Wrestling finds success at regionals, advances to championship

Ranked at No. 3 for the NCAA Division II Men’s Coaches Rankings, Augustana’s wrestling team placed third overall at the NCAA Super Region V Tournament on March 2 with 118.5 points. 

By earning third, six wrestlers will go to the NCAA DII Championships, in Wichita, Kansas, on March 15-16: Fifth-year students Cade Mueller and Zach Peterson, senior Hunter Burnett, juniors Jaxson Rohman and Cael Larson and sophomore Max Ramberg. 

“I’m very grateful to have the ability to wrestle at such a high level,” Burnett said. “Advancing to the championship made me reflect and appreciate everything surrounding me. My team is so incredibly talented, and they all work so hard. I was very proud of them, and I’m grateful to have such a great team.” 

Burnett won a regional championship at 141 pounds, earning a first-period pin over No. 3 junior Cayden Henschel from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Leading up to the final match, Burnett won with a pair of pins for his first two matches and a win by decision of 6-4 in his third match. 

At 125 pounds, Rohman placed second after winning his first two matches by a technical fall and decision. He fell in his third match by overtime 9-6 to Parkside sophomore Shane Corrigan. 

“I think mentally we have made the most improvements,” head coach Jason Reitmeier said. “They have been very consistent with training, preparation, effort and their attitude in workouts and competition, which has built their confidence.” 

Larson and Mueller also placed second in their respective brackets. At 149 pounds, Larson took down three matches before falling against St. Cloud State University redshirt junior Colby Njos.

Mueller had a bye in his first round but took down his two matches before falling by a 4-2 decision against Parkside redshirt junior Reece Woracheck. 

At 197 pounds, Ramberg lost one match and won three to earn third place. After falling to redshirt senior Dominic Murphy of St. Cloud State by a decision of 4-2, Ramberg pushed through for his third place match by defeating junior Cannon Potts of Minot State University by pin with a time of 6:19.  

Peterson also placed third in the 285-pound bracket after losing to redshirt junior Lloyd Reynolds of Parkside by a decision of 4-2. After advancing in the consolation semifinals, Peterson won over Minot redshirt junior Jake Swirple 4-1. 

“We support each other by being selfless,” Burnett said. “If you want to have a good team, you need to have a balance of being selfish and selfless.”