#1 Wartburg and #2 Augsburg will square off in the 2020 edition of the “Battle of the Burgs” in Waverly, Iowa today. This will be the 38th time these two national powerhouses have competed against each other; the Knights currently hold 21-16 series advantage. 

The craziest stat is that one of these programs have won the DIII national tournament for the last 25 years. The Auggies have won 13 national titles since 1991 and the Knights have won 14 national titles since 1996, including seven of the last nine championships. Augsburg won the title in 2019 but Wartburg has one the last two meetings against Augsburg. Wartburg knocked off Augsburg in last year’s showdown in Minneapolis and defeated the Auggies in the National Duals final 24-15 back on January 11. Both lineups contain multiple ranked individuals and have all the makings for an incredible dual. Levick Arena will be electric. Below is a breakdown of projected lineups.

Time: 7 PM CST

Site: Waverly, Iowa // Levick Arena

Listen: https://kwayradio.com/

Watch: https://livestream.com/wartburgknightvision/ws19-20

125: No. 9 Brady Kyner (Wartburg) 13-4 vs Justin Stauffacher (Augsburg) 17-6 

These two met back in January with Kyner coming out on top of Stauffacher 9-2. Kyner is still the clear favorite but Stauffacher is a tough out. Kyner is sitting right outside the top eight in the latest rankings and has been a catalyst for Wartburg in duals. Kyner is an All American contender and is the first of seven ranked wrestlers who make up the Knights lineup. Kyner will definitely be looking to get bonus points but I think Stauffacher will keep it to a decision. Wartburg up 3-0 going into 133.

133: No. 1 Kris Rumph (Wartburg) 11-1 vs No. 2 Victor Gliva (Augsburg) 21-3

The first No. 1 vs No. 2 battle of the night will take place at 133. Rumph was an NCAA qualifier at 149 last season and finished in the round of 12. Rumph made the drop to 133 and it certainly seems to be paying off; he is off to a great start and is currently undefeated against DIII opponents. Gliva is a two-time All-American at 125 and has had a lot of success moving up to 133 this year. Rumph jumped out a quick 4-0 lead in the first meeting with Gliva but needed a late reversal in the third period to get the 6-4 win back in January. I think it will be another close bout but I see Rumph getting the win over Gliva again. Wartburg up 6-0.

141: No. 5 Brady Fritz (Wartburg) 19-4 vs No. 6 David Flynn (Augsburg) 8-2

Another big swing match with two highly ranked wrestlers in Fritz and Flynn. David Flynn was the NCAA champ in 2019 and Fritz finished in sixth as a true freshman. Fritz recorded the only takedown in the first meeting with Flynn this season and pushed Wartburgs lead to 9-0 in the National Duals final. Both wrestlers are tough to score on and I can see this being another 3-1 bout. This is a toss-up match but I think Flynn will find a way to flip the result and get Augsburg on the board. Wartburg 6 Augsburg 3 heading into 149.

149: Brock Rathbun 6-6 or Zayren Terukina 13-6 (Wartburg) vs No.3 Aaron Wilson (Augsburg) 24-1

Wartburg has two wrestlers that they have been using in their lineup at 149. Terukina got the nod last month and Wilson secured a first-period fall over Terukina. Rathbun was an NCAA champ back in 2018 at 133 but has not had the same success up two weight classes. Rathbun is a top-notch competitor and you have to imagine he will figure it out but Wilson will be favored in this match no matter who Wartburg throws out. Wilson is tough on top and will be throwing cradles from everywhere to get another pin but I think whoever represents Wartburg will be ready to fight in this heated rivalry. I believe Wilson will still get bonus, major decision win for Augsburg bringing the team score to Augsburg 7 Wartburg 6

157: Martine Sandoval (Wartburg) 13-3 vs No. 2 Ryan Epps (Augsburg) 23-1

Two-time defending champion Ryan Epps recorded a second-period fall over Martine Sandoval in their first matchup. Sandoval has recorded some solid wins over the past month and will look to give Epps all he can handle but the Auggie is still heavily favored in this bout. I think Epps will find a way to get at least a major decision, Augsburg 11 Wartburg 6 heading into 165.

