2018-19 Augsburg Preview
Team: Augsburg University
Head Coach: Jim Moulsoff
Years at School as Head Coach: 4
Career Record at Current School: 48-12
Assistant Coaches: Tony Valek (Associate Head Coach), Brad Fisher, Jared Massey, Orlando Ponce, Matt Hechsel, Chad Bartschenfeld, Justin Koob, John Peterson
2017-2018 Dual Meet Record: 13-2
2018 NCAA Qualifiers:
125 – Victor Gliva (Qualifier)
133 – Sam Bennyhoff (2nd)
141 – David Flynn (Qualifier)
149 – Alex Wilson (5th)
157 – Ryan Epps (National Champion)
165 – Lucas Jeske (National Champion)
174 – Tanner Vassar (7th)
197 – Sebastian Larson (Qualifier)
Returning NCAA Qualifiers:
157 – Ryan Epps (2018-National Champion, 2017-Qualifier)
165 – Lucas Jeske (2018-National Champion, 2017-3rd)
133 – Sam Bennyhoff (2018-2nd, 2017-Qualifier, 2016-Qualifier)
149 – Alex Wilson (2018-5th)
174 – Tanner Vassar (2018-7th)
141 – David Flynn (2018-Qualifier, 2017-3rd)
125 – Victor Gliva (2018-Qualifier, 2017-8th)
Top Returning Starters:
157 – Ryan Epps (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls HS) — In 2017-18, won Division III national title at 157 and Upper Midwest Regional title, going 42-1 with 8 pins, 1 technical fall and 6 major decisions … 34-7 as national tournament qualifier and West Region titlist at 149 in 2016-17… Career record: 76-8 with 13 pins, 6 technical falls and 11 major decisions … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2017.
165 – Lucas Jeske (JR, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) — In 2017-18, won Division III national title at 165 and Upper Midwest Regional title, going 39-1 with 22 pins, 3 technical falls and 7 major decisions… In 2016-17, finished third at 165 at D-III nationals and won West Regional title, going 26-8 … Career record: 64-9 with 30 pins, 6 technical falls and 11 major decisions.
133 – Sam Bennyhoff (SR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) — In 2017-18, finished 2nd at D-III national tournament at 133 and won Upper Midwest Regional title, going 35-6 with 9 pins, 7 technical falls and 9 major decisions … Qualified for national tournament in both 2016-17 (30-9) and 2015-16 (28-7), winning West Regional title each season … Career record: 93-22 with 17 pins, 15 technical falls and 26 major decisions … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2016, 2017 and 2018 … Google Cloud (CoSIDA) Academic All-America second-team selection in 2017-18 … CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.
149 – Alex Wilson (SR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) — In 2017-18, finished 5th at D-III national tournament at 149 and placed 3rd at Upper Midwest Regional, going 35-7 with 7 pins, 7 technical falls and 6 major decisions … 35-9 in 2016-17 and 23-15 in 2015-16 … Career record: 93-31 with 24 pins, 9 technical falls and 17 major decisions … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2017 and 2018.
141 – David Flynn (JR, Jordan, Minn./Scott West) — In 2017-18, qualified for national tournament and finished 3rd at Upper Midwest Regional, going 20-6 with 7 pins, 2 technical falls and 3 major decisions … Mid-season transfer in 2016-17 from North Dakota State, going 34-8 (25-5 at Augsburg) and finishing 3rd at D-III national tourney, West Regional titlist … Career record (Augsburg): 73-25 (45-11) with 23 (16) pins, 6 (2) technical falls and 9 (6) MDs … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2018.
125 – Victor Gliva (JR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) — In 2017-18, qualified for national tournament and finished 2nd at Upper Midwest Regional, going 29-8 with 9 pins, 2 technical falls and 6 major decisions … In 2016-17, finished 8th at 125 at national tournament and winning West Regional, going 32-7 … Career record: 61-15 with 15 pins, 6 technical falls and 13 major decisions … NCAA Elite 90 (highest GPA at national tournament) honoree in 2017-18 … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2017 and 2018 … Google Cloud (CoSIDA) Academic All-America first-team and Academic All-District selection in 2017-18.
174 – Tanner Vassar (JR, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) — In 2017-18, finished 7th at national tournament and 2nd at Upper Midwest Regional at 174, going 35-10 with 9 pins, 5 technical falls and 5 major decisions … 32-10 record in 2016-17 … Career record: 67-20 with 20 pins, 6 technical falls and 6 major decisions … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2017.
149 – Aaron Wilson (JR, Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) — In 2017-18, went 27-6 with 9 pins, 4 technical falls and 7 major decisions … Did not compete due to injury in 2016-17 … National tournament qualifier and West Regional third-place finisher at 141 in 2015-16, finishing 16-20 … Career record: 43-26 with 17 pins, 5 technical falls and 10 major decisions … NWCA Scholar All-American in 2018.
