Cannone helps as No. 3 Wartburg beat No. 1 Augsburg on criteria

Defending NCAA Div. 3 national champion Cross Cannone (Trumbull) helped No. 3 Wartburg beat No. 1 Augsburg Thursday night.

MINNEAPOLIS, January 31 – Trumbull’s Cross Cannone of Wartburg College moved up one weight class in Thursday night’s match with No. 1 Augsburg to face defending national champion Ryan Epps at 157 pounds.

Why? No. 3 Wartburg was renewing their long, bitter rivalry with Augsburg. Since 1995, every NCAA Division III national championship has gone to either Wartburg or Augsburg. Some call it the best rivalry in collegiate wrestling.

It’s dubbed the Battle of the Burgs and the Swens-Milboy traveling trophy goes to the victor.

Cannone, the defending NCAA Division III national champion at 149, prevailed with an 8-4 decision to help Wartburg beat Augsburg, 16-15 on criteria – most total match points (47-43).

Cannone remains undefeated (22-0) this season and extended his winning streak to 56 consecutive matches, which dates back to the 2017 NCAA Division III national tournament. Cannone, a senior, has won 109 matches now in his career.

Milford’s Michael Ross (165) also wrestles for Wartburg. Ross, who is ranked No. 4 in the country, dropped a 4-3 decision to top-ranked Lucas Jeske of Augsburg. Ross led 3-0 at one point but Jeske rallied and won the match on riding time. Jeske is the defending NCAA Division III national champion at 165.

Wartburg, the defending national champions, improved to 15-1 while Augsburg dropped to 11-1.