A special honor ceremony is slated for halftime of the football game between No. 18-ranked Wartburg and Buena Vista Saturday, Sept. 15, as Wartburg College head wrestling coach Jim Miller receives Amateur Wrestling News’ Man of the Year award.
Miller was named the 2007 recipient last March after his Knights rolled up their13th first or second place national tournament finish in the last 15 seasons. The 2007 squad also continued impressive strings of having at least one All-American in 20 straight national tourneys, three-or-more All-Americans in 17 straight national meets, and earning at least one individual title in five straight national championships.
“It’s a very high honor,” Miller said. “Amateur Wrestling News has set the standard for coverage of all levels of the sport. With that said, to be at a small college and get this award is very prestigious. I feel like I’m helping represent NCAA Division III and its great coaches with this.
“Obviously, this wouldn’t have come my way without the help of so many great assistants and athletes this past year and in previous seasons helping set a high standard for Wartburg wrestling,” he added. “It’s a reflection on our program and where it’s at in relation to the rest of the country.”
Wartburg has an incredible run through the tough Iowa Conference, reeling off a remarkable string of 115 consecutive dual meet wins within the conference as well as gaining the conference’s title in each of the last 15 seasons. Out of Waterloo East High School and the University of Northern Iowa, Miller came to Wartburg in 1991 and coached his team to an eighth-place NCAA Division III finish. Wartburg had finished a distant 12th and 40th at the two previous national tournaments. That squad also went 17-3 in duals and, for his efforts, Miller was named National “Rookie Coach of the Year” by AWN in 1992. From those beginnings, his teams have compiled an amazing overall dual mark of 286-28-3 to go along with their conference and national tournament successes.
In close relationship with this afternoon’s honor, Miller and the Wartburg wrestling program are planning a reunion for the 15-year string of Iowa Conference team titles Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5 and 6, during Family Weekend 2007 festivities. A complete schedule of events for the reunion can be accessed through the wrestling home web page at http://www.go-knights.net/wrestling/.
The Knights begin their 2007-08 season Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Harold Nichols Open in Fort Dodge.
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