The Augustana wrestling team faced off against No. 2 Nebraska Kearney in a thrilling match at the Elmen Center. Despite individual victories, Augustana fell to Nebraska Kearney with a final score of 20-12.
The Vikings showcased resilience and skill, securing four individual match wins. The team will return to the mat in 2026, hosting Augsburg on Jan. 2 in the Elmen Center.
Here's a breakdown of the match results:
Key Match Highlights
Ramberg vs. Kinsella
The most anticipated match of the day was at 197 pounds, where No. 2 Max Ramberg faced off against No. 1 Jackson Kinsella. Ramberg got the best of Kinsella in a rematch of the quarterfinals and third place match at the 2025 NCAA Championships. Tied 1-1 late, Ramberg got around for a takedown with 45 seconds left to secure a top-ranked win.
Nolan Ambrose's Comeback
After three straight losses opened the match, Nolan Ambrose got the Vikings on the board. After falling behind 6-1 in the first period, Ambrose earned an escape to get within four points into the second period. He was able to ride out a takedown and then tallied an escape in the third period to send the match into sudden victory. There, Ambrose landed a headlock for a takedown and got a pair of nearfall points to close a decision and bring AU within 10-3.
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Gunderson's Ranked Victory
After a narrow decision at 165, Coy Gunderson muscled out a ranked victory at 174. Trailing 3-2 into the third, Gunderson picked up a takedown while holding off a late comeback to clinch a decision.
Wasley's High-Scoring Performance
Owen Wasley was the highest scoring Viking on the day at 184 pounds, tallying a reversal, takedown and eight nearfall points to secure a 13-6 decision.
John Danaher: Mastering the Arm Drag
Match Results
Here's a detailed breakdown of the match results:
- 125 - Caleb Coyle (UNK) over Christian Olsen (AUG) (Dec 4-2)
- 133 - #15 Zachary Ourada (UNK) over Brandon Board (AUG) (MD 15-4)
- 141 - #10 Joseph Airola (UNK) over Luke Koenen (AUG) (Dec 2-0)
- 149 - #8 Nolan Ambrose (AUG) over Brady Collins (UNK) (SV-1 11-6)
- 157 - #6 Cael Robb (UNK) over Cash Raymond (AUG) (Dec 1-0)
- 165 - #4 Trenton Munoz (UNK) over Payton Handevidt (AUG) (MD 14-6)
- 174 - #10 Coy Gunderson (AUG) over #9 Otgonbayar Batsuuri (UNK) (Dec 5-4)
- 184 - Owen Wasley (AUG) over Alex Munoz (UNK) (Dec 13-6)
- 197 - #2 Max Ramberg (AUG) over #1 Jackson Kinsella (UNK) (Dec 4-1)
- 285 - #2 Crew Howard (UNK) over Jaret Peterson (AUG) (Dec 5-0)
- Extra: Max Balow(AUG) over Jack Allen (UNK) (Dec 9-4)
Summary of Augustana Vikings Wrestling Roster Performance
Here's a summary table of the Augustana Vikings wrestling roster performance against Nebraska Kearney:
| Weight Class | Wrestler (Augustana) | Opponent (Nebraska Kearney) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | Christian Olsen | Caleb Coyle | Loss (Dec 4-2) |
| 133 | Brandon Board | Zachary Ourada | Loss (MD 15-4) |
| 141 | Luke Koenen | Joseph Airola | Loss (Dec 2-0) |
| 149 | Nolan Ambrose | Brady Collins | Win (SV-1 11-6) |
| 157 | Cash Raymond | Cael Robb | Loss (Dec 1-0) |
| 165 | Payton Handevidt | Trenton Munoz | Loss (MD 14-6) |
| 174 | Coy Gunderson | Otgonbayar Batsuuri | Win (Dec 5-4) |
| 184 | Owen Wasley | Alex Munoz | Win (Dec 13-6) |
| 197 | Max Ramberg | Jackson Kinsella | Win (Dec 4-1) |
| 285 | Jaret Peterson | Crew Howard | Loss (Dec 5-0) |
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