The Vikings take on UW-Parkside and No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Augustana wrestling team duals at home for the first time this season on Friday inside the Elmen Center. The Vikings will face off against the Rangers of UW-Parkside at 10 a.m. and the No. 2 ranked Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney at 1 p.m. The Lopers and Rangers will dual at 11:30 a.m.
After wrestling in five different states so far this season, the Vikings wrestle in the Elmen Center for the first time on Friday. For the Rangers, it’s their first away dual of the season while the Lopers hit the road for their fourth-consecutive road dual. It will also be the first duals of the season against Division II opponents for Augustana as it faced Arizona State and North Dakota State in its only two duals.
The Rangers
UW-Parkside earned its first win of the season against UW-Whitewater on Nov. 9 by a score of 32-19. After that, the Rangers competed in the CUW Open and 48th Annual Jim Koch Open, both of which did not tally team scores. They placed 12th in the Midwest Classic last weekend and will wrestle Minnesota State in Mankato, Minnesota, on Thursday before their matchups with the Vikings and Lopers. The Rangers are currently receiving four national votes in the NWCA Division II Top 25 Poll.
The Lopers
The No. 2 ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers defeated Hastings College handily by a score of 54-0 in their first dual of the season on Nov. 7. The Lopers then lost their dual with Nebraska after defeating Hastings and sit at 2-1 after beating Chadron State 26-16 in Chadron, Nebraska, on Dec. 12. The Lopers are currently tied with McKendree State for No. 2 in the NWCA Division II Top 25 Poll.
The Vikings
After four tournaments and two duals against Division I opponents, the Vikings are ready to host their first home duals of the season. Thus far, the Vikings have nine individual champions in tournaments and have three wrestlers nationally ranked. Junior Ben Kelvington is ranked No. 13 at 174 pounds by Flowrestling and The Open Mat. Redshirt freshman Michael Suda is ranked No. 16 at 125 pounds by The Open Mat and fellow redshirt freshman Hunter Burnett is ranked No. 14 at 141 pounds by Flowrestling.
The Lineups
Wt. – Augustana Vikings (Probables)
125- Ethan Cota
133- Jack Huffman OR Taylor Jeffries
141- Hunter Burnett OR Jebben Keyes
149- Keaten Schorr
157- Jacob Tvinnereim
165- Dylan Schuck OR Bailey Neises
174- Ben Kelvington OR Kolby Kost
184- Tanner Brengle OR Jackson Sweeney
197- Daniel Bishop OR Jarret Haglund
285- Steven Hajas OR Samuel Detert
Wt. – UW-Parkside Rangers (Probables)
125- Joe Arroyo
133- Airk Furseth
141- Pernevlon Sheppard
149- Nathan Smith
157- Nathan Hensley
165- Shane Gantz
174- Tanner Anthony
184- Sherman Dixon
197- Rodsean Graham
285- Nate Lloyd
Wt. – Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (Probables)
125- Open
133- Scott Fulsos
141- Wesley Dawkins
149- Jonathan Killingsworth OR Teontae Wilson
157- Tyler Cunningham
165- Matt Malcom
174- Terrell Garraway OR Talon Seitz
184- Terrell Garraway OR Talon Seitz
197- Andrew Demos
285- Jarrod Hinrichs OR Lee Herrington
Wrestler to Watch
Junior Ben Kelvington is 4-2 on the season with his only losses coming to Division I opponents. The Augustana Preseason Wrestler to Watch has defeated all other opponents in his division this season with two major decisions and one tech fall.
One Last Thing
The Vikings take on the first of four top-eight Division II-ranked opponents on their schedule on Friday when they dual No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney.
Check out Vikings Wrestling at goaugie.com and on Twitter and Facebook.
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