SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Augustana wrestling team opens the 2019-20 season on Saturday at the Jimmie Open in Jamestown, North Dakota at 9 a.m. The Vikings look to improve upon an impressive 2018-19 campaign that saw them finish 13th at the NCAA Division II Championships.
The Event
The Jimmie Open will be hosted by the University of Jamestown and will be the first of two trips the Vikings take to North Dakota this season.
The Opponents
The Vikings are one of the 15 schools competing this weekend. They will be competing against Jamestown, Concordia-Moorhead, Dakota Wesleyan, Itasca Community College, UMary, Midland, Minnesota, MSU Moorhead, Minot State, North Dakota State, Northland Community & Technical College, United States Air Force Academy Prep and York College.
The Vikings
In addition to three newcomers, the Vikings return 26 wrestlers from last year’s roster. The Vikings get another big boost as 12 of those 26 returners redshirted last season and are now eligible to compete this season.
Also, seniors Regan Bye and Bailey Neises are returning from injuries along with NSIC Preseason Wrestler to Watch, junior Ben Kelvington. Before last season’s injury, Kelvington had a fantastic 2017-18 season in which he went 17-4 and led Augustana with seven tech falls.
Redshirt Junior Brandon Carroll brings NCAA Championship experience to the Vikings as he qualified for nationals as a true freshman during the 2016-17 season.
The Lineup
125- Michael Suda, Ethan Cota, Taylor Jeffries
133- Brandon Carroll, Jack Huffman, Cole West (Unattached)
141- Jebben Keyes, Hunter Burnett
149- Noah North
157- Jacob Tvinnereim, Tyler Wagner (Unattached)
165- Dylan Schuck, Bailey Neises, Cade Mueller (Unattached)
174- Ben Kelvington, Tanner Brengle
184- Zach Peterson (Unattached)
197- Jarret Haglund
285- Steven Hajas, Samuel Detert
Wrestlers To Watch
Freshmen Cole West, Zach Peterson, and Cade Mueller will all make their college debuts this weekend in North Dakota. West compiled a 90-19 record throughout his first three years in high school and will wrestle at 133 pounds. Peterson went 94-12 throughout his junior year in high school and will wrestle at 184 pounds. Mueller, a state champion his junior year at Waconia High School, will wrestle at 165 pounds.
One Last Thing
The Vikings were selected to finish fourth in the NSIC in the 2019-20 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Augustana has just over two months to prepare for its first NSIC dual that begins on Jan. 9.
Check out Vikings Wrestling at goaugie.com and on Twitter and Facebook.