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Augsburg triumphs behind LeVesseur’s comeback
Three-time 157-pound champion steps up a class to clinch perfect career mark
The NCAA News
Three-time 157-pound champion steps up a class to clinch perfect career mark
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The NCAA News
Obstacles away from the mat sometimes deterred Marcus LeVesseur, but through it all, the Augsburg standout was able to accomplish a feat no other Division III wrestler has completed.
LeVesseur ended his wrestling career with a perfect 155-0 mark by capturing the 165-pound individual title at the Division III Wrestling Championships in Dubuque, Iowa, March 2-3.
He and Cael Sanderson of Iowa State are the only wrestlers in history to go unbeaten for four years. Sanderson posted a 159-0 record from 1999 to 2002 en route to four individual national championships.
LeVasseur’s efforts also helped Augsburg win its 10th NCAA championship by outdistancing defending champion Wartburg, 135½-99½.
After winning three consecutive titles, LeVesseur ran into problems away from his sport. In September 2005, he was arrested and faced charges of assault and disorderly conduct. He was also battling addictions to alcohol and marijuana.
LeVesseur went to substance rehabilitation centers in an effort to overcome the addictions.
On the mat, he came through shining on the other side. In his final college match, he defeated The College of New Jersey’s Michael Guenther, 3-0.
LeVesseur, who won his previous three national titles at the 157-pound weight class, pointed skyward from his knees after time expired.
“The one thing that pushed me through everything was my belief in God and my belief in myself that I would be able to overcome my disaster of a personal life,” he told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. “I had to take it one day at a time. It was a tough battle. But one year later, I’m here.”
Augsburg’s Quincy Osborn (141 pounds) and Jeremy Anderson (157) also won national titles to help the team toward the overall championship. The Auggies’ lineup had plenty of depth, with nine wrestlers qualifying for all-American status.
The team title satisfied an Augsburg team that lost a previous dual match, 19-13, to Wartburg.
“These guys showed the resiliency of our program,” LeVesseur said.
Other individual champions were Nate Hansen of Luther (125), David Morgan of King’s (Pennsylvania) (133), Luther’s Matt Pyle (149), Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Josh Chelf (174), Hunter’s Terrance Madden (184), and Wartburg’s Tyler Miller (197) and Blake Gillis (heavyweight).
Team results
1. Augsburg, 135½; 2. Wartburg, 99½; 3. Wis.-La Crosse, 92½; 4. Luther, 86; 5. TCNJ, 46½; 6. King’s (Pa.), 36; 7. Buena Vista, 33½; 8. (tie) Hunter and Cortland St., 31; 10. North Central (Ill.), 301/2; 11. Coe, 27; 12. Cornell College, 26 ½; 13. Wis.-Platteville, 25½; 14. (tie) Baldwin-Wallace, Johnson & Wales (R.I.) and Brockport St., 25; 17. Ithaca, 23½; 18. Delaware Valley, 23; 19. Mt. St. Joseph, 22½; 20. Wis.-Stevens Point, 19½; 21. Olivet, 18; 22. Heidelberg, 17½; 23. St. John’s (Minn.), 16; 24. York (Pa.), 14½; 25. Knox, 14; 26. Oneonta St., 13½; 27. Wabash, 13; 28. (tie) Manchester and Springfield, 12½; 30. Williams, 11½; 31. New York U., 11; 32. (tie) McDaniel and Rhode Island Col., 9; 34. Elmhurst, 8½; 35. Muhlenberg, 8; 36. Loras, 5; 37. (tie) John Carroll, Rochester Inst., Thiel, Wis.-Oshkosh and Chicago, 4½; 42. Roger Williams, 3½; 43. Oswego St., 3; 44. (tie) Wis.-Whitewater and Wesleyan (Conn.), 2; 46. Stevens Institute, 1½; 47. (tie) Case Reserve, Lycoming, and Wilkes, 1; 50. (tie) Gettysburg, Ohio Northern and Scranton, ½; 51. (tie) Bridgewater St., Centenary, Johns Hopkins, Merchant Marine, Messiah, Plymouth St., Simpson, Wis.-Eau Claire, Dubuque, Southern Me. and Ursinus, 0.
Individual champions
125 — Nate Hansen, Luther, def. Seth Flodeen, Augsburg, 3-2; 133 — David Morgan, King’s (Pa.), def. Jafari Vanier, Augsburg, 4-3; 141 — Quincy Osborn, Augsburg, def. Ricky LaForge, Delaware Valley, 7-3; 149 — Matt Pyle, Luther, pinned Jason Roush, Mt. St. Joseph, 2:04; 157 — Jeremy Anderson, Augsburg, def. Joseph Galante, TCNJ, 5-2; 165 — Marcus LeVesseur, Augsburg, def. Michael Guenther, TCNJ, 3-0; 174 — Josh Chelf, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Kyle Vanderhyde, Olivet, 9-0; 184 — Terrance Madden, Hunter, def. Stephon Sair, Cortland St., 3-2; 197 — Tyler Miller, Wartburg, def. Ben Strandberg, Buena Vista, 11-3; Heavyweight — Blake Gillis, Wartburg, def. Bryan Kmetz, Baldwin-Wallace, 4-0.
125-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Chris Heilman, Cornell, def. David Penny, Ohio Northern, 17-0 (technical fall, 5:00); Jake Oster, Elmhurst, def. Jacob Calhoun, Wis.-Stevens Point, 9-8.
Second round: Nate Hansen, Luther, def. Kyle Flickenger, York (Pa.), 11-2; Eracleo Vallejo, Manchester, def. Philip Greene, Merchant Marine, 12-2; Mike McInally, Rochester Inst., def. Munkhbaatar Baatar, St. John’s (Minn.), 11-3; Heilman def. Anthony Gummerson, Centenary (N.J.), 13-5; Seth Flodeen, Augsburg, def. Felipe Queiroz, Wilkes, 4-2 (sudden victory); Robert Struthers, Wartburg, def. Dave Colagiovanni, Cortland St., 10-1; Brian Clement, Coe, pinned Oster, 1:31; Brandon McDonough, Johnson & Wales (R.I.), def. Stephen Kingsland, Ursinius, 14-6.
