2004-05 Wrestling Summary
2004-05 CUW WRESTLING SUMMARY
Dual Record: 10-6-0
Head Coach: Bret Corner
Assistant Coach: Rai Stelter, Andy DeLoney
Conference Finish: 2nd
NCAA III Regional Finish: 8th
Significant Dual Wins: UW-Whitewater (21-18), Central IA (26-13),
Concordia-Moorhead (27-19), MSOE (21-18)
MVP: Sam Rugg Most Improved: Jason Lawrence
UW-Stevens Point Open Top performances included Gus Witte (3-1 at 285 Silver – 3rd place), Jason Lawrence (3-1 at 197 4th Silver), Kevin Koch (2-2 at 141 Gold), Sam Rugg (3-2 at 157 Gold), Joe Hand (2-2 at 157 Silver), Marty Schilcher (2-2 at 125 Silver). Koch had wins over Wes Fox(Wisconsin) by fall and Kyle Becker (UW-Park), 3-1. Rugg had wins over Robert Forseth (UWSP), Tony Hansen (MS-Mankato), and Brandon McCarthy (UWSP). Gus Witte won by fall over Jake Fergeson from Luther for third.
Concordia Open Placing for the Falcons were Kevin Koch (5th at 149), Sam Rugg (4th at 157), and Paul Manning (4th at 197), and Jason Lawrence (6th at 197). Koch went 4-2, including a 6-3 win over Heidelberg’s Mark Zimmerman for 5th. Rugg was 4-2, including wins over Heidelberg’s Ian Rammel (14-6) and UW-Oshkosh’s Justin Lancaster (6-5).
UW-LaCrosse Duals The Falcons went 1-3, but that included a big 21-18 win over nationally ranked UW-Whitewater. The Falcons dropped decisions to UW-LaCrosse (46-0), UW-Oshkosh (25-18), and UW-Platteville (25-18).
With the dual against UW-Whitewater tied 18-18 going into 285, UWW’s Derrick Johnson was called for stalling with 5 second left to tie his match with CUW’s Gus Witte and go into overtime. Witte got an escape in the second overtime, then rode out
Johnson in the second :30 OT period to win 1-0, and give CUW the match 21-18. Jason Lawrence rode out UWW’s Kory Lochner in the third period to win a key decision at 197 lbs. , and bring the Falcons even going into the last match.
Box Score: Concordia 21, UW-Whitewater 18
125 John Rombca (UWW) dec Jeff Luxner (CUW), 4-0.
133 Morgan Sickinger (CUW) dec. Mike Schnaidt (UWW), 8-5.
141 Nick Karls (UWW) dec. Kevin Koch (CUW), 8-4.
149 Ross Babcock (UWW) dec. Sam Rugg (CUW), 11-4.
157 Dustin Fox (UWW) WBF Joe Hand (CUW), 6:30.
165 Nick Bottcher (CUW) won by forfeit.
174 Eric Verbeten (UWW) dec. Andy Witkowski (CUW), 9-2.
184 Travis Brigham (CUW) won by default over Drew Hamel (UWW).
197 Jason Lawrence (CUW) dec. Kory Lochner (UWW), 3-1.
285 Gus Witte (CUW) dec. Derrick Johnson (UWW), 2-0 SV.
12/01 CUW 21, MSOE 18 With CUW trailing 18-17 going into the last match at 157, freshman Joe Hand scored 3 takedowns and got near fall in the third to win a 13-4 major decision and give CUW the 21-18 win. Rugg bumped up to 165 and scored a 13-4 major decision. Jason Lawrence got a pin at 197, and Jeff Luxner scored a last second takedown to win 7-6 at 125.
Private College Tournament The Falcons placed third with two champs and eight placers. Kevin Koch won at 141 with a 5-0 win over North Central’s Adam Johnson in the finals. Rugg won the title at 149 with an 18-9 major over Cornell’s Pat McAuley. Joe Hand was second at 157, dropping a 9-3 decision to North Central’s Jon Murphy in the finals. Team Scores: North Central IL 103, Millikin IL 80.5, Concordia University Wisconsin 77.5, Cornell IA 44.5, MSOE 35.5, Lawrence 34.5, Maranatha Baptist 15, Knox IL 13, Lakeland 12.5.
Elmhurst Al Hanke Invite Sam Rugg placed 2nd at 149 to lead the Falcons to a 7th-place finish. Rugg dropped a 15-13 SV decision to Augustana’s Ryan McMurray in the finals. Other placers were Jeff Luxner (6th at 125), Kevin Koch (3rd at 141), Joe Hand (6th at 157), and Jason Lawrence (6th at 197).
Wheaton Invite CUW took 18th / 27 teams, led by Rugg (7th at 149). Rugg pinned Indianapolis’ Nick Lain in 1:01 for 7th. UW-LaCrosse (178 pts) won the title followed by John Carroll (98.5), Indianapolis (88), North Central & UW-Parkside (80), Heidelberg (76), Augustana IL (67.5), Wabash (60), and Chicago (57).
Lake Michigan Conference MSOE clipped the Falcons, winning with 107.5 points to CUW’s 96. Picking up titles for the Falcons were: Ramon Smith (125), Sam Rugg (149), Joe Hand (157), and Dwayne Brigham (165). Taking second were Paul Nickolaus at 133 and Kevin Koch at 141. OW of the meet was Maranatha’s Shamar Bailey and CUW’s Joe Hand won Rookie of the Year. MSOE’s Kevin Morin was Coach of the Year.
NCAA III Great Lakes Regional CUW was 8th of 15 schools, being led by Kevin Koch (3rd at 141) and Sam Rugg (3rd at 149). Koch won his 3rd-place match 7-4 over Pacific’s Garret Miyake, but dropped a true-second place match to Elmhurst's David Silva, 3-2, and did not receive a wild-card bid to the NCAA National Meet.
Rugg pinned Matt Kuschert of Elmhurst in 1:33 for third but did not receive a true-second place match, as he earlier dropped a decision to Augsburg’s Jared Evans, 12-5. Evans lost in the finals to Augustana’s Ryan McMurray, 5-2. Rugg also did not receive a wild-card bid.
Freshman Joe Hand surprised the field and placed 4th at 157, including a pin over North Central’s Jon Murphy in the consolation semis. Dwayne Brigham was 6th at 165, including a 12-7 win over Jeff Snegosky of St. John’s in the consolations. Team Scores: Augsburg 256, Elmhurst 138.5, North Central 111, St. John’s MN 105.5, Augustana IL 90, Pacific OR 87.5, Chicago 70.5, Concordia University Wisconsin 64.5, Concordia-Moorhead 52, MSOE 41.5, Wheaton 19, Maranatha Baptist 17.5, Knox 15, Lakeland 12, St. Olaf MN 10.
Rugg Voted 2005 NCAA III Scholar All-American Sam Rugg was voted to the NCAA III Scholar All-American team at the national championships at St. Olaf College in March. Rugg finished 33-12 at 149 lbs., winning his fourth conference title, and finished his career with 128 wins, the most in Concordia wrestling history.