MWRES PREVIEW: ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ , ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ
The top rivalry in NCAA Division III wrestling takes center stage Friday night as the No. 1/2-ranked Wartburg men's wrestling team (12-1 overall, 6-0 A-R-C) travels north to square off against No. 3/3-ranked Augsburg University (8-2 overall) in the annual Battle of the Burgs. First whistle is set for 7 p.m. inside historic Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis, Minn.
Few matchups in Division III athletics carry the weight of Wartburg versus Augsburg. Since 1995, the two Lutheran institutions have combined to win every NCAA Division III wrestling national championship, with Wartburg owning 16 team titles and Augsburg close behind with 15.
At stake Friday night is the Swens-Milboy Trophy Belt, awarded annually to the dual winner. The belt honors the legendary coaches who elevated both programs to national dominance - Augsburg's Jeff Swenson (1980โ84, 1986โ2007) and Wartburg's Jim Miller (1991โ2013). Each guided his program to 10 national championships, defining an era of Division III wrestling excellence.
Wartburg holds a 25-19 advantage in the all-time series and leads 17-11 in Battle of the Burgs duals, which began during the 1996-97 season. Augsburg has claimed the last two BOTB meetings, while the Knights last captured the Swens-Milboy Belt with a 22-14 victory on Jan. 23, 2023, inside Levick Arena.
The highly anticipated dual will be streamed live on the MIAC Sports Network. Tickets must be purchased online.
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