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Vikings take 10 to nationals
March 8, 2005
THIS WEEK: The No. 1 ranked Augustana College wrestling team will take a full complement of 10 wrestlers to this week's NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships, scheduled for Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, in Omaha, Neb. The University of Nebraska-Omaha will serve as the tournament host. The championships will be held in the Lee and Helene Sapp Fieldhouse.
SCHEDULE: Here's the schedule for the 2005 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships:
TICKETS: Please contact the University of Nebraska-Omaha ticket office at (402) 554-MAVS (6287) to purchase advance tickets. All session passes and single session passes will be for sale.
RESULTS: Results for the 2005 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships can be found on the following web sites:
FINALS WEBCAST: UNO Television will be webcasting Saturday's championship matches, beginning at 7 p.m. The webcast can be accessed through UNO Television's web site - www.unotv.unomaha.edu. That link will be active Friday March 11th at the latest.
Augustana Vikings' Lineup
COACHING STAFF: Jason Reitmeier (Augustana, 1997) is in his second 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's assistant coaches this season are Jacob Ramos, a former Viking All-American, and former Viking standout Ryan Carlson.
NORTH REGIONALS / NCC CHAMPIONSHIPS: Augustana sent seven wrestlers to the finals and crowned three individuals en route to the team title at the North Regional Championships, Februrary 27, in Marshall, Minn. The Vikings scored 109 points to outdistance runner-up Nebraska-Omaha, which scored 99 points.
The meet also served as the North Central Conference championships. It is Augustana's first NCC wrestling title since 1981.
Aaron Graumann (125), Ryan King (149) and Tom Meester (184) all claimed individual titles, while Austin Scarset (157), Cody Henriksen (165), Dusty Wilking (174) and Tim Boldt (197) all placed second. Justin Bohlke (133), Andre Vander Velde (141) and Cris Bietz (Hwt.) finished fourth.
Graumann was named the meet's Outstanding Wrestler, while head coach Jason Reitmeier was recognized as the Coach of the Year.
VIKINGS EARN NCC HONOR: Seven times this season an Augustana wrestler was named the North Central Conference Wrestler of the Week. Six different wrestlers received the award. Tom Meester was a two-time recipient.
NATIONAL POLLS: Augustana reteained its No. 1 ranking for the second week in a row in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association Top 20 Poll, the final regular season poll of the year. Augustana received seven first-place votes to edge out defending national champion Nebraska-Omaha. UNO received the other first-place vote. It is the first time the Vikings have been ranked No. 1 in the nation. Augustana had been ranked No. 2 for most of the season, before falling to No. 4 on February 9.
SEVEN VIKINGS NATIONALLY RANKED: Anchored by three No. 1 wreslters, seven Vikings are nationally ranked in their respective weight classes, according to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association individual rankings. Tom Meester is ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds, Ryan King is No. 1 at 149 pounds and Aaron Graumann is ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds. See page 3 for a complete list of individual rankings.