Augsburg College - Athletics

Augsburg College Athletics 2005-06 Year in Review: Winter Sports

FALL SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW, CLICK HERE
SPRING SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW, CLICK HERE
2005-06 ATHLETIC AWARDS, CLICK HERE
HONOR ATHLETES/ATHLETES OF THE YEAR, CLICK HERE

Wrestling (8-3 overall, NCAA Division III third place, NWCA Division III National Duals runner-up)

Placing among the top four teams nationally for the 18th season in a row, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed six All-Americans and finished third at the NCAA Division III wrestling national championships, held March 3-4 at The College of New Jersey's Student Recreation Center in Ewing, N.J.

Augsburg has won a record nine NCAA Division III wrestling national championships in the last 16 years. Augsburg has finished among the top 20 teams nationally every year since 1971. Augsburg head coach Jeff Swenson has guided 149 All-Americans in his 24 years of coaching (1980-84, 1986-present).

Augsburg associate head coach Sam Barber was named Co-Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, sharing the honor with Wartburg assistant coach Dave Malecek.

Six Auggies earned All-American honors among the eight that qualified for the national tournament, marking the 18th straight year that Augsburg has claimed five or more All-Americans in national wrestling competition.

Ryan Valek (Sr., Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West), a three-time All-American at 165 pounds for the Auggies, finished second for the second season in a row in his weight class. Valek, who finished seventh his sophomore year and second his junior year, finished 41-4 on the season and 133-39 in his career.

Jafari Vanier (So., Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), who entered the NCAA tournament as an unseeded wrestler, had three overtime matches in the tournament and finished second at 133. Vanier, who finished 19-3 on the year, completed his first season at Augsburg after finishing second at the national junior college championships as a competitor at Iowa Central Community College in 2002.

Jeremy Anderson (So., Thief River Falls, Minn.), a transfer from the University of Minnesota, finished second nationally at 157 in his first national tournament competition. He finished 44-3 on the season.

Brad Tupa (Sr., Dundas, Minn./Faribault HS), a two-time All-American at 184 pounds, claimed a fourth-place finish for the second straight year, finishing 21-5 on the season and 74-25 in his Auggie career.

At 149, Jared Evans (Jr., Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS) finished fourth and earned All-American honors for the second time. Evans, who placed seventh nationally last season, finished 38-8 in 2005-06 and is 102-32 in his Auggie career.

At 174, Robbie Gotreau (So., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) finished fourth in his first trip to the national tournament. Gotreau finished 44-9 on the season and is 68-20 in his Auggie career.

Also qualifying for the national tournament for the first time were 141-pounder Josh Hansen (Jr., Albert Lea, Minn.) and heavyweight Andrew Neumann (Jr., Somerset, Wis.). Hansen finished the season at 32-10 and is 68-36 in his career, while Neumann finished 25-10 and is 54-30 on his career.

Augsburg finished 8-3 in dual meets this season, including a second-place finish at the NWCA Division III National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Augsburg won the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional at the University of Chicago (Ill.) for the fourth straight year, winning six individual titles. The Auggies also won tournament championships at the Dickinson State (N.D.) Blue Hawk Classic and the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Invitational this season.

For the ninth year in a row, Augsburg finished in the top 10 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Scholar All-America team program, finishing second among more than 100 NCAA Division III wrestling institutions with a 3.42 team grade-point-average.

Augsburg is the only school in NCAA Division III wrestling to finish in the top 10 both in competition on the mat and in the academic team competition in each of the nine years that the NWCA has awarded an academic team national championship.

Valek earned Scholar All-American honors for the third straight year. Evans earned Scholar All-American honors for the second straight year. National tournament qualifiers Hansen and Neumann were also named Scholar-Americans. Hansen repeated his Scholar All-American honors, while Neumann earned the honor for the first time in his career.

Also named Scholar All-Americans were Auggie seniors Kirk Rall (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) and Greg Brendemuehl (Sr., Medford, Minn.). Rall earned the academic honor for the third straight year, while Brendemuehl earned the honor for the first time in his career.

Over the past 23 seasons, Augsburg has produced 95 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, the most of any college in any division in the nation. Augsburg has had at least three Scholar All-Americans every year since 1993, and has had 72 athletes honored since 1997. In order to qualify for individual Scholar All-America honors, student-athletes must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA or previous-year GPA, be enrolled at the institution for at least one full year, and have specific athletic credentials.

