Mark Simmonds 4th at World Team Trials

Alum Mark Simmonds ’05 places fourth at USA Wrestling World Team Trials

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (6/9/07) — Augsburg College wrestling alumnus Mark Simmonds ’05 placed fourth in the 120-kilogram (264.5 pounds) Greco-Roman class at the 2007 USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials, held on Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Simmonds is a Damage Controlman Third Class (DC3) in the U.S. Navy operating out of the Mayport, Fla., Naval Station, and is a member of the Navy’s wrestling team.

In Saturday’s challenge rounds, Simmonds opened with a 3-0, 1-4, 1-1 decision win over former Brigham Young University wrestler Brandon Ruiz (Sunkist Kids), then lost a 3-0, 3-0 decision to eventual runner-up Russ Davie (New York Athletic Club), a three-time NCAA Division I tournament qualifier in his collegiate career (Cleveland State, 2000-04). In the consolation semifinals, Simmonds claimed a 5-0, 4-0 decision victory over Kenny Lester (Sunkist Kids), an Arizona State University wrestler who was coming off a title in the 2007 University Nationals. Simmonds finished his competition with a loss in the third-place match 1-1, 4-0 to Timothy Taylor (U.S. Army).

Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army), the 2002 world champion at the weight class, won the competition for the third straight season and seventh time in his career on Saturday, and will represent the United States in the World Championships in September in Baku, Azerbaijan.

A Minneapolis native (Edison HS), Simmonds competed for two seasons at Augsburg (2003-05) after transferring from Southwest State University. He earned All-American honors twice at Augsburg, finishing fourth in the NCAA Division III national tournament at heavyweight in both 2004 and 2005. He also qualified for the Division II national tournament as a freshman at Southwest State in 2001. He finished 102-50 in his collegiate career, including a 68-18 record at Augsburg.

He was a health and physical education major at Augsburg and joined the Navy following his graduation. As a member of the Navy wrestling team, Simmonds finished second in the 120-kilogram Greco-Roman class at the 2007 Armed Forces Championships in Fort Carson, Colo., in March. He went 2-1 in competition at the Armed Forces meet, with his only loss coming to the Army’s Beyers.

Thanks to Augsburg Sports Information Director Don Stoner for forwarding this story.