Augsburg and Wartburg expected to battle for team honors at NCAA Div. III Nationals in Northfield, Minn., March 4-5
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Wartburg or Augsburg? Augsburg or Wartburg? In recent seasons, the NCAA Div. III National Wrestling Championships has come down to a battle between these two “small-school” wrestling giants.
The NCAA does not allow athletic scholarships at the Div. III level, yet the quality of the competition at the national level can be impressive. However, Wartburg coach Jim Miller and Augsburg coach Jeff Swenson have turned the national championships into an annual battle between these impressive programs.
Pundits expect the team race to come down to these two programs once again, when the Div. III National Championships are held at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., March 4-5.
Last year, both teams had dominant performances, with eight of the 10 individual gold medals split between the two teams. The two schools combined for eight champions, an amazing display of dominance.
In 2004, Wartburg boasted four champions in Dustin Hinschberger (141), Bart Mehlert (149). Ryan Strum (184) and Akeem Carter (197), along with three runners-up in Ozzie Saxon (133), Cory Connell (157), and Blake Gillis (285).
Augsburg College was also led by four champions, Matt Shankey (125), Mark Matzek (133), Marcus LeVesseur (157), and Joe Moon (174) along with one runner-up, Jamell Tidwell (141).
This year, their dual meet during the NWCA Div. III National Duals in Cleveland, Ohio was a split, five matches to each team. Augsburg scored an 18-15 dual win on the strength of Marcus LeVesseur’s pin at 157 pounds. LeVesseur was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. Augsburg avenged last year’s National Duals finals loss to Wartburg.
The teams met a second time in a dual meet on Feb. 3 in Minneapolis, and the outcome was even closer, a 16-15 win for Augsburg. This time LeVesseur had a major decision in his match, giving the winning team point to his squad.
Both teams had strong performances in their qualifying tournaments leading up to this year’s national championships. Both Augsburg and Wartburg will field full 10-athlete teams in the tournament this year.
At the Div. III Great Lakes Regional Tournament, Augsburg had eight individual champions and qualified all 10 athletes. Four Augsburg wrestlers who are ranked No. 1 in the nation and are defending national champions, remained unbeaten for the year: Matt Shankey at 125 pounds (21-0), Mark Matzek at 133 pounds (30-0), Marcus LeVesseur at 157 pounds (36-0) and Joe Moon at 174 pounds (12-0).
At the Div. III Iowa Conference Championships, Wartburg had six individual champions and qualified their entire team for the national tournament. Defending national champion Dustin Hinschberger (141) was named Outstanding Wrestler of the meet.
So who will it be? Augsburg or Wartburg? Wartburg or Augsburg? Can any other team break into the top two this year? This will all be determined this week in Northfield, Minn.
Seven champions return to defend national titles
With seven champions returning from the 2004 NCAA Div. III Nationals, it is possible that the gold-medal finals could have a very similar feel to it this year at St. Olaf College.
Returning champions are:
* senior Matt Shankey of Augsburg at 125 pounds
* senior Mark Matzek of Augsburg at 133 pounds
* junior Dustin Hinschberger of Wartburg at 141 pounds
* junior Marcus LeVesseur of Augsburg at 157 pounds
* senior Joe Moon of Augsburg at 174 pounds
* junior Akeem Carter of Wartburg at 197 pounds
* junior Ryan Allen of Wisconsin-LaCrosse at 285 pounds
A list of qualifiers can be found at:
http://themat.com/pressbox/pressdetail.asp?aid=11867
LeVesseur puts winning streak on the line at Div. III Nationals
The longest winning streak in college wrestling belongs to a Div. III wrestler, the exciting Marcus LeVesseur of Augsburg College in Minnesota, who competes at 157 pounds.
Since joining Augsburg after starting his career at Div. I Univ. of Minnesota, LeVesseur has been outstanding. He has won 120 straight matches,by far the longest active winning streak in college wrestling.