Five Auggies joined Evans, Hansen, Neumann, Rall and Valek, as members of the Academic National Team -- Jeremy Anderson (Fr., Thief River Falls, Minn.), Paul Bjorkstrand (Fr., Burnsville, Minn.), Bill Boeschenstein (Fr., Marblehead, Mass./Hyde School), Brandon Klukow (Fr., Albert Lea, Minn.) and Wally O’Connor (Jr., Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS).

Men's Basketball (4-21 overall, 3-17 MIAC--11th/11)

Augsburg finished 4-21 overall, 3-17 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Two of the team’s wins this season came against MIAC playoff qualifier Bethel and against MIAC regular-season and playoff champion St. Thomas, both on the road.

The Auggies were in their first season under new head coach Aaron Griess. Prior to coming to Augsburg, Griess spent nine years as a coach at Chaminade University (Hawaii), the final five as head coach. In his tenure as head coach at the NCAA Division II school, he had a 71-61 record, the second-most victories in program history.

Dan Graf (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) was named as an honorable-mention selection to the All-MIAC team, the first all-conference honor in his collegiate career. Graf finished the 2005-06 season second on the Augsburg squad in scoring, avering 10.0 points per game. He also led the team in rebounding, with a 5.2 per-game average. He hit 23 three-pointers and had 42 assists and 34 steals. Graf is a three-year veteran of the Auggie program. He has appeared in 61 games (37 starts) in his career, averaging 9.2 points (562 total points) and 4.2 rebounds (257 total rebounds) per game, along with 85 assists and 85 steals. He also has 50 three-pointers in his career.

The Auggies were led in scoring this season by guard Justin Kozlowski (So., Wausau, Wis./Wausau Newman HS), who averaged 11.7 points per game, contributing 54 three-pointers and 60 assists. Kevin Keto (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) averaged 5.6 points per game, while adding 85 assists and 49 steals. Charlie Scott (Jr., Ely, Minn.) averaged 5.8 points per game with 25 three-pointers. Darren Nelson (So., Richfield, Minn.) and Matthew Huttner (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn./Rosemount HS) also averaged five points per game.

Augsburg had just one senior on the roster this season -- guard Aaron Benesh (Sr., Oconto, Wis.) -- and will return 14 letterwinners next season.

Women's Basketball (7-18 overall, 4-16 MIAC--12th/12)

Augsburg finished 7-18 overall, 4-16 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, considered the toughest conference in the country in NCAA Division III women’s basketball. The seven wins were the most for an Augsburg women’s basketball squad since the 2001-02 season (8-17). Augsburg completed its second season under head coach Jennifer Britz.

Augsburg opened the season by winning the Alverno (Wis.) Tip-Off Classic with an 88-55 win over host Alverno and a 77-64 win over Northland Baptist Bible (Wis.). Augsburg swept St. Olaf in league play and also claimed two milestone wins in league play -- an 80-74 win over St. Thomas that broke a 41-game losing streak to the Tommies, and a 64-60 win over MIAC playoff champion and NCAA Division III national playoff participant Concordia-Moorhead, just the second Augsburg win over the Cobbers in program history.

Guard Rosinta Stromquist (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS) was named to the All-MIAC team, while guard Katie LaGrave (So., Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) earned honorable-mention all-conference honors, the first all-conference honor for both players.

Stromquist was Augsburg's team leader in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Her scoring average ranked seventh among MIAC players in overall play, while her 14.0 points-per-game average in MIAC games only also ranked seventh-best. Her rebounding average was 13th among MIAC players in overall play. Her league games-only rebounding average of 5.9 was 12th best among conference players. Stromquist scored in double figures in 19 of Augsburg’s 25 games this season, including the last nine straight games.

A three-year veteran of the Auggie program, Stromquist appeared in 70 games in her career, starting 50. She averaged 9.3 points (652 total points) and 4.8 rebounds (337 total rebounds) per game in her career, along with 112 steals, 53 blocked shots and 96 assists.

LaGrave ranked second on the Auggie squad in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Her scoring average ranked 12th-best among MIAC players overall, while her rebounding average was 17th-best. Her 12.8 points per game in league play ranked 11th-best, and her 5.9 rebounds per game in league play was 13th-best. Her 48 three-pointers this season were the fourth-most in a single-season in school history. The school record is 53, set by Rachael Ekholm in 1999-2000 and by Ashley Vossen in 2003-04.

Point guard Kristina Lurken (So., Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) averaged 9.1 points per game, contributing 100 assists, 31 steals, and 5.0 rebounds per game. Her 4.00 assists-per-game average was tops in the MIAC overall, while her 76 assists in conference play were second-most among league players. Rachel Cherry (Sr., Rosemount, Minn.) averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Just two seniors were on the Auggie roster this season, and 10 letterwinners will return next season.

