MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Senior Matt Lewellen opened the match with a win, but the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team came up short in a dual against nationally-ranked Augsburg College on Wednesday as the Dragons fell to the Auggies, 34-9 in a dual held in Minneapolis, Minn.
 
MSUM fell to 2-1 in duals on the year, while Augsburg, the No. 2-ranked team in NCAA Division III, improved to 2-0 in duals.
 
Augsburg, which featured five nationally-ranked wrestlers in its lineup on Wednesday, used two pins and a win by technical fall to earn the win over the Dragons, who were missing three regular starters because of injury and started six individuals who were either freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
 
The dual opened at 184 pounds, and Lewellen continued his outstanding season for MSUM to improve to 18-7 on the year. Lewellen trailed Miles Hammerlund 2-0 early in the first period but came back to take a 5-3 lead and never relinquished it in earning a 10-5 win, giving the Dragons an early 3-0 lead.
 
Augsburg won by major decision at 197 as Matt Hechsel, ranked No. 3 in Division II in that weight class, beat Dragon freshman Tyler Schlosser 10-0. At 285 pounds, Chad Johnson – who is ranked No. 1 in the nation and is a two-time defending national champion, beat Dragon junior Gerad Fugleberg by technical fall 15-0 to push the Augsburg lead to 9-3.
 
MSUM freshman Blake Bosch battled No. 2-ranked Mike Fuenffinger tough at 125 pounds before falling 8-5.
 
The Auggies won the next two matches by fall to push the lead to 24-3, and then won by a 12-5 decision at 149 pounds. A competitive match took place at 157 pounds as Dragon redshirt freshman Dan Murakami battled No. 5-ranked Will Keeter to overtime before falling 3-1.
 
Augsburg won by major decision at 165 before the Dragons closed the match with a win at 174 as junior Michael Joseph won by injury default to make the final count 34-9. Joseph is now 19-8 on the year.
 
The Dragons are off until Jan. 4, 2014 when they compete at the Grand Canyon Duals in Phoenix, Ariz.
 
Augsburg 34, MSU Moorhead 9
184 – Matt Lewellen (MSUM) dec. Miles Hammerlund, 10-5 (MSU Moorhead 3-0)
197 – Mo. 3 Matt Hechsel (Aug) maj. dec. Tyler Schlosser 10-0 (Augsburg 4-3)
285 – No. 1 Chad Johnson (Aug) tech. fall Gerad Fugleberg, 15-0 at 4:46 (Augsburg 9-3)
125 – No. 2 Mike Fuenffinger (Aug) dec. Blake Bosch, 8-5 (Augsburg 12-3)
133 – No. 6 Kirk Anderson (Aug) pinned Shane Novak, 5:16 (Augsburg 18-3)
141 – Marcus Hamer (Aug) pinned Isaac Novacek, 4:56 (Augsburg 24-3)
149 – Rashad Kennedy (Aug) dec. Garret Hoffner, 12-5 (Augsburg 27-3)
157 – No. 5 Will Keeter (Aug) dec. Dan Murakami, 3-1 (OT-SV1) (Augsburg 30-3)
165 – Justin Bowland (Aug) maj. dec. Shawn Porter 12-3 (Augsburg 34-3)
174 –No. 6 Michael Joseph (MSUM) inj. default Tommy Teigen (Augsburg 34-9).