Only a junior, LeVesseur has an opportunity next season to best the mark set by Div. I star Cael Sanderson of Iowa State, who ran off 159 wins during his amazing undefeated career.
What makes LeVesseur’s wrestling achievements even more impressive is that he spends his fall on the Augsburg football team, and is the team’s starting quarterback. He is also one of the best in school history in his “second sport,” setting school records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Levesseur has done well competing against athletes from other divisions in the off-season, as well. At the 2004 USA Wrestling University National Championships in Evanston, Ill., LeVessuer won the gold medal at 163 pounds and was named the Outstanding Wrestler. He defeated a number of respected Div. I wrestlers on the way to the title there.
With his streak growing, LeVesseur has become a target for his opponents. An athlete could make a big name for himself in wrestling if he were to be the person to beat LeVesseur and end the streak. This does not seem to affect LeVesseur’s approach to the sport.
“I try to focus more on every individual match and try to control what I can control, “LeVesseur said in an interview with NCAASports.org.
Host St. Olaf has no participants at Div. III Nationals
There is a huge wrestling competition going on at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. this weekend, the NCAA Div. III National Championships. Hosting a national tournament is a major challenge for a university and its athletic department, as well as the local community.
Local wrestling fans will see the best Div. III wrestlers in the nation. However, they will not see any wrestlers from the host St. Olaf College wrestling team.
At the Div. III Great Lakes Regionals, St. Olaf did not qualify any athletes for the NCAA Championships. In fact, the team finished last in the competition, with 10 points. Only one St. Olaf wrestler even won a match during the qualifying event.
“Our staff goal is to provide every competing student-athlete a quality experience that they will remember forever as a highlight of their wrestling career,” said St. Olaf Athletic Director Matt McDonald. “Fans will be treated to Division III wrestling at its finest in a facility with a history of hosting quality national events.”
Information on the tournament can be found at:
http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/2004ncaawr/index.html
RESULTS FROM 2004 NCAA DIV. III NATIONALS
Championship matches
125 – Matt Shankey (Augsburg) dec. Jason Peck (Cortland St), 7-3
133 – Mark Matzek (Augsburg) dec. Ozzie Saxon (Wartburg), 4-3
141 – Dustin Hinschberger (Wartburg) dec. Jamell Tidwell (Augsburg), 9-1
149 – Bart Mehlert (Wartburg) dec. Clint Manny (Simpson), 13-1
157 – Marcus LeVesseur (Augsburg) dec. Cory Connell (Wartburg), 8-4
165 – Artie Weidler (Brockport St) dec. Garrett South (Luther), 5-3
174 – Joe Moon (Augsburg) dec. Eduard Aliakseynka (Montclair St), 13-6
184 – Ryan Sturm (Wartburg) dec. Josh Housekeeper (Delaware Valley), 17-4
197 – Akeem Carter (Wartburg) dec. Yan White (Wis.-Stevens Point), 4-2
285 – Ryan Allen (Wis.-LaCrosse) dec. Blake Gillis (Wartburg), 12-5
Top 20 teams
1. Wartburg, 156.5
2. Augsburg, 140.5
3. Luther College, 68.5
4. Delaware Valley, 58.0
5. Simpson, 55.5
6. Brockport State, 54.5
7. Wis.-LaCrosse, 50.5
8. College of New Jersey, 49.5
9. Wis.-Stevens Point, 40.5
10. Cortland St., 33.0
11. Montclair St., 31.0
12. John Carroll, 30.5
13. (tie) Wis.-Whitewater, 20
13. (tie) Williams, 20
15. Loras, 19
16. York, 18
17. Coe, 16.5
18. (tie) Kings, 14.5
18. (tie) Manchester 14.5
20. (tie) Trinity, 12.5
20. (tie) Wis.-Eau Claire, 12.5
20. (tie) Ursinus College, 12.5
Wrestling Gear
