Auggies claim ten All-Americans, commanding lead into NCAA's final day

Don Stoner, Augsburg SID
March 4, 2005

For the first time in school history and just the second time in the history of the NCAA Division III wrestling national championships, Augsburg College claimed All-Americans in all 10 weight classes to take a commanding lead at the tournament, following Friday's second round at St. Olaf College's Tostrud Fieldhouse.

After the first day of the two-day tournament, the Auggies hold a commanding 21-point lead, with 80.5 points compared to 59.5 for second-place Wartburg (Iowa). Augsburg has seven wrestlers remaining in the championship bracket and three in the consolation bracket.

Augsburg had previously claimed nine All-Americans in the 1998 championships, which it won, and in last year's championships, which it lost to Wartburg. Wartburg was the first school ever to claim 10 All-Americans, when it accomplished the feat in winning the 2003 championships.

Augsburg's Marcus LeVesseur extended his consecutive-match winning streak to 122 straight victories, but faced one of the toughest matches of his collegiate career in the quarterfinals.

After recording a first-period pin over Joe Galante of The College of New Jersey in the opening round, LeVesseur escaped with a 5-4 victory over eighth-seed Ross Needham of Wisconsin-La Crosse to improve to 38-0 on the season. LeVesseur led 3-0 after one period, but gave up an escape and takedown early in the third period to tie the match at 3-3. LeVesseur scored a reversal with 1:15 remaining to gain the advantage for good, giving up an escape late.

LeVesseur extended his collegiate unbeaten streak to 122, the second-longest winning streak in college wrestling history behind the 159 of Cael Sanderson at Iowa State (1998-2002). Of his 38 wins this season, 23 have come by pin. LeVesseur tied Carlton Haselrig of Pitt-Johnstown (Pa., 1985-89) for the second-longest overall unbeaten streak in college wrestling history. Haselrig went 121-0-1 during his streak; LeVesseur has yet to lose a college wrestling match.

Augsburg's other defending national champions also advanced to the semifinals with victories on Friday.

Defending 133-pound national champion Mark Matzek claimed a 14-5 win over Matt Sganga of Cortland State (N.Y.) in his opening match, but held off a strong effort by Mike Lopez of Luther (Iowa) in a 3-2 victory. Matzek, the top-ranked wrestler at 133, is now 32-0, extending his winning streak to 40 straight matches dating to last season and earning All-American honors for the third time.

Matt Shankey improved to 21-0 at 125 pounds and extended his winning streak to 34 straight matches with his lone win on the day, a 10-3 triumph over Brandon McDonough of Johnson and Wales (R.I.).

Defending 174-pound national champion Joe Moon improved to 14-0 with two major-decision wins, earning All-American honors for the third time.

Augsburg?s Jamell Tidwell (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS), the defending national runner-up at 141 pounds, improved to 33-4 and claimed his 24th and 25th bonus-point victories of the season with a major decision and first-period technical-fall victory. Tidwell claimed All-American honors for the third straight season.

Fellow Minnesota school St. John's had two wrestlers in the championship field, but both were eliminated on Friday. Dan Fiecke claimed a 6-4 win over Wyatt Reyerson of Luther (Iowa) in his first match at 197 pounds before losing 8-4 to Jamall Johnson of Delaware Valley (Pa.) and falling to Sorensen in the wrestlebacks, while 157-pounder Jacob Malone lost to third-seed Ryan LeBeau of Luther (Iowa), 4-2, and to Danny Irwin of Manchester (Ind.), 4-2.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.