ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A trio of first period pins allowed Augustana to break open what had been a close match and cruise to a 35-16 win over Chicago on Friday, February 5 in the Carver Center. The victory came on "Senior Night" with two of those falls going to seniors wrestling in their last regular season match in front of the home crowd.
 
The Vikings led by a single point (17-16) after senior Alex Bowers (Noblesville HS, Noblesville, Ind.) dropped a tight 3-2 decision to Paul Papoutsis at 174 pounds. That all changed quickly, however, when junior Chris Giatras (Lemont HS, Lemont, Ill.) decked Duncan Payne 2:23 into the first period to give Augustana some breathing room at 23-16.
 
Then it was senior Thomas Reyhons' (Davenport Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) turn and he recorded a pin at the same exact time as Giatras. He pinned Ryan Walsh at 2:23 of the 197 pound weight class to make it 29-16 and clinch the win for the home team. Senior John Seaman (Munster HS, Munster, Ind.) put the finishing touches on the victory and it only took him :32 to record a fall over Patrick Mulkerin to account for the final score of 35-16.
 
Seniors Jimmy Panozzo (Carl Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.) at 125 and David Tessiatore (Downers Grove North HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) at 157 both recorded forfeit wins and junior Matt Sears (Marist HS, New Lenox, Ill.) picked up a technical fall over Luke Iida at 149.
 
The Vikings ended the dual meet portion of the 2015-16 season with a 7-6 record while Chicago fell to 3-9. Augustana will host the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championship on Thursday, February 18 beginning at 5:00 p.m.
 
AUGUSTANA "Vikings" vs. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO "Maroons"
Friday, February 5, 2016
Carver Center – Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois
 
INDIVIDUAL WEIGHT CLASS RESULTS
WEIGHT            RESULT                                                                                                             AUG      CHICAGO
125                   Jimmy Panozzo (A) won by forfeit                                                                        6          0
133                   Louis Demarco (UC) dec. Sean McMahon (A) 5-2                                                   6          3         
141                   Mason Williams (UC) pinned Davis Baxter (A) at 6:52                                             6          9
149                   Matt Sears (A) technical fall Luke Iida (UC) 17-2                                                    11         9
157                   David Tessiatore (A) won by forfeit                                                                      17         9
165                   Nicholas Ferraro (UC) major dec. Trace Timmons (A) 11-3                                    17         13                    
174                   Paul Papoutsis (UC) dec. Alex Bowers (A) 3-2                                                       17         16
184                   Christos Giatras (A) pinned Duncan Payne (UC) at 2:23                                          23         16
197                   Thomas Reyhons (A) pinned Ryan Walsh (UC) at 2:23                                           29         16
285                   John Seaman (A) pinned Patrick Mulkerin (UC) at 0:32                                           35         16
 
FINAL
Augustana 35, Chicago 16.
Referee is Scott Holbrook
Augustana (7-6), Chicago (3-9)