Quarterfinals: Hansen pinned Vallejo, 2:54; Heilman def. McInally, 16-4; Flodeen def. Struthers, 5-2; McDonough def. Clement, 14-5.
Semifinals: Hansen pinned Heilman, 2:49; Flodeen def. McDonough, 14-7.
Final: Hansen def. Flodeen, 3-2.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Queiroz def. Penny, 6-2; Calhoun def. Greene, 7-2.
Second round: Oster def. Kingsland, 9-4; Queiroz def. Colagiovanni, 9-6; Baatar def. Gummerson, 7-5; Flickinger def. Calhoun, 15-9.
Third round: Oster def. McInally, 16-15; Vallejo def. Queiroz, 19-3 (technical fall, 6:51); Clement def. Baatar, 6-4; Flickinger def. Struthers, 4-3.
Fourth round: Vallejo def. Oster, 10-6; Flickinger def. Clement, 7-6.
Semifinals: McDonough def. Vallejo, 12-6; Heilman def. Flickinger, 19-7.
Third place: McDonough def. Heilman, 12-4.
Fifth place: Vallejo def. Flickinger, 7-4.
Seventh place: Oster pinned Clement, 0:37.
133-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jordan Kolinski, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Gannon Hjerleid, Coe, 15-7; Justin Seifried, Ithaca, pinned Adam Johnson, North Central (Ill.), 2:21; Jacob Helvey, Wartburg, def. Stephen Valastro, Southern Me., 8-4; Jestin Hulegaard, Buena Vista, def. William Hall, Muhlenberg, 6-4; Sean Cullen, Lycoming, def. Adam Pizzurro, John Carroll, 8-1; Jafari Vanier, Augsburg, def. Nichalos Nothern, Cornell, 3-1.
Quarterfinals: David Morgan, King’s (Pa.), def. Kolinski, 5-3; Helvey def. Seifried, 5-1; Hulegaard def. Raymond Sarinelli, TCNJ, 5-3; Vanier def. Cullen, 10-3.
Semifinals: Morgan def. Helvey, 5-2; Vanier def. Hulegaard, 7-5.
Final: Morgan def. Vanier, 4-3.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Johnson def. Valastro, 8-3; Northern def. Pizzurro, 3-1 (sudden victory).
Second round: Hjerleid def. Cullen, 5-4; Johnson def. Sarinelli, 6-0; Seifried pinned Hall, 4:37; Kolinski def. Northern, 4-3 (tiebreaker).
Third round: Johnson def. Hjerleid, 11-5; Kolinski def. Seifried, 13-1.
Semifinals: Johnson def. Helvey, 5-2; Hulegaard def. Kolinski, 9-8.
Third place: Johnson def. Hulegaard, 11-8.
Fifth place: Helvey def. Kolinski, 4-0.
Seventh place: Seifried def. Hjerleid, 11-6 (sudden victory).
141-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Tyler Branham, TCNJ, def. Andrew Lacroix, Roger Williams, 3-0; Austin Bautista, Wis.-Whitewater, def. Robert Kein, Muhlenberg, 16-6; Zach McKray, Wartburg, def. Zach Chambers, Wis.-Platteville, 10-8; Nicholas Sanchez, Heidelberg, def. John Marsh, Bridgewater St., 14-6.
Second round: Quincy Osborn, Augsburg, def. Travis Grawin, Luther, 21-6 (technical fall, 7:00); Branham pinned Luke Baum, Rochester Inst., 2:39; Jared Creason, Coe, pinned Kenny Thomas, Elhmurst, 4:38; Mike Gaeta, Springfield, def. Bautista, 4-0; Myanganbayar Batsukh, St. John’s (Minn.), def. Paul LeBlanc, Cortland St., 10-9; Michael Bonora, Rhode Island Col., def. McKray, 5-0; David Manoogian, Case Reserve, def. Sanchez, 11-5; Ricky LaForge, Delaware Valley, pinned Derrick Smith, Oswego St., 0:48.
Quarterfinals: Osborn def. Branham, 11-6; Gaeta pinned Creason, 6:42; Bonora def. Batsukh, 8-6; LaForge pinned Manoogian, 0:40.
Semifinals: Osborn def. Gaeta, 15-3; LaForge def. Bonora, 7-4.
Final: Osborn def. LaForge 7-3.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Lacroix def. Sanchez, 7-4; LeBlanc def. Kein, 10-2; Chambers def. Thomas, 19-3 (technical fall, 5:26); Baum def. Marsh, 13-2.
Second round: Lacroix pinned Smith, 3:55; McKray def. LeBlanc, 6-1; Chambers def. Bautista, 16-2; Grawin def. Baum, 9-0.
Third round: Creason def. Lacroix, 9-2; Branham def. McKray, 2-1; Chambers def. Manoogian, 13-9; Grawin pinned Batsukh, 5:24.
Fourth round: Creason def. Branham, 9-6; Chambers def. Grawin, 17-1 (technical fall, 4:57).
Semifinals: Creason def. Bonora, 10-5; Chambers def. Gaeta, 11-5.
Third place: Creason def. Chambers, 18-11.
Fifth place: Gaeta def. Bonora, 6-5.
Seventh place: Grawin pinned Branham, 5:27.
149-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jared Evans, Augsburg, def. Matthew Shank, Gettsyburg, 5-2; Ryan Higgins, Wis.-Platteville, def. Adam Weber, Wartburg, 13-9; Jacob Larsen, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Frank Cammisa, Bridgewater St., 3-1; Jason Roush, Mt. St. Joseph, pinned Donnell Young, Scranton, 3:44; Joe Pflug, Heidelberg, def. Eugene Kobilansky, New York U., 12-1; Don Ooton, Brockport St., def. Curtis Barber, Simpson, 7-2; Matt Pyle, Luther, pinned Jeff Kastel, Elmhurst, 2:16.
