IIAC dual win streak rises

INDIANOLA – Bolstered by 12 bonus-point victories, top-ranked Wartburg College gained three Iowa Conference dual wins at Simpson College's Cowles Fieldhouse Jan. 29.

The Knights (20-1 overall, 8-0 IIAC) opened the day with a 49-0 win over the host Storm. Freshman 184-pounder Sam Upah of Marshalltown and junior 197-pounder Byron Tate of Clinton each had falls, while the trio of sophomore 133-pounder Tommy Mirocha of Davenport, sophomore 141-pounder Nathan Vaske of Manchester and senior 157-pounder Carrington Banks of Stockbridge, Ga., won by technical fall.

Coach Jim Miller's team faced off in a much-anticipated clash with fifth-ranked Coe in its second dual. A fall from Mirocha and a major decision from Banks, sandwiched around key wins by senior 141-pounder Matt Kelly of Dubuque and senior 149-pounder Jacob Groth of Marshalltown, sparked a 32-6 win.

In its final meeting, Wartburg upended No. 25-ranked University of Dubuque 33-9. Tate, with a major decision, and senior heavyweight John Helgerson of West Union, concluding his day with three bonus-point wins behind a technical fall, highlighted the dual.

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Four top-six finishes led the way for the Orange and Black in Des Moines. Sophomore 149-pounder Cameron Wagner of Belle Plaine (sixth), freshman 174-pounder Noah Minikus of Denver (sixth), senior 184-pounder Todd Becker of Gilbertville (fifth) and freshman heavyweight Ryan Fank of Independence (fifth) earned the honors.

Wartburg closes its 2010-11 dual season with a trip to Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn., Friday, Feb. 4. The renewal of the “Battle of the Burgs” begins at 7 p.m. inside Si-Melby Hall on Augsburg's campus.

NOTES – Tate's three wins moved his recent roll to 42 victories in his last 43 matches. … Helgerson extended his personal win streak to 14. … Banks has won 20 of his last 21. … Over the course of its eight league duals in 2010-11, the Knights dropped only five individual matches.