Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Dec. 2, 2021) – In the marquee match of the week that had the eyes of Division III watching, the No. 1-ranked Loras College wrestling team (2-0, 1-0 A-R-C) established an early lead to assert its dominance over the No. 4-ranked Augsburg University Auggies (2-1) on Wednesday, handing the Auggies their first loss of the season with a 23-17 victory inside SI Melby Hall.

The Duhawks asserted themselves early with a 19-0 lead through the first four bouts, led by No. 15 Jared Hensley opening the dual with a 13-2 major decision over Wyatt Kaczrowski at 125 lbs. and Aiden Evans adding to the lead with a quick pin just over a minute into the 133 lbs. match against Austin Gabbert. No. 7 Jalen Schropp took the 141 lbs. match by a 7-1 decision against Brady Gross and No. 3 Daniel Ruiz made swift work of Charlie Stuhl, pinning him at the 2:25 mark. The Auggies took the next two matches to get on the board, trailing 19-7 heading into the 174 lbs. bout.

In the first top-ten matchup of the night, No. 3 Jacob Krakow squared off against No. 1-ranked Solomon Nielsen in a rematch from the NWCA National Championship Semifinal last season but Nielsen's late takedown in the waning seconds of the bout gave Augsburg its third-straight win, cutting the lead 19-10. It was now Loras' turn to put the No. 1 wrestler on the mat as Shane Liegel looked to maintain his perfect start to his junior campaign against No. 4-ranked Nick Rogge. Liegel quickly ran away with a 9-1 major decision for his tenth win of the season and put Loras up 23-10 with two matches remaining.

Augsburg came back to win the 197 lbs. match by a major decision, cutting into Loras' lead, 23-14 and added on a decision in the final bout, but the Duhawks had the win locked up and to improve to 2-0 and record its first win against a top-25 team this season.

The loss marked the second-most points the Auggies have conceded in a match since the Jan. 11, 2020 matchup against Wartburg College where Augsburg fell to the Knights, 24-15.

Loras is back in action in just over a week as the Duhawks host Cornell College inside the Patrick J. Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center at 7 P.M. A live video feed will be available and fans are reminded to adhere to campus COVID-19 protocols while attending indoor events.