The annual “Battle of the Burgs” highlights the weekend schedule for top-ranked Wartburg Friday, Feb. 4. The Knights and Augsburg College Auggies meet at 7 p.m. inside Si-Melby Hall on Augsburg’s campus in Minneapolis, Minn.
Following the dual at Augsburg, Coach Jim Miller’s squad competes in St. John’s University of Collegeville, Minn.’s North Country Invitational Saturday, Feb. 5.
Fans can follow the Wartburg-Augsburg showdown Friday via a live webcast on the scrolling schedule section of the home page at www.go-knights.net, the Internet home of Wartburg athletics.
KNIGHTS NOTES: When it comes to wrestling, the two institutions have been a big part of the national picture. They’ve combined to win the last 10 National Duals championships and along traditional national tournament lines, the Knights own titles in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009, while Augsburg has won championships in 11 of the last 20 years. …. It’s the 25th meeting in the series between the two mat powers. Augsburg holds a 15-9 edge, but the last 17 have nearly dead even with the Auggies holding a slim 9-8 advantage. … A year ago, Augsburg won two cliffhangers over the Orange and Black with an 18-15 decision in the finals of the National Duals and a 16-15 victory in Waverly. … The last five match-ups have been decided by five points or less. … Several Knights go into the weekend on personal winning rolls. Junior 197-pounder Byron Tate (Clinton), ranked No. 1, has won 42 of his last 43, while senior 157-pounder Carrington Banks (Stockbridge, Ga.), ranked No. 3, has claimed 20 of his last 21 matches. Senior heavyweight John Helgerson (West Union), also ranked No. 1, has a 14-match win streak in tow. … Wartburg’s remaining ranked wrestlers are senior 125-pounder Mark Kist (Eagle Grove) (No. 3), junior 133-pounder Michael Kremer (Independence) (No. 6), senior 141-pounder Matt Kelly of Dubuque (No. 5), senior 149-pounder Jacob Groth (Marshalltown) (No. 10), and junior 184-pounder Dylan Azinger (DeWitt, Iowa) (No. 5).
REGULAR SEASON CLOSES: The Orange and Black are among the field at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational Saturday, Feb. 12.