Quarterfinals: Evans def. Higgins, 10-4; Roush def. Larsen, 2-1 (tiebreaker); Pflug def. Ooton, 10-6; Pyle pinned Timothy Bohlman, York (Pa.), 0:31.
Semifinals: Roush def. Evans, 2-1; Pyle def. Pflug, 6-2.
Final: Pyle pinned Roush, 2:04.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Shank def. Weber, 12-6; Young def. Cammisa, 6-1; Kobilansky def. Barber, 16-5.
Second round: Bohlman def. Shank, 7-2; Ooton def. Young, 6-2; Larsen pinned Kobilansky, 6:49; Higgins def. Kastel, 16-4.
Third round: Ooton def. Bohlman, 5-3; Larsen def. Higgins, 3-1.
Semifinals: Evans def. Ooton, 4-0; Pflug def. Larsen, 11-3.
Third place: Pflug def. Evans, 6-3.
Fifth place: Ooton def. Larsen, 9-3.
Seventh place: Bohlman def. Higgins, 10-4.
157-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jacob Malone, St. John’s (Minn.), def. Ryan Higgins, Oneonta St., 15-1.
Second round: Jeremy Anderson, Augsburg, def. Mark DeCiccio, Springfield, 9-3; Pat McAuley, Cornell, def. Ryan Herwig, Delaware Valley, 10-8 (sudden victory); Jesse Milks, Wis.-Platteville, pinned Elliot Spence, Mt. St. Joseph, 5:46; Bobby Gingerich, North Central (Ill.), def. Kyle Forness, Buena Vista, 5-4; Aaron Wernimont, Wartburg, def. Kenneth Andrews, Olivet, 16-3; Joseph Galante, TCNJ, def. Anthony Coleman, Ohio Northern, 17-7; Daniel deLalla, Wesleyan (Conn.), def. Malone, 9-5; Ross Needham, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Andrew Goldstein, Gettsyburg, 2-0.
Quarterfinals: Anderson def. McAuley, 5-0; Gingerich def. Milks, 13-5; Galante pinned Wernimont, 6:33; Needham pinned deLalla, 4:37.
Semifinals: Anderson def. Gingerich, 7-3; Galante def. Needham, 2-1.
Final: Anderson def. Galante, 5-2.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Herwig pinned Higgins, 1:01.
Second round: Malone def. Goldstein, 3-1; Andrews pinned Coleman, 2:55; Spence def. Forness, 11-7; Herwig def. DeCiccio, 15-10.
Third round: Malone def. Milks, 5-0; McAuley pinned Andrews, 2:34; Spence def. deLalla, 14-3; Wernimont def. Herwig, 9-1.
Fourth round: Malone pinned McAuley, 2:45; Wernimont def. Spence, 13-5.
Semifinals: Needham def. Malone, 3-1; Gingerich pinned Wernimont, 5:49.
Third place: Gingerich def. Needham, 4-1.
Fifth place: Malone def. Wernimont, 3-2.
Seventh place: McAuley def. Spence, 18-2 (technical fall, 7:00).
165-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Zach Bogardus, Cortland St., def. Corey Murphy, Thiel, 4-3; Nate VanDyke, Luther, def. Brandon MacWhinnie, Stevens Institute, 9-3.
Second round: Marcus LeVesseur, Augsburg, pinned David Early, Loras, 1:21; Bogardus def. Lance Valiquette, Wis.-Eau Claire, 9-6; Jason Knipp, Wartburg, pinned Ben Youel, North Central (Ill.), 1:42; Gerald Bowne, York (Pa.), def. Joseph Hoover, Manchester, 2-2 (tiebreaker); Steve Martell, Johnson & Wales (R.I.), def. Derek Ricker, Messiah, 15-4; Michael Guenther, TCNJ, pinned Gino Russo, Baldwin-Wallace, 1:56; Shaheim Bradshaw, Brockport St., def. VanDyke, 5-2; Tim Palmer, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Phil Kruzel, Chicago, 7-3.
Quarterfinals: LeVesseur def. Bogardus, 23-7 (technical fall, 6:42); Knipp def. Bowne, 11-6; Guenther pinned Martell, 6:57; Bradshaw def. Palmer, 9-7 (sudden victory).
Semifinals: LeVesseur def. Knipp, 10-2; Guenther def. Bradshaw, 8-5.
Final: LeVesseur def. Guenther, 3-0.
Wrestlebacks
First round: VanDyke def. Murphy, 15-5; MacWhinnie def. Valiquette, 9-6.
Second round: Kruzel def. VanDyke, 6-4; Russo def. Ricker, 3-2; Youel def. Hoover, 9-7; MacWhinnie def. Early, 10-6.
Third round: Kruzel def. Bowne, 11-9 (sudden victory); Russo def. Bogardus, 7-4; Palmer def. Youel, 5-3; Martell def. MacWhinnie, 7-3.
Fourth round: Russo def. Kruzel, 9-5; Palmer def. Martell, 11-2.
Semifinals: Bradshaw pinned Russo, 6:58; Palmer def. Knipp, 5-3 (sudden victory).
Third place: Palmer def. Bradshaw, 3-2.
Fifth place: Knipp def. Russo, 15-5.
Seventh place: Martell def. Kruzel, 9-4.
174-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Josh Chelf, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Eric VanPatten, Brockport St., 12-0; Paul Meirick, Luther, def. Gregory Osgoodby, TCNJ, 16-5; Adam Dorner, Wis.-Oshkosh, def. Jason Zastrow, Wartburg, 8-2; Kyle Vanderhyde, Olivet, def. Benjamin Plowman, Ohio Northern, 8-2; Treavor LeBlanc, Cortland St., def. Robert Larson, Dubuque, 5-3; Robert Gotreau, Augsburg, def. Eric Bath, Wis.-Stevens Point, 8-3.
Quarterfinals: Chelf pinned Meirick, 1:50; Jonathan Dolan, Williams, def. Dorner, 8-4; Vanderhyde def. LeBlanc, 7-3; Gotreau def. Andrew Winfield, McDaniel, 1-0.
