College News

Augsburg coach Tony Valek named The Open Mat NCAA D-III National Coach of Year

MINNEAPOLIS — Augsburg University men’s wrestling head coach Tony Valek ’12 has been named as the 2022-23 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year by The Open Mat, an amateur wrestling website, it was announced on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Valek led the Auggie men’s wrestling team to its 14th NCAA Division III national championship in program history, with an individual national titlist and seven All-Americans. The Auggies won the national title with 101.0 points, outdistancing second-place Wartburg (Iowa) by 34.5 points. In February, the Auggies claimed the NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Regional title, qualifying eight wrestlers to the national championships. The Auggies finished 9-1 in dual meets this season, winning the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals title for the eighth time in school history in January.

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NWHOF-MN Chapter Banquet to be special on April 22nd

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Minnesota Chapter Banquet will celebrate its 20th Anniversary at the Austin Country Club, 1202 28th Street, Austin, MN, on April 22nd, 2023.

20th Anniversary pins will be on sale at the silent auction. The live auction will feature California wine and magnums signed by The NWHOF Minnesota Class of 2023. The big news is that Sandy Sevens, one of the finest Masters of Ceremonies, will do the honors. Sandy teamed up with the legendary late Ed Aliverti back in the day! They worked the NCAAs for years. Sandy has also worked at the Olympics and the World Games, as well as being a distinguished Order of Merit member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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Minnesota Wrestling Round Table – Late March Edition

Listen to the latest episode of the Minnesota Wrestling Round Table Podcast brought to you by KNUJ Radio out of New Ulm, Minn. Join host Jim Bartels, along with Adam Bartels, Larry ‘The Sodbuster’ Baumgardt, Chad Johnson, and Cathy Koob.

Topics covered include a recap of NCAA Tournaments and the Minnesota angle on each – D1, D2, D3 (did someone say Augsburg won it?)! You will hear parts of interviews with Coach Valek from Augsburg. Also, hear from Steve Ricard on the upcoming MWCA Hall of Fame inductees and event info. and Spencer Yohe on the NWHOF event and inductees. Plus, Minnesota high school wrestling championships in all classes, Individuals, team, and girls state tourney, and more!

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Academic All-Big Ten Honorees Announced for Winter Sports

MINNEAPOLIS – The Big Ten Conference recognized 86 University of Minnesota student-athletes with Academic All-Big Ten honors Thursday as seven Gopher programs were recognized by the conference for academic success.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten merits, student-athletes must be on a varsity team, have been enrolled full-time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Wrestling led the way this winter with 22 honorees, followed by women’s swimming and diving (16), gymnastics (15), men’s swimming and diving (15), men’s hockey (12), men’s basketball (four) and women’s basketball (two).

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