197 – Lance Benick (SO, Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) — Mid-season transfer from Arizona State in 2017-18, finishing 11-5 with 2 pins and 3 major decisions … Finished fourth at Upper Midwest Regional at 197
Top Incoming Wrestlers:
157/165 – Michael Abeyta (FY, McMinville, Ore./McMinville HS) — Two-time Oregon state tournament runner-up (Class 6A 132 in 2016, Class 6A 145 in 2017) … Four-time Oregon state tournament placewinner, also taking sixth in 6A at 138 in 2015 and 6th in 6A at 145 in 2018.
157 – Aacoda Aitkin (FY, Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) — Minnesota state tournament qualifier (2017, Class AAA 145) … Placed 2nd in Section 5AAA at 145 in 2017 and 3rd in Section 5AAA at 152 in 2018.
149/157 – AJ Bethea (FY, Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) — Three-time Minnesota state tournament placewinner (8th in Class AA 106 in 2014, 6th in Class AA 145 in 2017, 3rd in Class AA 145 in 2018) … Five-time Minnesota state tournament competitor (also Class AA 120 in 2015, Class AA 125 in 2016) … 176-30 high school record.
141 – Antonio Esteban (FY, Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge HS) — Arizona state tournament qualifier (Division I 145), section tournament titlist in 2017-18.
149 – Jacob Forar (FY, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) — Minnesota state tournament placewinner, finishing fifth in Class AAA 160 in 2018 with 32-9 record … Fourth in 152 in Section 2AAA in 2017 and 2016.
149/157 – Justin Kopet (FY, Le Center, Minn./Tri-City United HS) — Third at 138 in Minnesota Section 2AA in 2018 and 2017 … Fourth at 132 in Section 2AA in 2016.
174/184 – Dylan Lentz (FY, Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights HS) — Placed 5th at 170 in Minnesota Class AA state tournament in 2018 with 34-6 record … Three-time Minnesota state tournament qualifier (2018 Class AA 170, 2017 and 2016 Class AA 160) … 144-29 high school record … Four-time Tri-Metro Conference champion … 2018 Tri-Metro Conference Outstanding Senior Wrestler honoree.
174 – Nick Rogge (FY, Prairie du Chien, Wis./Prairie du Chien HS) — 2018 Wisconsin state tournament runner-up (Division 2-160), finishing 47-6 … Conference and section titlist in 2018 … 142 victories in high school career, second-most in school history.
125 – Zach Smith (FY, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS) — 2018 Minnesota state tournament runner-up (Class 3A-126), finishing 12-3 … 5-time Minnesota state tournament qualifier and 4-time state placewinner (4th at Class AA-120 in 2017, 6th at Class AA-120 in 2016, 5th at Class AA-113 in 2015, qualifier at Class AA-106 in 2014) … 126-41 high school record.
141 – Cain Van Ryn (FY, Faribault, Minn./Faribault HS) — Minnesota state tournament placewinner, finishing 6th at Class AAA-138 in 2018, finishing 25-15 … Also competed in state tournament in 2017 at Class AAA-132, finishing 31-10 … Finished 3rd in Section 1AAA meet in 2016.
141 – Jack Vaselaar (FY, Winona, Minn./Winona HS) — Two-time Minnesota state tournament placewinner, finishing 5th at Class AAA-138 in 2018 and 3rd in Class AA-132 in 2017 … Also competed at state tournament in 2015 (Class AAA-113) … Finished 41-7 in 2017-18 and 32-13 in 2016-17 … Placed fourth at 2017 Minnesota/USA State Freestyle Junior championships (152) … Holds Winona HS career record for wins (150).
133/141 – Quinn Youngs (FY, Monticello, Minn./Annandale-Maple Lake HS) — Two-time Minnesota state tournament placewinner, finishing 4th at Class AA-126 in 2017 and 4th at Class AA-120 in 2016 … State tournament qualifier in 2018 (Class AA-132) and 2015 (Class AA-113) … 148-22 high school record.
HWT – Luke Zaiser (FY, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) — Three-time Minnesota state tournament qualifier (Class AA 285 in 2018, 2017 and 2016) … Finished 38-11 in 2017-18, 32-15 in 2016-17 and 25-17 in 2015-16 … Placed 5th in Greco-Roman and 4th in Freestyle (285) at 2018 USA Wrestling Northern Plains Regional … Competed in 2017 and 2016 USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in both disciplines and in 2015 USA Wrestling Cadet Nationals in freestyle.
133 – Gage Zieske (FY, Osakis, Minn./Osakis HS) — 2018 Minnesota state tournament runner-up at Class A-138, finishing 44-2 … Also competed at Minnesota state tournament in 2017 (Class A-132) and 2016 (Class A-120), finishing 38-5 and 29-7 … Finished 2nd at 138 in Greco-Roman at 2017 Minnesota/USA Wrestling state junior tournament … Four other top-four finishes at Minnesota/USA Wrestling state tournaments.