Move Over Big Two
UW-LaCrosse ready to challenge the 'Burgs
This just in: There is another Division III wrestling contender other than Augsburg and Wartburg.
For based on the NWCA Div. III rankings, there is a nother team that is actually ranked above one of these two schools that have combined to win every NCAA Div. III championship since 1995.
Taking the historic step is Wisconsin-La Crosse, which is ranked just ahead of Wartburg — the Waverly, Iowa, college that captured titles in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2004 — and just behind Augsburg — the college in Minneapolis, Minn., which has collected the other team titles (1995, ‘97, ‘98, 2000, ‘01, ‘02 and ‘05) since 1994, the last time a non-’Burg school (Ithaca) won the Div. III title.
So is UWL pushing aside the Big Two?
“I suppose that is one way of looking at it,” said LaCrosse coach Nate Skaar, whose team finished fourth in last March’s tournament. “We’re just trying to take care of our own business.
“T
he ‘Burgs are definitely tough. But there are more teams out there as well. I would prefer us talking about the big ten. I think parity would be good.“Last year, Luther did a good job of making a move on the supposed Big Two. Hopefully more people can get on board with that so it doesn’t have to be a perennial power.”
The reason for LaCrosse’s elevation in the poll is the return of four All-Americans, including two-time defending champion Ryan Allen at heavyweight.
“Ryan is a natural athlete,” Skaar said. “He is a fierce competitor and is very talented. This is his final year so he wants to go out with a bang. He has some more goals.”
Skaar also returns the following All-Americans: Jordan Kolinsky, who has moved from 125 to 133; Mike Rohewetz, who also moved up one weight to 141; and Josh Chelf, who will remain at 174.
Of course the team to beat remains Augsburg, which dominated last year’s tournament with 162 points, four champions and an All-American at every weight.
Auggie coach Jeff Swenson returns one of those individual champions, but he’s an impressive one: 157-pound senior Marcus LeVesseur, who not only has won three NCAA championships but is a perfect 124-0 in his career.
Of the other 2005 All-Americans, Augsburg also returns 165-pound Ryan Valek, who mans the top spot after losing to Luther’s Garrett South last year; Jared Evans (149); Brad Tupa (184) and Justin Sorensen (197).
Wartburg actually returns the most national champions in senior Dustin Hinschberger at 141 pounds and senior Akeem Carter at 197.
“Dustin embodies everything we’d like to see from Wartburg,” said Knights coach Jim Miller. “He works extremely hard and he wrestles consistently every day that way, whether it is in practice or in competition.
“He leads by example and when he talks, people listen. He’s earned everyone’s respect the way he’s conducted himself on and off the mat.”
Miller meanwhile said Carter is becoming more of a wrestler than just an athlete.
“He keeps adding to his repertoire,” Miller said. “Before he would try a move and just land on his feet and come out of things.”
Miller said he isn’t too concerned about what teams are gaining — or passing — his team in the rankings.
“We are just tying to focus on being as good as we can be and see how everything works out,” said Miller, who will be without a pair of All-Americans (Tyler Hubbard at 133, and Scott Kauffman at 184) until the second semester. “I’m sure there are some teams out there that are excited because they have not been in the picture in recent years as far as contending. They should be excited.
“It doesn’t mean that we are going to let up by any means.”
There are two other individual champions returning from last year: Luther’s Matt Pyle at 149 pounds and York’s Duane Bastress at 184.
No. 4 SUNY-Brockport features one top-ranked wrestler in senior Tony D’Ambra at 133 pounds, while Cortland State and Loras College also have wrestlers ranked No. 1: Stephen Sair (174) and Terry Morgan (125), respectively.
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