ANNIKA WALL, TRUMPET MANAGING EDITOR
The No. 1 Wartburg Wrestling team extended an undefeated season to 15-0 after the Knights defeated the No. 5 Coe College Kohawks, 24-12, in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) competition. Wartburg entered the 2019-20 season predicted to finish second in the A-R-C behind 2018-19 NCAA runnerup No. 3 Loras.
“Overall, I thought we wrestled way too conservative,” Eric Keller, Wartburg head wrestling coach, said. “We are best when we’re on our offense for seven minutes. We have to start separating ourselves in matches when the opportunity is there.”
Wartburg won seven of 10 bouts over Coe, which included five decisions, one fall and one sudden victory. To start off the match, No. 8 Brady Kyner ’21 won a close 6-5 decision over Alex Friddle at 125 pounds. No. 1 Kris Rumph ’22 followed at the 133-pound class with a 4-2 decision over Amier Khamis. At 141 pounds, Joe Pins ’23 upended Riley Wright with a 9-8 decision to start the Knights off with a 9-0 team lead.
Coe picked up its first win of the night with a Josh Gerke pin over Zayren Terukina ’22 at 149 pounds. Wartburg’s Martine Sandoval ’20 bounced back at 157 pounds as he and No. 6 Max Forsyth ’20 posted back-to-back victories. Paul Calo ’23 lost the 174-pound matchup to Tristin Westphal.
No. 2 Kyle Briggs earned Wartburg’s only nondecision win of the night with a fall over Josh Edel at 3:24. At 197 pounds, No. 4 Kobe Woods fell to No. 2 Taylor Mehmen, Coe’s only ranked wrestler, by a 3-1 decision. To round out the match and the 24-12 win, Jordon Brandon ’21 defeated Kaleb Reeves with a 7-4 decision.
The dual victory extended the series to 48-6 in favor of the Knights. Wartburg is working toward its 28th consecutive conference championship and has won 220-straight conference duals. Wartburg will host No. 2 Augsburg for the annual Battle of the Burgs at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, before hosting No. 3 Loras to conclude A-R-C duals.
Wartburg will take on the Duhawks at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, in Levick Arena.
Knight Wire 
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