 141. Seventh ranked Trevor Engle scored a 19-7 major decision over sophomore Brian Egan (Buffalo Grove HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) at 149 and Aaron Engle closed out the Cornell run with a 9-3 win over senior Hector Ruiz (East Aurora HS, Aurora, Ill.) at 157.
 
Augustana senior Connor Cummings (Downers Grove North HS, Woodridge, Ill.) snapped the streak with a tight 3-2 win over Danny Klema at 165 to make it 13-6 in favor of Cornell.
 
The 174 pound match proved crucial and Viking senior Jordan Richardson (Grandville HS, Wyoming, Mich.) lost a tough 2-0 decision to ninth ranked Brent Hamm of Cornell. That pushed the Rams' advantage to 16-6.
 
Senior Thomas Reyhons (Davenport Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa), ranked eighth in the preseason NCAA Division III poll, came through with a pin at 1:31 of his 184 pound match against Aburough Abegesah to make it 16-12. Cornell iced the match at 197 pounds when Jim Kirby pinned Augustana senior Eric Timko (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) at 1:31.
 
At 285 pounds the Vikings' John Seaman (Munster HS, Munster, Ind.) beat Eric Tucker 2-0 to account for the final score of 22-15.
 
Augustana's next match will be a double dual on Saturday, November 15 in Dubuque, Iowa. The Vikings will wrestle Dubuque at 10:30 a.m. and take on Knox at 12:00 noon.
 
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Small Multi-Sport Center
Mount Vernon, Iowa
 
Match results
125 – Jimmy Panozzo (Aug) dec. Scott Smith, 6-0. 
133 – #10 Phillip Opelt (Cor) dec. Sean McMahon, 8-4. 
141 – Jared Brathor (Cor) dec. Colin Tomkins, 9-6. 
149 – #7 Trevor Engle (Cor) maj. dec. Brian Egan, 19-7. 
157 – Aaron Engle (Cor) dec. Hector Ruiz, 9-3. 
165 – Connor Cummings (Aug) dec. Danny Klema, 3-2. 
174 – #9 Brent Hamm (Cor) dec. Jordan Richardson, 2-0. 
184 – #8 Thomas Reyhons (Aug) pinned Aburough Abegesah, 1:31. 
197 – Jim Kirby (Cor) pinned Eric Timko, 3:09. 
285 – Jack Seaman (Aug) dec. Eric Tucker, 2-0.