165: No. 6 Max Forsyth (Wartburg) 23-3 vs No. 2 Lucas Jeske (Augsburg) 4-1

Lucas Jeske is the two-time defending champ at 165 but Max Forsyth didn’t care in their first meeting back in January. Forsyth was trailing 4-3 heading into the third but was able to come out on top of a scramble that was initiated by Jeske when he tried to roll through from the bottom position. Forsyth caught Jeske on his back and had Jeske’s wrist trapped on his back, a pin was inevitable at that point and Forsyth set the Knights bench into a frenzy. That pin stopped Augsburg’s momentum and swung the match back into Wartburg’s favor. National Duals was Jeske’s first competition back since the NCAAs so you have to think he will be in better shape for this matchup. I think Jeske wins the rematch over Forsyth and extends Augsburg lead, Augsburg 14 Wartburg 6

174: Paul Calo (Wartburg) 19-7 vs No. 7 Solomon Nielson (Augsburg) 17-2

These did not meet back in January. Nick Rogge got the nod for the Auggies and Paul Calo beat Rogge 6-2. Rogge is having a great year for Augsburg and has split with Nielson during the season so Calo’s win over Rogge was legit. This is a match on paper that Augsburg should take but I don’t think it is a shoo-in win for the Auggies. Calo is a tough freshman for the Knights and has had some mixed results but he will be ready to go Thursday. In the end, I believe Nielson will get the job done and extend Augsburgs lead to 17-6 heading into the final three bouts of the dual.

184: No. 2 Kyle Briggs (Wartburg) 20-1 vs No. 1 Tanner Vasser (Augsburg) 23-0

The second #1 vs #2 bout of the evening and it’s going to be another good one. Both Briggs and Vasser were All-Americans a season ago at 174, Briggs took third and Vasser took fifth. Both wrestlers have had nice seasons and have found equal success at the weight class above; Vasser was able to beat Briggs 4-3 and take the #1 ranking. This is another big-time matchup that has national seeding implications; whoever wins could potentially be the #1 seed heading into the NCAAs in March. I think Briggs flips the script and wins the rematch with Vasser, Augsburg 17 Wartburg 9.

197: No. 4 Kobe Woods (Wartburg) 13-4 vs No. 5 Lance Benick (Augsburg) 2-2

Kobe Woods and Lance Benick are currently 1-1 against each other. Benick won the matchup last year and Woods posted a convincing 5-1 win over the returning NCAA champ Benick last month. Just like Jeske and Flynn, Benick did not compete first semester and he struggled out at National Duals. I think Benick will be right in this match and it will come down to whoever can get a takedown. I see Woods getting a gritty win and bringing Wartburg within striking distance heading into heavyweight, Augsburg 17 Wartburg 12

285: No. 6 Jordan Brandon (Wartburg) 8-1 vs Zachary Muller (Augsburg) 4-4

Transfer Jordan Brandon has been a solid addition to the Wartburg lineup; he adds another potential All-American and a reliable closer for the Knights. Jordan Brandon and Zachary Muller competed last month with Brandon coming out on top 7-4. I believe Brandon will get the win but bonus points will be tough. Brandon did deliver a clutch major decision win against Baldwin Wallace to send the Knights into the semi-finals of National Duals so he has the firepower to put up points. I think Brandon gets a decision win but the bonus points at 149 and 157 are the difference in the dual, Augsburg 17 Wartburg 15. 

This is going to be a great event that showcases some of the best talent in DIII. Make sure you tune in tonight to watch #1 Wartburg vs #2 Augsburg and see who will take home the "Swens/Milboy Belt" traveling trophy.