2001-02 College News - Augsburg aims for 16th MIAC title

Augsburg aims for 16th MIAC title in a row at final MIAC tournament on Saturday at Carleton

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MINNEAPOLIS (2/21/02) -- Augsburg College will attempt to win its 16th Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference wrestling team championship in a row, and 30th overall, at the final MIAC Individual Championships meet on Saturday at Carleton. Action begins at 10 a.m.

The meet will serve as the qualifier for the NCAA Division III National Championships, set for March 1-2 at First Union Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. A total of 14 wrestlers (10 weight-class champions and four wild-cards) will qualify for the national meet from the MIAC.

The MIAC tournament is in its final year; St. Thomas dropped the sport last year and Carleton will drop the sport after this year's tournament, leaving just four MIAC colleges with wrestling programs -- Augsburg, Concordia-Moorhead, St. John's and St. Olaf.

Augsburg has won the last 15 MIAC wrestling titles in a row, 25 of the last 27 and 28 titles overall since 1968. The 15 consecutive MIAC titles won is the second longest active MIAC championship streak, only behind the 17 consecutive indoor track and field titles that the St. Thomas men have currently won. Augsburg has won 25 of the last 27 crowns, 28 titles since 1968 and 29 titles overall.

Augsburg coach Jeff Swenson, in his 20th season (287-32 overall), has earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors 11 times. Augsburg has also won all 12 MIAC Team Dual Meet tournaments held.

The two-time defending NCAA Division III national champions and winners of seven of the last 11 national titles, Augsburg has been rated No. 1 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Division III national poll all season long. Augsburg finished a perfect 16-0 in its dual-meet season and has a two-season, 24-meet winning streak.

Augsburg has individuals ranked in the top eight nationally in seven of the 10 weight classes, including four top-ranked wrestlers -- Darin Bertram (Sr., Herman, Minn./Herman-Norcross HS) at 125 pounds, John Marchette (Sr., Canual Fulton, Ohio/North Canton Hoover HS) at 133 pounds, Nick Slack (Sr., Belle Plaine, Minn.) at 174 pounds and Kevin Rasmussen (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) at 197 pounds.

Bertram and Slack could join eight other MIAC wrestlers (including four Auggies) who have won four MIAC individual titles since the MIAC began its wrestling tournament the 1947-48 season. Augsburg is also attempting to qualify all 10 of its individual wrestlers to the Division III national tournament for the fifth season in a row.

Tony Abbott (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy HS) is ranked second nationally at 165, Ricky Crone (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) is ranked second at 184 and Brad Fisher (Sr., Austin, Minn.) is ranked fourth at 141.

At the MIAC Team Duals tournament at Concordia-Moorhead on Jan. 26, Augsburg outscored their league opponents 214-0 in four matches to claim the championship for the 12th year in a row. Augsburg beat host Concordia 50-0, topped Carleton 58-0, St. Olaf 56-0 and St. John's 50-0. In the MIAC Team Duals, Augsburg outscored its conference opponents by a 2,985-124 margin in going 62-0 over 12 seasons. Augsburg has a 16-season, 82-match dual-meet winning streak against MIAC opponents.

St. John's has finished second to Augsburg nine times in the last 10 seasons. After finishing 18th nationally last year, the Johnnies finished the 2001-02 dual-meet season 11-8, and head coach John Elton has a 252-86-5 career record in his 21st season in Collegeville. St. John's, which has won 14 MIAC wrestling titles, has qualified wrestlers to the national tournament in each of the last 13 seasons.

The Johnnies have one nationally-ranked wrestler -- junior Matt Vos (Jr., Hopkins, Minn./Sibley East HS), ranked sixth at 125 pounds. A 2001 national tournament participant, Vos is currently 24-1 overall and 56-11 in his career.

Three other Johnnie wrestlers with national tournament experience are 133-pounder Adam Mergen (Jr., Richmond, Minn./Rocori HS, 11-6), 141-pounder Brian Vetter (So., Center City, Minn./Chisago Lakes HS, 6-3) and 165-pounder Brian Lahr (Jr., Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS, 9-3).

Junior Tim Anderson (Jr., Zimmerman, Minn./Princeton HS) has a 25-13 record at 149, and junior Chuck Griffith (Jr., Morris, Minn./Morris Area HS) has a 21-14 record at 133.

St. Olaf, which finished third last season, has been in a rebuilding process this season, with numerous young wrestlers adjusting to college-level competition. Alex Morf (Jr., Mt. Vernon, Iowa) qualified for the national tournament last season at 149 and has a chance to return to nationals this season. John Holm (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) was a national tournament alternate the last two seasons at 174 and is aiming to make it as a qualifier this season.

Concordia-Moorhead has a solid roster this season, with several wrestlers having strong shots to qualify for the national tournament. Under 11th-season head coach Doug Perry, Concordia is 5-8 on the season in dual meets, and finished third at the MIAC Team Duals earlier this season.

Three seniors who have solid shots to earn national tournament berths are 157-pounder Jason Dubord (Sr., Kindred, N.D., 14-11 record), 149-pounder Ryan Smith (Sr., Brainerd, Minn., 22-13) and 133-pounder Aaron Swartz (Sr., Starbuck, Minn./Minnewaska HS, 20-16). Heavyweight William Duppler (Fr., Valley City, N.D.) is 26-17 and 197-pounder Dennis Kline (Fr., Plymouth, Minn.) is 22-15.

Tournament host Carleton has struggled this season after announcing it was dropping wrestling, and the roster is down to three athletes for this weekend. Freshman 157-pounder Tim Thurston (Fr., Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep HS) is the Knights' top wrestler with a 4-15 mark.