WAVERLY -- Using 13 bonus-point wins to their advantage, No. 6-ranked Wartburg knocked off fifth-ranked St. John's University of Collegeville, Minn., 31-14 and 28th-ranked Loras College of Dubuque 37-6 Dec. 2.
The Knights, improving to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Iowa Conference dual action, held a 15-4 lead through four matches against the Johnnies. Third-ranked junior 125-pounder Mark Kist of Eagle Grove got a fall, while senior 141-pounder Chris Sandy of Spirit Lake continued to impress with a technical fall and junior 149-pounder T.J. Moen of Des Moines, entering the evening with a No. 10 ranking, turned in a major decision. St. John's trimmed the lead to 15-14 with two decisions and a major decision from 157 to 174 before the Orange and Black put the affair out of reach with falls from No. 7-ranked 197-pounder Byron Tate of Clinton and third-ranked heavyweight John Helgerson of West Union.
In the nightcap, the Orange and Black sewed up their 135th consecutive dual win against Iowa Conference competition with a 37-6 victory over Loras. Head coach Jim Miller's squad reeled off five straight wins before the visiting Duhawks gained a victory at 165. The four upper weight matches saw the Knights get two major decisions (sophomore 174-pounder Dylan Azinger of DeWitt and junior 184-pounder Todd Becker of Gilbertville), a fall from Tate and a technical fall from Helgerson.
Wartburg concludes a busy week of competition by wrestling in the Simpson Storm Invitational Saturday, Dec. 5. Action begins at 9 a.m. inside Cowles Fieldhouse on Simpson's campus in Indianola.
Wartburg-Loras-St. John's (Minnesota) double dual
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Levick Arena
Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center
#6 Wartburg 31, #5 St. John's (Minn.) 14
125 - Mark Kist (W) wins by fall over Scott Padrnos, 1:30
133 - Mogi Bataar (SJ) maj. Dec. Sean White, 18-9
141 - Chris Sandy (W) tech. fall Derek Gertken, 4:52
149 - T.J. Moen (W) maj. Dec. Charlie Kirscht, 21-8
157 - Drew Larson (SJ) dec. Jacob Groth, 4-1
165 - Matt Baarson (SJ) maj. Dec. Adam Weber, 13-5
174 - Matt Pfarr (SJ) dec. Carrington Banks, 6-4
184 - Todd Becker (W) maj. Dec. James Carlson, 10-0
197 - Byron Tate (W) wins by fall over Tony Willaert, 6:15
HWT - John Helgerson (W) wins by fall over Jake Evenson, 2:44
#6 Wartburg 37, Loras 6
125 - Gilberto Camacho (W) maj. Dec. Pat Pfantz, 14-1
133 - Tommy Mirocha (W) dec. Mark Beatty, 6-0
141 - Chris Sandy (W) maj. Dec. Chris Gansen, 14-1
149 - T.J. Moen (W) maj. Dec. Mitch Gansen, 22-8
157 - Michael Sandy (W) dec. Willie Sleyden, 15-8
165 - Tiegen Podliska (L) won by fall over Zach Hyland, 3:25
174 - Dylan Azinger (W) maj. Dec. Mark Kapraun, 17-4
184 - Todd Becker (W) maj. Dec. Josh Kirkland 17-4
197 - Byron Tate (W) wins by fall over Ben Bohlen, :38
HWT - John Helgerson (W) tech. fall Jeremy Klein 6:07
Officials: Curt Frost and Kent Sesker
