Vikings Dual Season Opens with a Loss at Northern State
ABERDEEN, S.D. – After opening the season with six straight tournaments, the Augustana wrestling team started both its dual season and Northern Sun competition on Thursday at Northern State, but came up short against the Wolves, falling 21-13 inside Wachs Arena.
The Vikings fall to 0-1 overall and in NSIC competition, while the Wolves improve to 4-1 on the season overall, and to 2-1 in the NSIC. The wins also snaps a 27-match Vikings winning streak, dating back to the 1994-95 season.
After falling into an early 15-0 hole, the Vikings mounted a comeback, starting with Colin Ayers at 157 lbs., as he got Augustana on the board with a 4-1 decision over Walker Carr to cut the lead to 15-3, giving him his team-high 20th win in the process.
Bailey Neises made it 15-6 at 165 lbs., posting a hard-fought 2-0 win over Billy Holtan. Neises, who posted a second-place finish last week at the Warrior-Viking Open, boosts his record to 9-5.
The comeback continued with Lukas Poloncic at 184 lbs., as he earned a 13-4 major decision win over Jake Flakus to cut the Wolves lead to 15-10 with three matches remaining in the dual. Poloncic’s first major decision win of the season gives him an 8-7 record.
The Wolves boosted their lead to 18-10 with a win at 184 lbs., and even though Clayton Wahlstrom picked up a 9-5 decision at 197 lbs. to cut the lead back to five points and improve to 19-11 on the season, it would represent the last victory of the night for the Vikings.
The Vikings look to bounce back on Wednesday, when they host Dakota Wesleyan at the Elmen Center at 7 p.m. Augustana returns to NSIC action on Thursday, Jan. 17, when it hosts MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m .
Northern State 21, Augustana 13
125: Dayne Morton (NSU) def. Ethan Cota (AU), Fall, 4:45
133: Kenny Jones (NSU) def. Brayden Curry (AU), Dec. 10-3
141: Kolton Roth (SSU) def. Jebben Keyes, (AU), Dec. 9-6
149: Caden Moore (NSU) def. Tyler Wagener (AU), Dec. 6-3
157: Colin Ayers (AU) def. Walker Carr (NSU), Dec. 4-1
165: Bailey Neises (AU) def. Billy Holtan (NSU), Dec. 2-0
174: Lukas Poloncic (AU) def. Jake Flakus (NSU) Maj. Dec. 13-4
184: Kaden Campbell (NSU) def. Daniel Bishop (AU) Dec. 3-0
197: Clayton Wahlstrom (AU) def. Diego Gallegos (NSU) 9-5
285: Harrison Townsend (NSU) def. Matt Naig (AU), Dec. 8-1
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