Augustana (5-2, 1-0 NSIC) returns to action with a pair of conference duals after a month of rest. On Sunday, Jan. 12, the Vikings welcome Minot State (0-3, 0-1 NSIC) to the Elmen Center for a 2 p.m. dual. Two days later, Augustana plays host to Southwest Minnesota State (3-2, 0-0 NSIC) at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14. The Vikings defeated both teams last season on their way to a 5-3 finish in the NSIC season.
Augustana’s dual with Division III top-10 Concordia-Moorhead was canceled due to inclement weather. The last competition for the Vikings was a 38-6 win over U-Mary on Dec. 12.
Augustana remained in the receiving votes section of the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Poll. Three Vikings: TJ North, Sean Derry, and Jayd Docken all received individual national rankings. North overtook the top spot in the Super Region 3 rankings while several more Vikings earned recognition. In the latest NSIC rankings, Augustana collected the third-most points based on the individual rankings
Next up
The Vikings will head to the Ranger Duals in Kenosha, Wis. where they will take on three top-tier programs. To open the Ranger Duals, Augustana faces No. 8 Indianapolis, then No. 13 McKendree, and closing with Findlay. The Vikings then return head to the road the following weekend for a pair of duals in Minnesota.
Scouting the competition
– Minot State –
Minot State enters the weekend with an 0-3 record, but face Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. The Beavers lost their NSIC opener to Minnesota State 31-9 on Dec. 20. Three Minot State wrestlers earned Super Region 3 rankings in the Jan. 3 release. Ricard Avakovs (157 Pounds) is ranked eighth, Marcus Polak (165 pounds) owns the No. 6 spot, and Bobby Bartz (285 pounds) is the highest ranked MSU wrestler at fifth.
Series: Augustana is 2-0 against Minot State, according to Augustana records, with both victories coming last season. The Vikings took last season’s NSIC dual 29-15 in Minot, N.D., aided by a pair of Augustana pins. In the first meeting last season, Augustana head coach Jason Reitmeier earned his 100th career victory with a 39-15 win at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.
– Southwest Minnesota State –
Southwest Minnesota State enter the weekend with a 3-2 record. The Mustangs have their NSIC opener on Saturday night against Minot State. SMSU’s lineup boasts two wrestlers in the NCAA national rankings and five in the Super Region 3 rankings. Justin Reinsma (133 pounds) is ranked eighth in NCAA Division II and Jacob Begin (174 pounds) checks in at the No. 7 spot in the country.
Series: Augustana is 23-3 against the Mustangs, according to Augustana records, and they have won the past 13 duals The Vikings edged SMSU 19-18 last year’s dual, with the Vikings winning on a team tiebreaker. At home, Augustana is 7-2 against the Mustangs and are 4-0 in NSIC-sponsored duals.
National news – North joins Docken and Derry, Vikings catching eyes of national polls
TJ North made his debut in the NCAA individual rankings at No. 5 in the 125 pound weight class. North jumped to No. 1 in the NCAA Super Region 3 and NSIC rankings in the latest release. Jayd Docken remained at the No. 5 spot in the 197-pound class A 2013 All-American, Docken is 4-0 this season with a pair of pins. Sean Derry fell one spot at 184 pounds, checking in at No. 8 in the rankings. Derry and Docken both remained ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Super Region 3 and NSIC rankings. Shawn Hatlestad (149 pounds), Jeremiah Peterson (133 pounds), and Jacob Anderson (141 pounds) all earned Super Region 3 recognition with Hatlestad in sixth and Peterson and Anderson earning a No. 7 ranking.
As a team, Augustana received votes for the second consecutive national release. The Vikings are one of nine teams receiving votes outside of the top 20. Two NSIC teams appear in the top 10 with St. Cloud State holding down their No. 5 position and Upper Iowa climbing up three spots to No. 10. Five teams from the NCAA Super Region 3 are ranked in the top 20 with two more receiving votes.
In a separate release, Augustana earned the No. 14 ranking in the Basford rankings. Augustana collected 20 points and also had three wrestlers ranked. North held the No. 6 spot at 125 pounds, Derry came in eighth at 184 pounds, and Docken led the Vikings with the No. 5 billing in the 197-pound class. In the Basford top 25, Augustana is one of nine teams in the top 25 with two more receiving votes — including Southwest Minnesota State, Tuesday’s opponent.
Under the microscope: a closer look at Augustana’s wrestlers
• In all bouts, Augustana is 230-159 through 22 meets.
• The Vikings have racked up 68 pins vs. being pinned 42 times.
• TJ North (125) and Sean Derry (184) lead Augustana with 27 team points in duals.
• North has a team-high six major decisions while Derry has three pins in dual action.
• Derry leads with 64 takedowns while being taken down just five times.
• Similarly dominant, North has 40 takedowns, second on the Vikings, while his opponents have scored just eight.
Click Here: Cheap FIJI Rugby Jersey • Drake Fanslau (174) joins Derry and North with at least 30 takedowns (34), while limiting his opponents to just 11 on the season.
• Jacob Anderson (141) has some eye-catching statistics scoring 11 three-point near falls with none allowed.
• Anderson’s 15 reversals are 11 more than the nearest Viking.
• Anderson, Jayd Docken (197), and Michael Lowman (285) are all tied for second on the team with 21 team points in duals.
• In riding time, North, has scored 12 extra points by accruing enough time on top, while only one of his opponents earned an extra point from riding time this season.