GALESBURG, Ill. – Augustana, ranked 27^th in the latest NCAA Division III national wrestling poll, split a pair of dual meets on Thursday, December 4 in Galesburg, Illinois at the Knox Duals.  The Vikings, who had been off since competing in the Concordia Open on November 22, lost to Central of Iowa 20-13 and defeated Simpson 37-10.
 
Head coach Eric Juergens' team is now 3-2 overall and will be in action again on December 13 at the North Central Invitational in Naperville, Illinois.
 
CENTRAL 20, AUGUSTANA 13
 
The Vikings fell behind after dropping the first two weight classes and played catch-up the rest of the match. Junior Jimmy Panozzo (Carl Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.) lost a 4-1 decision to Daniel Page at 125 and freshman Brendan Gould (Davenport Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) lost to Aaron Anderson 10-5 at 133.
 
Augustana picked up a win at 141 when freshman Collin Tompkins (Grandville HS, Grandville, Mich.) defeated Jordan Richardson 12-5. After sophomore Matt Sears (Marist HS, New Lenox, Ill.) fell to Ryan Vandall of Central 6-4 at 149 pounds, senior Hector Ruiz (East Aurora HS, Aurora, Ill.) defeated Mike O'Connor 10-6 at 157. After Ruiz' victory, senior teammate Connor Cummings (Downers Grove North HS, Woodridge, Ill.) beat Dillon Anderson 6-3 to tie the match at 9-9.
 
The Dutch won the next three weight classes, including superior decisions at 184 and 197 to take a 20-9 lead and put the match out of reach for the Vikings. Senior John Seaman (Munster HS, Munster, Ind.) beat Jay Pike at 285 by a score of 14-3 to account for the final score of 20-13.
 
INDIVIDUAL MATCHES
125 – Daniel Page (CC) dec. Jimmy Panozzo (A) 4-1
133 – Aaron Anderson (CC) dec. Brendan Gould (A) 10-5
141 – Collin Tomkins (A) dec. Jordan Richardson (CC) 12-5
149 – Ryan Vandall (CC) dec. Matt Sears (A) 6-4
157 – Hector Ruiz (A) dec. Mike O'Connor (CC) 10-6
165 – Connor Cummings (A) dec. Dillon Anderson (CC) 6-3
174 – Sam Apland (CC) dec. Jordan Richardson (A) 6-0
184 – Tyler Lowy (CC) dec. Eric Timko (A) 14-0
197 – Matt Seabold (CC) dec. Christos Giatras (A) 15-3
285 – John Seaman (A) dec. Jay Pike (CC) 14-3
 
AUGUSTANA 37, SIMPSON 10
 
Helped along by forfeit victories in the first two weight classes, Augustana jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 37-10 win over Simpson.
 
Panozzo and Gould each picked up forfeit wins at 125 and 133 pounds respectively and Tomkins beat Dalton Kenig 15-3 at 141 as the Vikings bolted to a 16-0 lead after three weight classes.
 
At 149 pounds Simpson's Jason Clark beat sophomore Brian Egan (Buffalo Grove HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) 6-3 but Ruiz got Augustana back on track with an 8-2 win over Jake Mize at 157. Cummings followed with a pin of Clay Harris at 1:37 of the 165 pound weight class.
 
Senior Jordan Richardson (Grandville HS, Wyoming, Mich.) dropped an 8-2 decision to Brett Roberts at 174 and senior Eric Timko (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) fell to Spencer Ward 12-4 at 184.
 
The Vikings closed the match with two pins. Sophomore Ethan Benoit (Marist HS, Oak Lawn, Ill.) won by fall over Ethan Calvert at 3:09 of the 197 pound bout and Seaman decked Colby Vlieger at 3:25 of the 285 pound weight class.
 
INDIVIDUAL MATCHES
125 – Jimmy Panozzo (A) won by forfeit
133 – Brendan Gould (A) won by forfeit
141 – Collin Tomkins (A) dec. Dalton Kenig (S) 15-3
149 – Jason Clark (S) dec. Brian Egan (A) 6-3
157 – Hector Ruiz (A) dec. Jake Mize (S) 8-2
165 – Connor Cummings (A) pinned Clay Harris (S) @ 1:37
174 – Brett Roberts (S) dec. Jordan Richardson (A) 8-2
184 – Spencer Ward (S) dec. Eric Timko (A) 12-4
197 – Ethan Benoit (A) pinned Ethan Calvert (S) @ 3:09
285 – John Seaman (A) pinned Colby Vlieger (S) @ 3:25