Semifinals: Chelf pinned Dolan, 6:15; Vanderhyde def. Gotreau, 8-5.
Final: Chelf def. Vanderhyde, 9-0.
Wrestlebacks
First round: VanPatten def. Osgoodby, 9-7; Plowman def. Larson, 6-4.
Second round: Winfield pinned VanPatten, 5:38; LeBlanc pinned Zastrow, 4:02; Dorner def. Plowman, 3-2; Bath pinned Meirick, 2:01.
Third round: Winfield def. LeBlanc, 8-2; Bath def. Dorner, 5-2.
Semifinals: Dolan def. Winfield, 8-5; Bath def. Gotreau, 6-4.
Third place: Bath pinned Dolan, 5:19.
Fifth place: Gotreau def. Winfield, 2-1.
Seventh place: LeBlanc def. Dorner, 5-1.
184-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jason Lulloff, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Eric Fishel, Johns Hopkins, 10-0; Brett Giehl, Brockport St., def. Mark Mueller, Luther, 9-5; Gabe Youel, North Central (Ill.), def. Elliot Smith, Springfield, 6-5; Terrance Madden, Hunter, pinned Daron Cruickshank, Olivet, 4:52; Romeo Djoumessi, Wartburg, def. Craig Bollig, Wis.-Stevens Point, 12-3; Nichalos Calandrino, Ithaca, pinned Jay Figgins, Loras, 2:14; Ryan Summers, John Carroll, def. George Lynaugh, Augsburg, 3-2; Stephon Sair, Cortland St., def. Nick Coleman, New York U., 5-3.
Quarterfinals: Lulloff def. Giehl, 7-4; Madden def. Youel, 10-9; Djoumessi def. Calandrino, 11-0; Sair def. Summers, 6-3.
Semifinals: Madden def. Lulloff, 3-2; Sair def. Djoumessi, 8-2.
Final: Madden def. Sair, 3-2.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Mueller def. Fishel, 10-2; Smith def. Cruickshank, 9-6 (tiebreaker); Figgins def. Bollig, 4-2; Coleman def. Lynaugh, 7-1.
Second round: Summers def. Mueller, 5-4; Calandrino def. Smith, 12-4; Figgins def. Youel, 3-0; Coleman pinned Giehl, 6:47.
Third round: Calandrino pinned Summers, 4:09; Coleman def. Figgins, 3-2.
Semifinals: Lulloff pinned Calandrino, 4:26; Djoumessi def. Coleman, 8-2.
Third place: Lulloff def. Djoumessi, 7-6.
Fifth place: Calandrino def. Coleman, 9-7.
Seventh place: Figgins def. Summers, 6-2.
197-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Tyler Miller, Wartburg, def. Jason Reilly, King’s (Pa.), 18-0 (technical fall, 2:42); Alec Bonander, Luther, pinned Wally O’Connor, Augsburg, 1:39; James Swanson, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Paul Burger, Baldwin-Wallace, 5-4; Ben Strandberg, Buena Vista, def. Tyler Wozniak, Wis.-Stevens Point, 7-3; Diego Crespo, Johnson & Wales (R.I.), def. Philip Archer, Cortland St., 3-2.
Quarterfinals: Miller def. Mike Schmidt, Wis.-Whitewater, 15-2; Keith Garrard, Wabash, pinned Bonander, 1:41; Strandberg def. Swanson, 7-3; Matthew Loesch, Muhlenberg, def. Crespo, 5-3 (sudden victory).
Semifinals: Miller def. Garrard, 10-2; Strandberg def. Loesch, 12-6.
Final: Miller def. Strandberg, 11-3.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Wozniak pinned Burger, 6:58.
Second round: Reilley pinned Crespo, 3:44; O’Connor def. Swanson, 5-4; Bonander def. Wozniak, 8-4; Archer def. Schmidt, 2-0.
Third round: Reilly pinned O’Connor, 1:46; Bonander def. Archer, 8-3.
Semifinals: Reilly pinned Garrard, 3:09; Bonander def. Loesch (medical forfeit).
Third place: Bonander def. Reilly, 10-4.
Fifth place: Garrard def. Loesch (medical forfeit).
Seventh place: Archer def. O’Connor, 10-4.
Heavyweight class
Main bracket
First round: Blake Gillis, Wartburg, def. Shaun Wilbert, Plymouth St., 16-0 (technical fall, 4:58); Ryan Bowers, Heidelberg, def. Dan Laurent, Wis.-La Crosse, 3-2; Trevor Hiffa, Oneonta St., def. Andrew Neumann, Augsburg, 2-0; John Miller, Luther, pinned Kyle Bilquist, Delaware Valley, 4:30; Bryan Kmetz, Baldwin-Wallace, pinned Joseph Tartar, Muhlenberg, 0:42; Jacob Taylor, Oswego St., pinned Wade Hammen, Buena Vista, 6:30; Kyle Brown, Thiel, def. Jaran Rutledge, Knox, 3-2.
Quarterfinals: Gillis def. Bowers, 16-3; Hiffa pinned Miller, 5:51; Kmetz def. Taylor, 5-0; Arkadiy Levitin, Hunter, pinned Brown, 1:07.
Semifinals: Gillis pinned Hiffa, 1:59; Kmetz def. Levitin, 3-0.
Final: Gillis def. Kmetz, 4-0.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Laurent def. Wilbert, 18-3 (technical fall, 4:58); Neumann pinned Bilquist, 2:32; Hammen pinned Tartar, 1:36.
Second round: Brown def. Laurent, 12-3; Neumann def. Taylor, 11-0; Hammen def. Miller, 10-6; Rutledge def. Bowers, 8-5.
Third round: Neumann pinned Brown, 3:27; Rutledge def. Hammen, 3-2 (tiebreaker).
Semifinals: Hiffa def. Neumann, 7-2; Rutledge def. Levitin, 4-3.
