Wartburg jumped out to a 10-0 lead before sophomore Clayton Rush (Aledo, Ill./Aledo) beat Mark Kist 6-1 for the Kohawks first win.  Sophomore Brandon Ball (Columbus Junction, Iowa/Columbus Junction) follwed Rush's win with a 13-0 major decision over Jacob Mirocha to make it 10-7 in favor of the Knights.

The Knights responded by winning the next four matches to increase their lead to 25-7 going into the final match.  Senior Bryon Grothus (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) beat Grant Jenkins at 174 pounds to make the final 25-10. 

The Kohawks bounced back in their second dual of the day, as they licked 25th-ranked Dubuque 31-12.   Senior Greg Lalla (Iowa City, Iowa/City) started things at 184 pounds with a fall in 4:24.  After an upset by Matt Wonderlin over Rob Kramer (Swisher, Iowa/Prairie) at 197 pounds, the Kohawks rattled off six-straight wins, including three that earned bonus points, to take a 31-3 lead over the Spartans.

Rush won by fall in 2:54 at 125 pounds and Ball won by forfeit at 133 pounds.  Freshman Dale Handley (Alburnett, Iowa/Alburnett) won the final match for the Kohawks by major decision at 157 pounds.  Dubuque won the final two matches, including a fall at 174 pounds to make it 31-12.

In the Kohawks final match of the day, Coe calmed the Simpson storm in a 55-0 victory.  Kramer, Rush, freshman James Locke (Minneapolis, Minn./South), and Grothus all won by fall.  Each pin for the Kohawks came in under 2:43.  Lalla, junior Mitch Sander (Clerance, Iowa/North Cedar) and sophomore Seth Pugh (Columbus Junction, Iowa/Columbus Junction) all won by forfeit.  Ball and junior Tyler Burkle (Coggon, Iowa/North-Linn) both won by match termination.  

The Kohawks return to action on Friday as they host a triangular with Delaware Valley and Luther.  Delaware Valley is currently ranked third in the nation, while the Norse are ranked 15th.  Action begins at 4 p.m. at Eby Fieldhouse.