WAVERLY - Top-ranked Wartburg College took on the role of aggressor Saturday as it steamrolled rival and second-ranked Augsburg College, 28-9, in a battle of Division III national wrestling powers at Levick Arena.

In front of a standing-room-only crowd of 2,000-plus, the Knights won their 29th consecutive match and second straight over the Auggies.

Wartburg won eight of 10 matches and dominated statistically, holding a 19-4 advantage in takedowns.

"I thought it was a pretty solid win," said Knight head coach Jim Miller. "Everything didn't go our way, but I think most of the time we created our own breaks, and it worked out well."

Wartburg got a technical fall from Jacob Naig at 149 pounds and major decisions from Aaron Wernimont and T.J. Miller at 157 and 197, respectively.

The Knights (21-0) also got a big victory to start the meet from Robert Struthers at 125 as he reversed a 2007 national tournament loss to Seth Flodeen, the defending national runner-up, 7-5. Flodeen was ranked third nationally, and Struthers sixth.

"It was a good win - good to get that one back," said Struthers. "It was good to get us off to a good start with a solid win like that."

In a battle of the third- and fourth-ranked wrestlers at 133, Augsburg's Travis Lang caught Wartburg's Jake Helvey in a headlock and scored a fall in 2 minutes and 22 seconds.

Helvey was leading the match, 2-1, when he was thrown to his back.

But the Knights won the next four matches to take control, and then kept their foot on the gas pedal down the stretch, closing with victories by top-ranked Romeo Djoumessi at 184, top-ranked T.J. Miller at 197 and third-ranked Brian Borchers at heavyweight.

"I think tonight was good for us," said Jim Miller. "We're into February now, and we needed to get tested. I thought, obviously, with Augsburg, we got tested. Even some of the matches we won were tight."

The Auggies, who were coming off victories over Division II power Nebraska-Omaha and third-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse, got their other victory from George Lynaugh at 174.

"Jim Miller has a great team here, and they're all first class," said Augsburg head coach Sam Barber. "We knew it was going to be an uphill battle.

"But, as I said at the national duals, we just need to maintain our focus, keep on getting a little better and, when nationals come around, we think we are going to be in a better place."

Wartburg will be back in action Thursday at Buena Vista.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

125 - Robert Struthers (War) dec. Seth Flodeen 7-5; 133 - Travis Lang (Aug) pinned Jake Helvey, 2:22; 141 - Zach McKray (War) dec. Lucas Murray 6-2; 149 - Jacob Naig (War) technical fall over Jason Adams, 17-2, 7:00; 157 - Aaron Wernimont (War) dec. Beau Hansen 13-4; 165 - Justin Hanson (War) dec. Brandon Klukow 6-2; 174 - George Lynaugh (AUg) dec. Craig Kreman 12-8; 184 - Romeo Djoumessi (War) dec. Robbie Gotreau 6-4; 197 - T.J. Miller (War) dec. Wallace O'Connor 10-0; Hwt. - Brian Borchers (War) dec. Andy Witzel 2-0.