Third place: Rutledge pinned Hiffa, 4:01.
Fifth place: Neumann def. Levitin, 9-2.
Seventh place: Hammen def. Brown, 3-2.
LeVesseur ended his wrestling career with a perfect 155-0 mark by capturing the 165-pound individual title at the Division III Wrestling Championships in Dubuque, Iowa, March 2-3.
He and Cael Sanderson of Iowa State are the only wrestlers in history to go unbeaten for four years. Sanderson posted a 159-0 record from 1999 to 2002 en route to four individual national championships.
LeVasseur’s efforts also helped Augsburg win its 10th NCAA championship by outdistancing defending champion Wartburg, 135½-99½.
After winning three consecutive titles, LeVesseur ran into problems away from his sport. In September 2005, he was arrested and faced charges of assault and disorderly conduct. He was also battling addictions to alcohol and marijuana.
LeVesseur went to substance rehabilitation centers in an effort to overcome the addictions.
On the mat, he came through shining on the other side. In his final college match, he defeated The College of New Jersey’s Michael Guenther, 3-0.
LeVesseur, who won his previous three national titles at the 157-pound weight class, pointed skyward from his knees after time expired.
“The one thing that pushed me through everything was my belief in God and my belief in myself that I would be able to overcome my disaster of a personal life,” he told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. “I had to take it one day at a time. It was a tough battle. But one year later, I’m here.”
Augsburg’s Quincy Osborn (141 pounds) and Jeremy Anderson (157) also won national titles to help the team toward the overall championship. The Auggies’ lineup had plenty of depth, with nine wrestlers qualifying for all-American status.
The team title satisfied an Augsburg team that lost a previous dual match, 19-13, to Wartburg.
“These guys showed the resiliency of our program,” LeVesseur said.
Other individual champions were Nate Hansen of Luther (125), David Morgan of King’s (Pennsylvania) (133), Luther’s Matt Pyle (149), Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Josh Chelf (174), Hunter’s Terrance Madden (184), and Wartburg’s Tyler Miller (197) and Blake Gillis (heavyweight).
Team results
1. Augsburg, 135½; 2. Wartburg, 99½; 3. Wis.-La Crosse, 92½; 4. Luther, 86; 5. TCNJ, 46½; 6. King’s (Pa.), 36; 7. Buena Vista, 33½; 8. (tie) Hunter and Cortland St., 31; 10. North Central (Ill.), 301/2; 11. Coe, 27; 12. Cornell College, 26 ½; 13. Wis.-Platteville, 25½; 14. (tie) Baldwin-Wallace, Johnson & Wales (R.I.) and Brockport St., 25; 17. Ithaca, 23½; 18. Delaware Valley, 23; 19. Mt. St. Joseph, 22½; 20. Wis.-Stevens Point, 19½; 21. Olivet, 18; 22. Heidelberg, 17½; 23. St. John’s (Minn.), 16; 24. York (Pa.), 14½; 25. Knox, 14; 26. Oneonta St., 13½; 27. Wabash, 13; 28. (tie) Manchester and Springfield, 12½; 30. Williams, 11½; 31. New York U., 11; 32. (tie) McDaniel and Rhode Island Col., 9; 34. Elmhurst, 8½; 35. Muhlenberg, 8; 36. Loras, 5; 37. (tie) John Carroll, Rochester Inst., Thiel, Wis.-Oshkosh and Chicago, 4½; 42. Roger Williams, 3½; 43. Oswego St., 3; 44. (tie) Wis.-Whitewater and Wesleyan (Conn.), 2; 46. Stevens Institute, 1½; 47. (tie) Case Reserve, Lycoming, and Wilkes, 1; 50. (tie) Gettysburg, Ohio Northern and Scranton, ½; 51. (tie) Bridgewater St., Centenary, Johns Hopkins, Merchant Marine, Messiah, Plymouth St., Simpson, Wis.-Eau Claire, Dubuque, Southern Me. and Ursinus, 0.
Individual champions
125 — Nate Hansen, Luther, def. Seth Flodeen, Augsburg, 3-2; 133 — David Morgan, King’s (Pa.), def. Jafari Vanier, Augsburg, 4-3; 141 — Quincy Osborn, Augsburg, def. Ricky LaForge, Delaware Valley, 7-3; 149 — Matt Pyle, Luther, pinned Jason Roush, Mt. St. Joseph, 2:04; 157 — Jeremy Anderson, Augsburg, def. Joseph Galante, TCNJ, 5-2; 165 — Marcus LeVesseur, Augsburg, def. Michael Guenther, TCNJ, 3-0; 174 — Josh Chelf, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Kyle Vanderhyde, Olivet, 9-0; 184 — Terrance Madden, Hunter, def. Stephon Sair, Cortland St., 3-2; 197 — Tyler Miller, Wartburg, def. Ben Strandberg, Buena Vista, 11-3; Heavyweight — Blake Gillis, Wartburg, def. Bryan Kmetz, Baldwin-Wallace, 4-0.
125-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Chris Heilman, Cornell, def. David Penny, Ohio Northern, 17-0 (technical fall, 5:00); Jake Oster, Elmhurst, def. Jacob Calhoun, Wis.-Stevens Point, 9-8.
Second round: Nate Hansen, Luther, def. Kyle Flickenger, York (Pa.), 11-2; Eracleo Vallejo, Manchester, def. Philip Greene, Merchant Marine, 12-2; Mike McInally, Rochester Inst., def. Munkhbaatar Baatar, St. John’s (Minn.), 11-3; Heilman def. Anthony Gummerson, Centenary (N.J.), 13-5; Seth Flodeen, Augsburg, def. Felipe Queiroz, Wilkes, 4-2 (sudden victory); Robert Struthers, Wartburg, def. Dave Colagiovanni, Cortland St., 10-1; Brian Clement, Coe, pinned Oster, 1:31; Brandon McDonough, Johnson & Wales (R.I.), def. Stephen Kingsland, Ursinius, 14-6.
