Upper weights carry Wartburg to title

It's a good thing Wartburg Coach Jim Miller is shaving his head because he may have pulled it out. The Knights won a pair of close duals to capture their fifth national duals title and first since 2008.

The second-seeded Knights beat University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 16-15, winning the final three bouts in the championship. Wartburg had to win the final three and claimed four of the last five matches to beat Ithaca (N.Y.), 18-15, in the semifinals to reach the finals for the 10th straight year. Wartburg beat Wisconsin-La Crosse, 25-8, for the title in 2008.

“We're real fortunate to have the guys at the top end for sure,” Miller said. “You've got to believe that we're within reach.”

Defending 197-pound national champion Byron Tate and national runner-up heavyweight John Helgerson, who both placed at Midlands Championships in late December, had key wins in both duals. Dylan Azinger contributed a win against Ithaca at 184, while Todd Becker won for the Knights at 184 against Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Tate said he's grown to accept the pressure at the top of the Knights' lineup.

“We practice together,” Tate said. “We're like the last defense. Whether we win a meet or lose a meet all depends on what we do.”

Wartburg's Carrington Banks scored a crucial major decision over Wisconsin-La Crosse's Ryan Farwell at 157, earning an extra team point.

“Every point counts,” Miller said of Banks' win. “That was a big match.”

Miller said the Knights have work to do, calling the performance good but not great. Miller said he was happy for the team to experience a championship but they'll need a better effort for the NCAA tournament in March.

They will need a more balanced effort and not relying on their big men to carry them.

“I think they're confident,” Miller said. “I just don't want our other guys depending on them. We can't have other guys depending on them , because you can't do that to win a championship. Everyone's got to contribute.”

Wisconsin-La Crosse is the only program to reach the finals besides Wartburg and Augsburg (Minn.). The fourth-seeded Eagles hammered top-seeded Augsburg, 23-13, in the semifinals.

Both finals appearances for the Eagles came under the guidance of Coach Dave Malecek. The Osage native was an All-American for University of Northern Iowa before coaching at Cedar Rapids Regis and Xavier, while teaching elementary physical education in town.