|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fifth-ranked Vikings face three ranked foes this week
February 7, 2006
THIS WEEK: The fifth-ranked Augustana College wrestling team will be on the road for three duals against nationally-ranked opponents this week. On February 8, Augustana travels to No. 12 Minnesota State-Moorhead for a key regional matchup. Then on February 11, the Vikings will be in Kearney, Neb., for a pair of duals. Augie will face No. 11 Adams State (Colo.) at 1 p.m. and Nebraska-Kearney, who is tied for fifth in the nation with the Vikings, at 3 p.m.
NCC CHAMPIONSHIPS: With only four North Central Conference schools sponsoring wrestling, there will not be a conference tournament. Instead, the NCC team championship will be determined by a series of round-robin duals.
For the NCC individual championships, the top finisher in each weight class at the North Regional Qualifier will be designated as the NCC champion.
ABOUT MSU-MOORHEAD: Minnesota State-Moorhead enters Wednesday’s dual ranked No. 12 in the nation and fourth in the North Region. The Dragons have two wrestlers nationally ranked. Nake Baker is the top-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, while Chris Tuchscherer is No. 4 at heavyweight. Tuchscherer was runner-up at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Other regionally-ranked Dragons are Ben Keen (141), Peter Hayes (149), Kyle Trout (157) and Tony Soderberg (184).
ABOUT ADAMS STATE: Adams State is ranked 11th in the nation in the latest rankings. The Grizzlies have three wrestlers in the national rankings. Rob McCabe is seventh at 125 pounds, while Evan Copeland is seventh at 165 pounds and James Reynolds is seventh at 174 pounds.
ABOUT NEBRASKA-KEARNEY: Nebraska-Kearney is tied with Augustana at No. 5 in the national poll. The Lopers are particularly strong at the lower and upper weights, with six nationally-ranked wrestlers. Trevor Charboneau is No. 1 at 125 pounds, while Brett Allgood is No. 1 at 133 pounds. Jeff Rutledge is No. 2 at 141 pounds. At the other end of the weigh classes, Tanner Linsacum is No. 8 at 184 pounds, while Jeff Sylvester is No. 4 at 197 pounds. Tervel Dlagnev rounds out the group at No. 2 at heavyweight.
Augustana defeated UNK 21-13 at the National Duals.
Augustana Probable Lineup
Wt, Wrestler Yr. Overall Record NCAA Rank Region Rank
125 Chris Trampe Jr. 14-12
133 Mike Long Fr. 11-6 4
Or Jeremie Degen So. 11-9
141 Andre VanderVelde Sr. 16-8 6 3
149 Ryan King Sr. 23-4 2 1
Or Aaron Haddorf So. 12-7
157 Matt McDougall Sr. 5-3
165 Cody Henricksen Jr. 15-7
174 Dusty Wilking Sr. 11-10 5 4
Or Andrew Sorenson So. 10-8
184 Tom Nesseth Fr. 11-8
Or Nate Buys Jr. 19-9 4 2
197 Tim Boldt Sr. 11-0 1 1
Hwt. Cris Bietz Sr. 15-5 4
Or Ray O’Connor Jr. 4-4
HEAD COACH JASON REITMEIER: Jason Reitmeier (Augustana, 1997) is in his third season as head coach of the Augustana wrestling team after serving as an assistant coach for the Vikings the previous six seasons.
Last year, Reitmeier guided the Vikings to the North Central Conference and North Region titles as well as a national runner-up finish. He was named the NCC, North Region and NWCA Division II National Coach of the Year.
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.
FOUR VIKINGS EARN NCC HONOR: Four Vikings have been named North Central Conference Wrestler of the Week this season. Cody Henriksen became the fourth Augustana Viking to receive the honor when he earned the award on January 31.
2005-06 North Central Conference Wrestlers of the Week
January 30 -- Cody Henriksen, 165 pounds.
January 16 -- Ryan King, 149 pounds
January 9 -- Tim Boldt, 197 pounds
November 8 -- Nate Buys, 184 pounds
RYAN KING NEARS CENTURY MARK: Senior Ryan King is closing in on his 100th career victory. The 149-pounder is 23-4 this season and has a 98-26 career record.
As the schedule shapes up, King could have a happy birthday. Born on February 11, King could collect win No. 100 on his birthday. With a win Wednesday at Minnesota State-Moorhead, King would have two chances to pick up his 100th win on Saturday, February 11, when the Vikings wrestle Nebraska-Kearney and Adams State.
King is a two-time All-American who finished fourth at the national championships in 2005 and third in 2004.
VIKINGS CLIMB TO NO. 5 IN NATIONAL POLLS: Augustana moved up three spots into a tie for No. 5 in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association Top 20 Poll, released January 25. Augustana received 122 points to earn a tie with Nebraska-Kearney. The Vikings and Lopers are only 1 point behind No. Pittsburgh-Johnstown, which has 123 points. Two-time defending national champion Nebraska-Omaha is ranked No. 1, followed by Minnesota State-Mankato and Central Oklahoma. Augustana was ranked fourth in the preseason poll.
SIX VIKINGS NATIONALLY RANKED: Six Vikings are nationally ranked in their respective weight classes, according to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association individual rankings. Tim Boldt climbed one spot to No. 1 at 197 pounds, while Ryan King jumped from No. 6 to No. 2 at 149 pounds. Nate Buys makes his debut in the rankings at No. 4 at 184 pounds. In addition, Austin Scarset is ranked No. 5 at 157 pounds and Dusty Wilking is No. 5 at 174 pounds. Rounding out the group is Andre Vandervelde, who is ranked No. 6 at 141 pounds. See page 3 for a complete list of individual rankings.