Men's Hockey (9-13-3 overall, 5-8-3 MIAC--7th/9)

The Augsburg men’s hockey team, coached by Mike Schwartz, finished 9-13-3 overall and 5-8-3 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Augsburg had several big victories during the season, including a 7-4 win over then-No. 2-ranked St. Norbert (Wis.) on Nov. 5 and a 7-4 win at then-No. 11-ranked Wisconsin-Superior on Jan. 13. In MIAC play, Augsburg swept Concordia-Moorhead and also claimed league wins over Gustavus, St. Mary’s and Hamline.

Forwards Aaron Johnson (Jr., Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) and Critter Nagurski (Jr., International Falls, Minn.) were named to the All-MIAC team. It is second straight year that both players have earned All-MIAC honors, and the third all-conference honor for Nagurski, after he earned honorable-mention All-MIAC recognition his freshman season. Players are named to the teams on a vote of conference coaches.

Johnson was later named to the American Hockey Coaches Association RBK Hockey Division III Men's All-American first team from the West Region. Johnson is Augsburg's 28th men's hockey All-American in school history and first since 2003.

Johnson, Augsburg's team leader in total scoring (49 points), led the MIAC in both overall games and conference games only (32 points) scoring, as well as assists in overall (36) and league games only (23). He also had 13 goals, second-best on the team. Among all NCAA Division III players (collegehockeystats.net), Johnson ranked first nationally in total scoring (1.96 points per game) and first in assists per game (1.44). Johnson earned MIAC Player of the Week honors twice this season.

In two seasons of hockey at Augsburg (50 games), Johnson has compiled 23 goals and 61 assists for 84 points. He transferred to Augsburg after playing his first season (five games) at Division I Michigan Tech. He had at least one goal or one assist in 23 of Augsburg's 25 games this season, with multiple-point games 14 times. He had six-points (two goals, four assists) in a 7-4 win over Wisconsin-Superior on Jan. 13, and closed his campaign with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in Augsburg's final two series of the season.

Nagurski led the MIAC in goal scoring in both overall (21) and conference games only (15), finishing the season ranked second on the team in total scoring, with 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points. His point total ranks third-best in league games only (25) and fifth-best in overall games (1.36 points per game). In the Division III national statistics, Nagurski currently ranks fifth nationally in goals per game (0.84).

A three-year veteran of the Augsburg program (72 games), Nagurski has compiled 78 career points (43 goals, 35 assists). He scored at least one goal or one assist in 19 of Augsburg's 25 games this season, and had multiple points in 10 games. In his last two series of the season, against Gustavus and Concordia-Moorhead, Nagurski compiled 13 points (seven goals, six assists).

Danny Carlson (So., Roseville, Minn.) contributed seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points this season, while Joe Haehn (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) had 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points. Colby Nichol (Fr., Grande Prairie, Alberta/Grande Prairie Composite HS) had 17 points (five goals, 12 assists), while Brett Way (Fr., Grande Ledge, Mich.) and Dan Leopold (So., Afton, Minn./Stillwater HS) had 13 points apiece.

Goalie Tony Ciro (Sr., Spring Lake Park, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) finished 7-7-3 with a 4.27 goals-against-average and .871 save percentage. A marketing major with a 3.92 grade-point average, Ciro was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Men's At-Large second team.

In April, Schwartz announced that he was resigning his coaching position in order to focus on his responsibilities as the school's director of athletic facilities. Assistant coach Chris Brown was named interim head coach for the Auggies. Brown, who served as head coach at Marian (Wis.) for four seasons (2000-04) and at Hamline for one season (2004-05), returned to Augsburg in 2005 for his second stint as an Augsburg assistant coach.

Schwartz served as head coach for the Auggies for 10 seasons (1996-2006), compiling a 124-110-30 record. Teams he coached made appearances in the MIAC postseason playoffs six times, compiling a 80-61-18 record in conference play.

Women's Hockey (8-14-3 overall, 7-8-3 MIAC--6th/10)

The Augsburg women’s hockey team, coached by Jill Pohtilla, completed its 11th varsity season in 2005-06, as the oldest collegiate women’s hockey program in the Midwest. Augsburg’s women’s hockey team finished 8-14-3 overall, 7-8-3 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play in 2005-06, finishing in sixth place in the league standings. The Auggies claimed a sweep of St. Catherine during the season and had league wins against Concordia-Moorhead, St. Benedict, St. Olaf, St. Mary’s and Hamline during the season.

