Augustana (S.D.) sports, including wrestling, to move to NCAA Division I
Augustana University wrestling — and all other intercollegiate sports at the Sioux Falls, S.D. school — will be making the move from NCAA Division II to Division I.
The transition — part of school president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s AU: Vision 2030 strategic vision plan — was approved by Augustana’s Board of Trustees on Thursday. One key element of this plan is a transition for Vikings athletics to a Division I intercollegiate conference. While this vision plan itself does not indicate a timetable for this transition, multiple media reports indicate the school hopes to make the transition during the 2021-22 school year. “Augustana needs to notify its current conference, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) by the end of the year if they intend to leave the conference to begin the transition,” according to the Argus-Leader. Augustana has been a member of the NSIC since 2008. “Augustana has been a pivotal contributor to the success of the NSIC over the past decade,” according to NSIC Commissioner Erin Lind. “They have represented the NSIC well in competition, in the classroom, and in their community. We wish all the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans the best in the future.” In the past, Augustana has stated its intentions to move to the Summit League, which recently relocated its headquarters from suburban Chicago to Sioux Falls. If approved to join the Summit League, the Vikings would begin a five-year transition period that will include some time playing as an independent without a conference, and ineligibility for postseason play. The AU Viking wrestling program is led by head coach Jason Reitmeier, a 1997 Augustana alum who started his coaching career at his college alma mater immediately upon graduation. Since taking the helm in 2003, Reitmeier has led the Vikings to an overall record of 176-80. Rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/20949
NO. 12 TAR HEELS HOST NO. 11 NEBRASKA IN HOME OPENER
CHAPEL HILL — The No. 12 North Carolina wrestling team opens its home schedule Saturday when the Tar Heels host No. 11 Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. at Carmichael Arena. Carolina is a perfect 3-0 in duals with road wins over Chattanooga, No. 15 Arizona State and Appalachian State, while Nebraska is 4-1 with its lone loss coming on criteria against No. 10 Wisconsin.
UNC picked up one of the biggest dual victories of the Coleman Scott era last year in Lincoln, a 22-14 victory over the Cornhuskers. Kennedy Monday sparked the upset with a first-period pin of Tyler Berger, with Cory Daniel finishing off the victory with a 3-2 decision over David Jensen in the final bout. A top-15 showdown is expected at 184 pounds as No. 13 Chip Nesswill take on No. 3 Taylor Venz. In last year’s dual, Venz topped Ness in an overtime thriller, 13-11 in sudden victory. Ness avenged the loss at the NCAA Championships, topping the Venz 11-6 en route to an All-American finish. A redshirt senior from Duluth, Georgia, Ness is 7-4 on the year following a 2-2 showing at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Venz is 10-1 on the young season and a perfect 5-0 in dual competition. The redshirt sophomore took fourth at nationals last season and finished second at Cliff Keen, dropping an 11-5 decision to top-ranked Myles Martin of Ohio State in the final. Rest of the story at https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/14/wrestling-no-12-tar-heels-host-no-11-nebraska-in-home-opener.aspx
2018-2019 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll (No. 2)
Once again, it’s Grand View (Iowa) at No. 1
By Pete Scantlebury, NAIA Manager of Athletics Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the 48th-consecutive rankings period, Grand View (Iowa) is No. 1 in the NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll. The next installment of the Coaches’ Poll is scheduled for Dec. 28.
Top 25 Highlights (historical information dates back to 2000-2001)
- Grand View’s streak at No. 1 goes back to Oct. 17, 2012. The Vikings recently beat then ninth-ranked Baker 38-6 in a Heart of America matchup on Dec. 6.
- The top five remained the same from the last poll, with Indiana Tech, Montana State-Northern, Cumberlands (Ky.) and Providence (Mont.) all trailing Grand View, in that order.
- New to the poll this week are No. 15 Southern Oregon and No. 20 Eastern Oregon.
- Northwestern (Iowa) and Dickinson State (N.D.) fell out of the poll.
- Grand View leads the way with three top-ranked wrestlers in their weight classes: Justin Portillo (125 pounds), Ryan Niven (165 pounds) and Evan Hansen (197 pounds).
- Since 2001, only Grand View (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-2018), former members Notre Dame (Ohio) (2010-11) and Lindenwood (Mo.) (2006-07) have spent the entire season ranked No. 1.
Poll Methodology
- The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
- Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot.
- The top 20 individuals in each weight class are based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first-place vote, 19 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
- The postseason poll is determined using the individual and team results from the national championship
- For the complete Top 20 calendar, click here.
2018-2019 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – Poll 2 (Dec. 12, 2018)
| Rank | Last | Team | League | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Grand View (Iowa) | Heart of America | 202 |
| 2 | 2 | Indiana Tech | SAC | 160 |
| 3 | 3 | Montana State-Northern | Cascade | 130 |
| 4 | 4 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | Mid-South | 104 |
| 5 | 5 | Providence (Mont.) | Cascade | 84 |
| 6 | 14 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | Mid-South | 83 |
| 7 | 7 | Life (Ga.) | Mid-South | 80 |
| 8 | 9 | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | Cascade | 79 |
| 9 | 11 | Midland (Neb.) | GPAC | 76 |
| 10 | 6 | Menlo (Calif.) | Cascade | 74 |
| 11 | 13 | Oklahoma City | SAC | 69 |
| 12 | 8 | Williams Baptist (Ark.) | AMC | 65 |
| 13 | 16 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | AAC | 64 |
| 14 | 17 | Southeastern (Fla.) | Mid-South | 63 |
| 15 | 18 | Marian (Ind.) | AMC | 59 |
| 15 | 15 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | Mid-South | 59 |
| 15 | NR | Southern Oregon | Cascade | 59 |
| 18 | 9 | Baker (Kan.) | Heart of America | 55 |
| 19 | 11 | Missouri Valley | Heart of America | 51 |
| 20 | NR | Eastern Oregon | Cascade | 47 |
Dropped out: Northwestern (Iowa), Dickinson State (N.D.)
Receiving votes: Briar Cliff (Iowa) 39, Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 35, Morningside (Iowa) 34, Concordia (Neb.) 33, Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 32, Lourdes (Ohio) 31, Northwestern (Iowa) 31, Dickson State (N.D.) 28, Doane (Neb.) 26, Bethany (Kan.) 19, Graceland (Iowa) 16, Kansas Wesleyan 14, Saint Mary (Kan.) 14, Benedictine (Kan.) 12, St. Andrews (N.C.) 12, Rest of the rankings and story at http://www.naia.org//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=211783656&mc_cid=a96abd6d61&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 