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Area wrestlers earn NWCA Division III Scholar All-American honors
April 25, 2006
Augsburg's Ryan Valek (Sr., Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West), a three-time All-American and two-time national runner-up at 165 pounds, earned National Wrestling Coaches Association's Scholar All-American honors for the third straight year. Two-time All-American Jared Evans (Jr., Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS), who finished fourth at 149 pounds this season, earned Scholar All-American honors for the second straight year.
Augsburg National tournament qualifiers Josh Hansen (Jr., Albert Lea, Minn.) and Andrew Neumann (Jr., Somerset, Wis.) were also named Scholar-Americans. Hansen, a 141-pounder, repeated his Scholar All-American honors, while Neumann earned the honor for the first time in his career.
Also named Scholar All-Americans were Auggie seniors Kirk Rall (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) and Greg Brendemuehl (Sr., Medford, Minn.). Rall earned the academic honor for the third straight year, while Brendemuehl earned the honor for the first time in his career.
Lee Rahrlien (Sr., Graceville, Minn./C-G-B H.S.) was selected as a Scholar All-American for Concordia. Lee's hard work in the classroom has helped him maintain an overall GPA of a 3.3. He also finished his career at Concordia with 90 wins tied with Harlan Leopold for seventh place on the school's all-time victory list. Lee has been a team Captain for the young Cobber’s for the past two seasons, providing excellent leadership both academically and on the mat. Lee will be graduating in April with a major in Elementary Education and a certification in coaching.
Selections from St. John's were Nate Schraan (Sr., Eagan, Minn), Charlie Sadder (Sr., Shoreview, Minn./Totino-Grace HS), and Dan Willaert (Sr., North Mankato, Minn./Mankato Loyola HS).
In order to qualify for individual Scholar All-America honors, student-athletes must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA or previous-year GPA, be enrolled at the institution for at least one full year, and have specific athletic credentials.
NWCA Division III Scholar All-American Wrestlers from Minnesota schools:
125: Nate Schraan, St. John's.
141: Josh Hansen, Augsburg; Greg Brendemuehl, Augsburg; Charlie Sadder, St. John's.
149: Jared Evans, Augsburg.
165: Ryan Valek, Augsburg; Kirk Rall, Augsburg; Lee Rahrlein, Concordia-Moorhead.
184: Dan Willaert, St. John's.
Hwt: Andrew Neumann, Augsburg.