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Augustana adds three more to recruiting class
April 23, 2004
SIOUX FALLS - The Augustana College wrestling team has added three more members to its Spring 2004 recruiting class, Viking head coach Jason Reitmeier announced today.
Signing national letters of intent with the Vikings are Nathan Buys of Hull, Iowa and Mitch Lunning of LeRoy, Minn. Meanwhile, Jordan Burmeister of Lakefield, Minn. has been admitted to Augustana and plans to compete for the wrestling team. The trio joins a recruiting class that already includes Brandon Kruger of Ames, Neb., and Adam Schlee of Grand Meadow, Minn. both of whom signed last week, and Joe Walloch, who signed with the Viking football team in February and plans to wrestle as well.
Buys is a junior college transfer from Minnesota West Community College in Worthington, Minn. He qualified for nationals twice and compiled a 51-18 record over two years while at Minnesota West. Buys was the national runner-up at 197 pounds with a 34-7 record last season. During his prep career at Hull Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa, Buys posted a 122-42 career record and finished fourth at the Iowa state tournament his senior year.
Lunning, a team captain at LeRoy-Ostrander High School, finished fifth at the Minnesota state tournament during his senior year at 171 pounds. During his senior campaign, Lunning posted a 36-4 mark, was named all-conference and academic all state, and participated in the Southern Minnesota Border Battle. Lunning is a two-time academic all-conference selection and three-time winner of the team Hustle Award. Lunning joins former high school teammate Ryan King on the Augustana roster. King earned All-America recognition this past season at 149 pounds after placing third at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
"We are extremely excited about these additions to the Augustana wrestling squad," Reitmeier said. "Nate will make an immediate impact. He is already an accomplished college wrestler, placing second at the junior college national championships. He is a dominating force on top with a variety of pinning combinations. Mitch is a well-rounded athlete with great strength and quickness. He will have to add size to compete at 174 pounds."
The Vikings return all 10 starters, including five national qualifiers and four All-Americans, from this past year's team that placed sixth at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.