ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Six straight Augustana victories broke open the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opener on Thursday, November 20 against North Central and the result was a 31-6 Viking victory. It was the third straight win in the series for Augustana, which now leads by a margin of 29-9 over the Cardinals.
 
After the first three weight classes Augustana led by a margin of just 6-3. Junior Jimmy Panozzo (Carl Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.) started things off for head coach Eric Juergens' team with a 6-1 win over Dominic Boggia at 125 pounds. Freshman teammate Brendan Gould (Davenport Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) picked up a hard fought 4-0 win over Casey McWhirter at 133 pounds. That gave the Vikings a 6-0 lead but Layten Binion of North Central picked up a 3-1 win over freshman Colin Tomkins (Grandville HS, Grandville, Mich.) at 141 to trim the margin to 6-3.
 
From that point on, however, Augustana rolled with victories in the next six weight classes to put the match away.
 
Sophomore Brian Egan (Buffalo Grove HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) started the avalanche with a tough 3-1 win over Nathan Segal at 149 pounds. Senior Hector Ruiz (East Aurora HS, Aurora, Ill.) followed with a last-second 7-6 victory against Blake Olson at 157. That made the score 12-3 in favor of Augustana.
 
Senior Connor Cummings (Downers Grove North HS, Woodridge, Ill.) ripped off a 12-4 win over Connor Waugh at 165 to make it 16-3 with his major decision.
 
Neither of the next two matches lasted a minute as senior Jordan Richardson (Grandville HS, Wyoming, Mich.) pinned matt Marcotte at :47 of the 174 pound match and senior Thomas Reyhons (Davenport Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) decked Vince Pizzo in :58 at 184 pounds. Sophomore Ethan Benoit (Marist HS, Oak Lawn, Ill.) beat Filiberto Diaz-Duran 4-2 at 197 pounds.
 
The match ended with senior John Seaman (Munster HS, Munster, Ind.) dropping a 2-0 decision to Dylan Mahler at 285 pounds.
 
Augustana moved to 2-1 on the season while North Central is now 1-1. The Vikings will wrestle at the Concordia Open on Saturday, November 22 in Mequon, Wisconsin.
 
AUGUSTANA "Vikings" vs. NORTH CENTRAL "Cardinals"
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Carver Center – Rock Island, Illinois
 
Augustana 31, North Central 6
 
MATCH RESULTS
125 – Jimmy Panozzo (A) dec. Dominic Boggia (NC), 6-1.
133 – Brendan Gould (A) dec. Casey McWhirter (NC), 4-0.
141 – Layten Binion (NC) dec. Colin Tomkins (A), 3-1.
149 – Brian Egan (A) dec. Nathan Segal (NC), 3-1.
157 – Hector Ruiz (A) dec. Blake Olson (NC), 7-6.
165 – Connor Cummings (A) dec. Connor Waugh (NC), 12-4.
174 – Jordan Richardson (A) pinned Matt Marcotte (NC), 0:47.
184 – Thomas Reyhons (A) pinned Vince Pizzo (NC), 0:58.
197 – Ethan Benoit (A) dec. Filiberto Diaz-Duran (NC), 4-2.
285 – Dylan Mahler (NC) dec. Jack Seaman (A), 2-0.
 
RECORDS: Augustana (2-1) & North Central (1-1)