Quarterfinals: Hansen pinned Vallejo, 2:54; Heilman def. McInally, 16-4; Flodeen def. Struthers, 5-2; McDonough def. Clement, 14-5.
Semifinals: Hansen pinned Heilman, 2:49; Flodeen def. McDonough, 14-7.
Final: Hansen def. Flodeen, 3-2.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Queiroz def. Penny, 6-2; Calhoun def. Greene, 7-2.
Second round: Oster def. Kingsland, 9-4; Queiroz def. Colagiovanni, 9-6; Baatar def. Gummerson, 7-5; Flickinger def. Calhoun, 15-9.
Third round: Oster def. McInally, 16-15; Vallejo def. Queiroz, 19-3 (technical fall, 6:51); Clement def. Baatar, 6-4; Flickinger def. Struthers, 4-3.
Fourth round: Vallejo def. Oster, 10-6; Flickinger def. Clement, 7-6.
Semifinals: McDonough def. Vallejo, 12-6; Heilman def. Flickinger, 19-7.
Third place: McDonough def. Heilman, 12-4.
Fifth place: Vallejo def. Flickinger, 7-4.
Seventh place: Oster pinned Clement, 0:37.
133-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jordan Kolinski, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Gannon Hjerleid, Coe, 15-7; Justin Seifried, Ithaca, pinned Adam Johnson, North Central (Ill.), 2:21; Jacob Helvey, Wartburg, def. Stephen Valastro, Southern Me., 8-4; Jestin Hulegaard, Buena Vista, def. William Hall, Muhlenberg, 6-4; Sean Cullen, Lycoming, def. Adam Pizzurro, John Carroll, 8-1; Jafari Vanier, Augsburg, def. Nichalos Nothern, Cornell, 3-1.
Quarterfinals: David Morgan, King’s (Pa.), def. Kolinski, 5-3; Helvey def. Seifried, 5-1; Hulegaard def. Raymond Sarinelli, TCNJ, 5-3; Vanier def. Cullen, 10-3.
Semifinals: Morgan def. Helvey, 5-2; Vanier def. Hulegaard, 7-5.
Final: Morgan def. Vanier, 4-3.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Johnson def. Valastro, 8-3; Northern def. Pizzurro, 3-1 (sudden victory).
Second round: Hjerleid def. Cullen, 5-4; Johnson def. Sarinelli, 6-0; Seifried pinned Hall, 4:37; Kolinski def. Northern, 4-3 (tiebreaker).
Third round: Johnson def. Hjerleid, 11-5; Kolinski def. Seifried, 13-1.
Semifinals: Johnson def. Helvey, 5-2; Hulegaard def. Kolinski, 9-8.
Third place: Johnson def. Hulegaard, 11-8.
Fifth place: Helvey def. Kolinski, 4-0.
Seventh place: Seifried def. Hjerleid, 11-6 (sudden victory).
141-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Tyler Branham, TCNJ, def. Andrew Lacroix, Roger Williams, 3-0; Austin Bautista, Wis.-Whitewater, def. Robert Kein, Muhlenberg, 16-6; Zach McKray, Wartburg, def. Zach Chambers, Wis.-Platteville, 10-8; Nicholas Sanchez, Heidelberg, def. John Marsh, Bridgewater St., 14-6.
Second round: Quincy Osborn, Augsburg, def. Travis Grawin, Luther, 21-6 (technical fall, 7:00); Branham pinned Luke Baum, Rochester Inst., 2:39; Jared Creason, Coe, pinned Kenny Thomas, Elhmurst, 4:38; Mike Gaeta, Springfield, def. Bautista, 4-0; Myanganbayar Batsukh, St. John’s (Minn.), def. Paul LeBlanc, Cortland St., 10-9; Michael Bonora, Rhode Island Col., def. McKray, 5-0; David Manoogian, Case Reserve, def. Sanchez, 11-5; Ricky LaForge, Delaware Valley, pinned Derrick Smith, Oswego St., 0:48.
Quarterfinals: Osborn def. Branham, 11-6; Gaeta pinned Creason, 6:42; Bonora def. Batsukh, 8-6; LaForge pinned Manoogian, 0:40.
Semifinals: Osborn def. Gaeta, 15-3; LaForge def. Bonora, 7-4.
Final: Osborn def. LaForge 7-3.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Lacroix def. Sanchez, 7-4; LeBlanc def. Kein, 10-2; Chambers def. Thomas, 19-3 (technical fall, 5:26); Baum def. Marsh, 13-2.
Second round: Lacroix pinned Smith, 3:55; McKray def. LeBlanc, 6-1; Chambers def. Bautista, 16-2; Grawin def. Baum, 9-0.
Third round: Creason def. Lacroix, 9-2; Branham def. McKray, 2-1; Chambers def. Manoogian, 13-9; Grawin pinned Batsukh, 5:24.
Fourth round: Creason def. Branham, 9-6; Chambers def. Grawin, 17-1 (technical fall, 4:57).
Semifinals: Creason def. Bonora, 10-5; Chambers def. Gaeta, 11-5.
Third place: Creason def. Chambers, 18-11.
Fifth place: Gaeta def. Bonora, 6-5.
Seventh place: Grawin pinned Branham, 5:27.
149-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jared Evans, Augsburg, def. Matthew Shank, Gettsyburg, 5-2; Ryan Higgins, Wis.-Platteville, def. Adam Weber, Wartburg, 13-9; Jacob Larsen, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Frank Cammisa, Bridgewater St., 3-1; Jason Roush, Mt. St. Joseph, pinned Donnell Young, Scranton, 3:44; Joe Pflug, Heidelberg, def. Eugene Kobilansky, New York U., 12-1; Don Ooton, Brockport St., def. Curtis Barber, Simpson, 7-2; Matt Pyle, Luther, pinned Jeff Kastel, Elmhurst, 2:16.
Quarterfinals: Evans def. Higgins, 10-4; Roush def. Larsen, 2-1 (tiebreaker); Pflug def. Ooton, 10-6; Pyle pinned Timothy Bohlman, York (Pa.), 0:31.