Forward Tiffany Magnuson (Fr., Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS) was named to the All-MIAC women's hockey team, while teammates Jocelyn Cookson (Sr., Edina, Minn./Bloomington Jefferson HS) and Calla Lundquist (Sr., Gillette, Wyo./Campbell County HS) earned honorable-mention All-MIAC recognition. Magnuson also earned a spot on the six-player MIAC All-Rookie Team. It is the first all-conference honors for Magnuson and Lundquist, while Cookson earned All-MIAC first-team honors last season. Players are named to the teams on a vote of conference coaches.

Magnuson, who led the Auggies in scoring with 21 goals and six assists for 27 points, finished the year among the top goal-scorers in the MIAC and the country. She finished in a first-place tie for the most regular-season goals in MIAC overall play (21), while leading the league in goals in conference games only (19). She finished 11th among MIAC players in total scoring, and also 11th in MIAC games only in total scoring (23 points).

Among NCAA Division III players nationally (collegehockeystats.net), Magnuson finished fifth in goals per game (0.84) and 10th in points per game by rookies (1.08). Her 21 goals were tied for the second-most among rookies nationally this season. Magnuson's 21 goals are tied for fourth-best in a single season in school history, and the most ever by an Augsburg freshman.

Lundquist, a defender/forward, finished her career playing in the most games in Augsburg women’s hockey history, with 104. Only six players have appeared in 100 or more games in the 11-year history of the program. She finished this season with personal highs for scoring, with five goals and eight assists for 13 points. In her Auggie career, Lundquist finished with seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points.

Cookson finished the season tied with Lundquist for third-best on the team in scoring, with eight goals and five assists for 13 points. Cookson transferred to Augsburg last season after playing two years at Division I Wisconsin. In 39 Auggie games in two seasons, Cookson compiled 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points, ranking sixth-best in school history in career goals and 13th-best in career points. In her full collegiate career (65 games), she compiled 29 goals and 21 assists for 50 points.

Newcomer Caryn Quist (Fr., St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral HS) contributed five goals and a team-high 10 assists for 15 points this season, while Brittney LeBlanc (So., Anoka, Minn.) had nine points (four goals, five assists). Goalie Amanda Bockmann (So., Wind Lake, Wis./Muskego HS) finished with a 7-10-3 record, .891 save percentage and 3.21 goals-against-average.

Women's Swimming (0-6-0 in dual meets, 11th/11 at MIAC meet)

The Augsburg women's swimming team completed its third season as a varsity sport, and first under new head coach Mike Goldman. This season, seven swimmers competed for the Auggies, including five newcomers. Auggie swimmers set new school records in eight individual and five relay events this season. Augsburg finished 11th at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in February with 81 points, just 17 points behind 10th-place St. Mary's.

At the conference championship meet, Augsburg set three relay school records and one individual school record. The 200-yard freestyle relay of Melissa Warfield (Fr., Rogers, Minn./Buffalo HS), Sam Sedlak (Fr., Schuamburg, Ill.), Liz Wiggen (Fr., Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and Tyrrell Dupey (Fr., Urbandale, Iowa/West Des Moines Dowling HS) set a new mark of 1:51.30, bettering the old mark of 1:52.04 set in 2004-05.

The 200-yard medley relay of Wiggen, Trudy Pommerening (So., Bemidji, Minn.), Dupey and Warfield set a new record in 2:05.20, breaking the old record of 2:05.54, set last season. The 800-yard freestyle relay of Warfield, Stephanie Storlie (Fr., Moorhead, Minn.), Wiggen and Dupey set a new mark of 9:03.16, breaking a mark of 9:43.31 set earlier this season.

Augsburg’s Warfield also set an individual school record in the 200-yard freestyle, with a 2:09.38, which she swam in the leadoff leg of the team’s 800-yard freestyle relay. She set a record in the event for the third time this season. Augsburg's top individual placing at the championship meet was a 20th-place finish by Wiggen in the preliminaries of the 100-yard backstroke (1:09.98).

Sedlak set a new school record in the 200-yard backstroke (2:30.72) and 200-meter backstroke (2:53.82) this season. Warfield set new school marks in the 200-yard freestyle (2:09.38), 200-meter freestyle (2:31.43), 500-yard freestyle (5:53.13) and 50-meter freestyle (30.15). Wiggen set new school records in the 1,650-yard frestyle (21:25.77) and 100-meter backstroke (1:20.18).

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Augsburg College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III.

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