CEDAR FALLS – Second-ranked Wartburg College placed itself among the final four of the 2011 National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen Division III National Duals Jan. 8.
Coach Jim Miller’s team, improving to 12-1, felled 11th seeded Wilkes University of Pennsylvania 43-3 and seventh-seeded Concordia College of Moorhead, Minn., 31-9. The tourney’s second seed used two falls and a major decision in the win over the Cobbers and a combined six bonus-point wins against Wilkes.
Along individual lines, the senior tandem of heavyweight John Helgerson (West Union) and 149-pounder Jacob Groth (Marshalltown) each moved within one of 100 career wins. Helgerson picked up a fall and decision, while Groth turned in a win against Concordia after being stopped in his opening match.
The Orange and Black, seeking its 10th consecutive trip to the National Duals finals, faces sixth-seeded Ithaca University of New York in one of two semifinals at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, inside the UNI-Dome. The other semi pits top-seeded and two-time defending champion Augsburg College of Minneapolis, Minn., against fourth-seeded UW-La Crosse.