Semifinals: Roush def. Evans, 2-1; Pyle def. Pflug, 6-2.
Final: Pyle pinned Roush, 2:04.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Shank def. Weber, 12-6; Young def. Cammisa, 6-1; Kobilansky def. Barber, 16-5.
Second round: Bohlman def. Shank, 7-2; Ooton def. Young, 6-2; Larsen pinned Kobilansky, 6:49; Higgins def. Kastel, 16-4.
Third round: Ooton def. Bohlman, 5-3; Larsen def. Higgins, 3-1.
Semifinals: Evans def. Ooton, 4-0; Pflug def. Larsen, 11-3.
Third place: Pflug def. Evans, 6-3.
Fifth place: Ooton def. Larsen, 9-3.
Seventh place: Bohlman def. Higgins, 10-4.
157-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jacob Malone, St. John’s (Minn.), def. Ryan Higgins, Oneonta St., 15-1.
Second round: Jeremy Anderson, Augsburg, def. Mark DeCiccio, Springfield, 9-3; Pat McAuley, Cornell, def. Ryan Herwig, Delaware Valley, 10-8 (sudden victory); Jesse Milks, Wis.-Platteville, pinned Elliot Spence, Mt. St. Joseph, 5:46; Bobby Gingerich, North Central (Ill.), def. Kyle Forness, Buena Vista, 5-4; Aaron Wernimont, Wartburg, def. Kenneth Andrews, Olivet, 16-3; Joseph Galante, TCNJ, def. Anthony Coleman, Ohio Northern, 17-7; Daniel deLalla, Wesleyan (Conn.), def. Malone, 9-5; Ross Needham, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Andrew Goldstein, Gettsyburg, 2-0.
Quarterfinals: Anderson def. McAuley, 5-0; Gingerich def. Milks, 13-5; Galante pinned Wernimont, 6:33; Needham pinned deLalla, 4:37.
Semifinals: Anderson def. Gingerich, 7-3; Galante def. Needham, 2-1.
Final: Anderson def. Galante, 5-2.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Herwig pinned Higgins, 1:01.
Second round: Malone def. Goldstein, 3-1; Andrews pinned Coleman, 2:55; Spence def. Forness, 11-7; Herwig def. DeCiccio, 15-10.
Third round: Malone def. Milks, 5-0; McAuley pinned Andrews, 2:34; Spence def. deLalla, 14-3; Wernimont def. Herwig, 9-1.
Fourth round: Malone pinned McAuley, 2:45; Wernimont def. Spence, 13-5.
Semifinals: Needham def. Malone, 3-1; Gingerich pinned Wernimont, 5:49.
Third place: Gingerich def. Needham, 4-1.
Fifth place: Malone def. Wernimont, 3-2.
Seventh place: McAuley def. Spence, 18-2 (technical fall, 7:00).
165-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Zach Bogardus, Cortland St., def. Corey Murphy, Thiel, 4-3; Nate VanDyke, Luther, def. Brandon MacWhinnie, Stevens Institute, 9-3.
Second round: Marcus LeVesseur, Augsburg, pinned David Early, Loras, 1:21; Bogardus def. Lance Valiquette, Wis.-Eau Claire, 9-6; Jason Knipp, Wartburg, pinned Ben Youel, North Central (Ill.), 1:42; Gerald Bowne, York (Pa.), def. Joseph Hoover, Manchester, 2-2 (tiebreaker); Steve Martell, Johnson & Wales (R.I.), def. Derek Ricker, Messiah, 15-4; Michael Guenther, TCNJ, pinned Gino Russo, Baldwin-Wallace, 1:56; Shaheim Bradshaw, Brockport St., def. VanDyke, 5-2; Tim Palmer, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Phil Kruzel, Chicago, 7-3.
Quarterfinals: LeVesseur def. Bogardus, 23-7 (technical fall, 6:42); Knipp def. Bowne, 11-6; Guenther pinned Martell, 6:57; Bradshaw def. Palmer, 9-7 (sudden victory).
Semifinals: LeVesseur def. Knipp, 10-2; Guenther def. Bradshaw, 8-5.
Final: LeVesseur def. Guenther, 3-0.
Wrestlebacks
First round: VanDyke def. Murphy, 15-5; MacWhinnie def. Valiquette, 9-6.
Second round: Kruzel def. VanDyke, 6-4; Russo def. Ricker, 3-2; Youel def. Hoover, 9-7; MacWhinnie def. Early, 10-6.
Third round: Kruzel def. Bowne, 11-9 (sudden victory); Russo def. Bogardus, 7-4; Palmer def. Youel, 5-3; Martell def. MacWhinnie, 7-3.
Fourth round: Russo def. Kruzel, 9-5; Palmer def. Martell, 11-2.
Semifinals: Bradshaw pinned Russo, 6:58; Palmer def. Knipp, 5-3 (sudden victory).
Third place: Palmer def. Bradshaw, 3-2.
Fifth place: Knipp def. Russo, 15-5.
Seventh place: Martell def. Kruzel, 9-4.
174-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Josh Chelf, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Eric VanPatten, Brockport St., 12-0; Paul Meirick, Luther, def. Gregory Osgoodby, TCNJ, 16-5; Adam Dorner, Wis.-Oshkosh, def. Jason Zastrow, Wartburg, 8-2; Kyle Vanderhyde, Olivet, def. Benjamin Plowman, Ohio Northern, 8-2; Treavor LeBlanc, Cortland St., def. Robert Larson, Dubuque, 5-3; Robert Gotreau, Augsburg, def. Eric Bath, Wis.-Stevens Point, 8-3.
Quarterfinals: Chelf pinned Meirick, 1:50; Jonathan Dolan, Williams, def. Dorner, 8-4; Vanderhyde def. LeBlanc, 7-3; Gotreau def. Andrew Winfield, McDaniel, 1-0.
Semifinals: Chelf pinned Dolan, 6:15; Vanderhyde def. Gotreau, 8-5.
