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January 14, 2004
THIS WEEK: The Augustana College wrestling team will face some of its toughest competition of the season this weekend at the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals in Cleveland, Ohio. The Vikings are one of 16 Division II teams that will compete in the meet, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, January 17-18 at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center. The Vikings have done well at the National Duals recently. The past two seasons, Augustana has finished fifth at the meet.
COMPETING TEAMS: The field for the 2004 Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals is loaded. Of the 16 teams entered, 14 are ranked in the top 20, including all the top 11 teams. The field includes: #7 Adams State (Colo.), #6 Ashland (Ohio), #10 Augustana (S.D.), #2 Central Oklahoma, Central Washington, #8 Findlay (Ohio), #16 Gannon (Pa.), #11 Nebraska-Kearney, #4 Nebraska-Omaha, #1 North Dakota State, #9 UNC-Pembroke, #3 Pittsburgh-Johnstown, #20 San Francisco State, South Dakota State, #5 Western State and #17 Wisconsin-Parkside.
FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS: Top 8 seeds are listed:
NATIONAL DUAL BRACKETS/RESULTS: Brackets and results for the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals will be available on the Cleveland State University athletics web site at: www.csuvikings.com. Simply click on the National Duals logo on the front page to go directly to the National Duals home page.
UP NEXT: The Vikings open North Central Conference action next week with a pair of duals. On Friday, January 23, Augustana will be in Mankato, Minn., to take on Minnesota State in a 7 p.m. dual. The next day, Saturday, January 24, the Vikings travel to St. Cloud State to take on the Huskies in a 3 p.m. dual.
COACHING STAFF: Jason Reitmeier is in his first season as head coach of the Augustana wrestling team after serving as an assistant coach for the Vikings the previous six seasons.
Reitmeier was a two-time All-American for the Vikings. He won the 1997 national championship at 142 pounds after placing third at 134 pounds in 1996. He did win the North Central Conference title at 134 pounds in 1996. Reitmeier is a 1997 graduate of Augustana College. Reitmeier's assistant coaches this season are Jacob Ramos, a former Viking All-American, and former Viking standout Ryan Carlson.
LAST TIME OUT: Augustana returned to the mat for the first time in nearly a month on January 6 when the Vikings took on Augsburg, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III. The Vikings found the going tough as the Auggies claimed a 34-4 victory. Augustana's lone win came at 184 pounds where Tom Meester claimed a 13-5 major decision over Clint Hodgdon.
VIKINGS THIRD IN NORTHERN REGION RANKINGS: Augustana is third in the latest Northern Region rankings. The preseason No. 3 team, the Vikings are behind preseason favorite North Dakota State and Nebraska-Omaha. The Northern Region is comprised of teams from the North Central Conference and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
GRAUMANN, MEESTER RANKED NO. 1 IN NORTHERN REGION: Juniors Aaron Graumann and Tom Meester are ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes in the Northern Region Individual Rankings. Graumann, a 125- pounder with a 9-5 record this season, placed fourth at last year's North Central Conference meet, but went on to finish sixth at the NCCA Championships, earning All-America honors. Meester, a 184-pounder with a 13-2 overall record, withdrew from last year's NCC meet due to illness. However, Meester, a 2002 All-American, went 32-8 a year ago and did not lose to a Division II opponent.
Four other Vikings are regionally ranked this week. Andre VanderVelde is ranked fourth at 141 pounds, Ryan King is third at 149 pounds, Austin Scarset is third at 157 pounds and Dusty Wilking is fourth at 174 pounds.
VIKINGS 10TH IN NATION: Augustana is ranked No. 10 in this week's NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association rankings. The Vikings, were unranked in the preseason poll, but after an impressive showing to start the season, Augie quickly jumped into the top 10 at No. 8 in the first regular season poll.
GRAUMANN, MEESTER NATIONALLY RANKED: In addition to being preseason favorites to win North Central Conference titles, both Aaron Graumann and Tom Meester are nationally ranked in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association individual rankings. Graumann is ranked No. 4 at 125 pounds, while Meester is ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds.
LAST YEAR: Augustana finished sixth in the North Central Conference Championships and 25 th in the final national rankings. Two wrestlers, Aaron Graumann and Sam Kenton earned All-America honors.