Final: Chelf def. Vanderhyde, 9-0.
Wrestlebacks
First round: VanPatten def. Osgoodby, 9-7; Plowman def. Larson, 6-4.
Second round: Winfield pinned VanPatten, 5:38; LeBlanc pinned Zastrow, 4:02; Dorner def. Plowman, 3-2; Bath pinned Meirick, 2:01.
Third round: Winfield def. LeBlanc, 8-2; Bath def. Dorner, 5-2.
Semifinals: Dolan def. Winfield, 8-5; Bath def. Gotreau, 6-4.
Third place: Bath pinned Dolan, 5:19.
Fifth place: Gotreau def. Winfield, 2-1.
Seventh place: LeBlanc def. Dorner, 5-1.
184-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Jason Lulloff, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Eric Fishel, Johns Hopkins, 10-0; Brett Giehl, Brockport St., def. Mark Mueller, Luther, 9-5; Gabe Youel, North Central (Ill.), def. Elliot Smith, Springfield, 6-5; Terrance Madden, Hunter, pinned Daron Cruickshank, Olivet, 4:52; Romeo Djoumessi, Wartburg, def. Craig Bollig, Wis.-Stevens Point, 12-3; Nichalos Calandrino, Ithaca, pinned Jay Figgins, Loras, 2:14; Ryan Summers, John Carroll, def. George Lynaugh, Augsburg, 3-2; Stephon Sair, Cortland St., def. Nick Coleman, New York U., 5-3.
Quarterfinals: Lulloff def. Giehl, 7-4; Madden def. Youel, 10-9; Djoumessi def. Calandrino, 11-0; Sair def. Summers, 6-3.
Semifinals: Madden def. Lulloff, 3-2; Sair def. Djoumessi, 8-2.
Final: Madden def. Sair, 3-2.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Mueller def. Fishel, 10-2; Smith def. Cruickshank, 9-6 (tiebreaker); Figgins def. Bollig, 4-2; Coleman def. Lynaugh, 7-1.
Second round: Summers def. Mueller, 5-4; Calandrino def. Smith, 12-4; Figgins def. Youel, 3-0; Coleman pinned Giehl, 6:47.
Third round: Calandrino pinned Summers, 4:09; Coleman def. Figgins, 3-2.
Semifinals: Lulloff pinned Calandrino, 4:26; Djoumessi def. Coleman, 8-2.
Third place: Lulloff def. Djoumessi, 7-6.
Fifth place: Calandrino def. Coleman, 9-7.
Seventh place: Figgins def. Summers, 6-2.
197-pound class
Main bracket
First round: Tyler Miller, Wartburg, def. Jason Reilly, King’s (Pa.), 18-0 (technical fall, 2:42); Alec Bonander, Luther, pinned Wally O’Connor, Augsburg, 1:39; James Swanson, Wis.-La Crosse, def. Paul Burger, Baldwin-Wallace, 5-4; Ben Strandberg, Buena Vista, def. Tyler Wozniak, Wis.-Stevens Point, 7-3; Diego Crespo, Johnson & Wales (R.I.), def. Philip Archer, Cortland St., 3-2.
Quarterfinals: Miller def. Mike Schmidt, Wis.-Whitewater, 15-2; Keith Garrard, Wabash, pinned Bonander, 1:41; Strandberg def. Swanson, 7-3; Matthew Loesch, Muhlenberg, def. Crespo, 5-3 (sudden victory).
Semifinals: Miller def. Garrard, 10-2; Strandberg def. Loesch, 12-6.
Final: Miller def. Strandberg, 11-3.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Wozniak pinned Burger, 6:58.
Second round: Reilley pinned Crespo, 3:44; O’Connor def. Swanson, 5-4; Bonander def. Wozniak, 8-4; Archer def. Schmidt, 2-0.
Third round: Reilly pinned O’Connor, 1:46; Bonander def. Archer, 8-3.
Semifinals: Reilly pinned Garrard, 3:09; Bonander def. Loesch (medical forfeit).
Third place: Bonander def. Reilly, 10-4.
Fifth place: Garrard def. Loesch (medical forfeit).
Seventh place: Archer def. O’Connor, 10-4.
Heavyweight class
Main bracket
First round: Blake Gillis, Wartburg, def. Shaun Wilbert, Plymouth St., 16-0 (technical fall, 4:58); Ryan Bowers, Heidelberg, def. Dan Laurent, Wis.-La Crosse, 3-2; Trevor Hiffa, Oneonta St., def. Andrew Neumann, Augsburg, 2-0; John Miller, Luther, pinned Kyle Bilquist, Delaware Valley, 4:30; Bryan Kmetz, Baldwin-Wallace, pinned Joseph Tartar, Muhlenberg, 0:42; Jacob Taylor, Oswego St., pinned Wade Hammen, Buena Vista, 6:30; Kyle Brown, Thiel, def. Jaran Rutledge, Knox, 3-2.
Quarterfinals: Gillis def. Bowers, 16-3; Hiffa pinned Miller, 5:51; Kmetz def. Taylor, 5-0; Arkadiy Levitin, Hunter, pinned Brown, 1:07.
Semifinals: Gillis pinned Hiffa, 1:59; Kmetz def. Levitin, 3-0.
Final: Gillis def. Kmetz, 4-0.
Wrestlebacks
First round: Laurent def. Wilbert, 18-3 (technical fall, 4:58); Neumann pinned Bilquist, 2:32; Hammen pinned Tartar, 1:36.
Second round: Brown def. Laurent, 12-3; Neumann def. Taylor, 11-0; Hammen def. Miller, 10-6; Rutledge def. Bowers, 8-5.
Third round: Neumann pinned Brown, 3:27; Rutledge def. Hammen, 3-2 (tiebreaker).
Semifinals: Hiffa def. Neumann, 7-2; Rutledge def. Levitin, 4-3.
Third place: Rutledge pinned Hiffa, 4:01.
Fifth place: Neumann def. Levitin, 9-2.
Seventh place: Hammen def. Brown, 3-2.
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