Augsburg College - Athletics

Augsburg College Athletics 2007-08 Year in Review: Winter Sports

FALL SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW, CLICK HERE
SPRING SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW, CLICK HERE
2007-08 ATHLETIC AWARDS, CLICK HERE
2008 AUGGIE AWARDS, CLICK HERE

Wrestling (10-2-0 in dual meets, 3rd at NCAA Division III National Championships, 3rd at NWCA Division III National Duals, 1st at NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional)

Claiming a top-four finish in the team standings for the 20th straight year -- a record currently unmatched by any other NCAA wrestling program in any division -- the Augsburg wrestling team finished third at the NCAA Division III National Championships, hend March 7-8 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Augsburg claimed five All-Americans, marking the 20th straight season that Augsburg has had five or more All-Americans and 22nd time it has accomplished the feat in its 26 seasons of NCAA Division III competition.

Among the five All-Americans was national champion Seth Flodeen (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn.), who rallied from a No. 5 seed with wins over the top two seeds, including a first-period pin of No. 2-seed Clayton Rush of Coe (Iowa) in the 125-pound national title match. Flodeen is the 43rd wrestling national champion in Augsburg program history -- a record 39 in NCAA competition. The Auggies also earned four NAIA individual titles in the 1970s and 80s. Flodeen, a two-time All-American, finished his junior season 25-7, and is 78-27 in his Auggie career.

Sophomore Jason Adams (SO, Coon Rapids, Minn.) earned national runner-up honors at 141 pounds, finishing 31-9 on the season in his first trip to the national tournament. Willy Holst (SO, Prescott, Wis.), a transfer from Division I Minnesota, finished 32-3 this season and placed third nationally at 149 pounds. Senior Robbie Gotreau (SR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) placed third nationally at 184 pounds, becoming the 33rd wrestler in Augsburg history to earn three or more All-American honors, finishing the season with a 31-12 record and his career at 141-37. He finished fourth nationally at 174 in 2006 and fifth at 174 in 2007.

At 133, Augsburg's Travis Lang (JR, Bismarck, N.D.) completed his first season as an Auggie with a fifth-place national finish. A transfer from Division I Minnesota, Lang finished this season 38-4 and is 74-22 in his collegiate career. George Lynaugh (SR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) qualified for the national tournament for the second straight year, competing at 174 pounds, while Beau Hansen (FY, Albert Lea, Minn.) qualified for nationals for the first time at 157.

The Auggies completed their first season under new head coach Sam Barber, who had served as an assistant under former head coach Jeff Swenson for the previous six seasons. Augsburg finished 10-2 in dual meets, placed third at the NWCA Division III National Duals, and won the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional for the sixth straight year.

Men's Basketball (12-13 overall, 10-10 MIAC--7th/11)

Under third-year head coach Aaron Griess, Augsburg finished 12-13 overall, 10-10 in MIAC play in the 2007-08 season. After starting the season 0-6, Augsburg won 12 of its final 19 games, including seven of its last nine, to finish the season with its second-straight double-digit win campaign and best record since finishing 12-13 in the 2000-01 season -- its last trip to the MIAC's postseason tournament. Augsburg came within a game of qualifying for the conference tournament, but lost on a last-second shot at Bethel in the final game of the regular season.

Augsburg guard Jon Cassens (SO, Prior Lake, Minn.) and center Femi Solaja (SR, Cottage Grove, Minn./St. Paul Harding HS) were named to the All-MIAC squad, while forward Nate Alm (JR, Eden Prairie, Minn.) was an All-MIAC honorable-mention recipient. Guard Tony Doran (FY, Richfield, Minn./Trinity-River Ridge HS) was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. For both Cassens and Solaja, it is the second year in a row that the duo have earned all-conference honors; last year, both players earned All-MIAC honorable-mention awards.

Cassens led the team in scoring for the second straight year, averaging 15.8 points per-game, while also standing second in the conference in assists (4.76 apg). Solaja finished the season as one of only two MIAC players to average a point-rebound double-double per game. In overall play, Solaja ranked 14th among MIAC players in scoring (14.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (10.1 rpg), and also led the MIAC in field-goal percentage (.626). In his first season at Augsburg after transferring from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Alm finished third on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.9 rpg).

Women's Basketball (7-18 overall, 5-17 MIAC--11th/12)

Under fourth-year head coach Jennifer Britz, Augsburg finished 7-18 overall, 5-17 in MIAC play in the 2007-08 season. Augsburg reached the seven-win mark for the second time in the last three seasons. Augsburg opened the season with a 4-2 mark, its best start to a season since the 1984-85 campaign, but won just three of its last 19 contests.

Guard Kristina Lurken (SR, Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) was named to the All-MIAC squad, while guard/forward Katie LaGrave (SR, Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) and center Christa Suedbeck (JR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) earned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors. Guard Shannon Renne (FY, Nicollet, Minn.) was named to the All-First Year Team, and guard Taylor Ray (SR, Two Harbors, Minn.) was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. It's the second All-MIAC honor for both Lurken and LaGrave; Lurken was named an All-MIAC honorable-mention recipient in 2006-07, while LaGrave earned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors in 2005-06.

Lurken led the MIAC in assists in both overall (122) and conference (105) play, the only player to record 100 or more assists in league play this season. In scoring, Lurken finished 18th in the conference rankings in overall play (11.2 ppg). She finished her career with Augsburg’s school record for career assists (412), while ranking eighth in career scoring (966) and ninth in career rebounds (535).

LaGrave finished the season averaging 9.8 points per-game, setting the school record for career three-pointers (149) this season, while standing sixth in career scoring (978) and 13th in career rebounds (438). Suedbeck transferred to Augsburg this season from NAIA school Minot State (N.D.) and led the Auggies in both scoring (12.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg) this season, also adding 62 blocked shots and 34 steals. Renne finished third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per-game. She also contributed 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per-game.

Men's Hockey (6-17-2 overall, 4-12-0 MIAC--8th/9)

Under second-year head coach Chris Brown, Augsburg finished 6-17-2 overall, 4-12-0 in MIAC play in the 2007-08 season. Augsburg's Dan Carlson (Sr., Roseville, Minn.), Jim Jensen (FY, Plymouth, Minn.), Chris Johnson (SO, Verona, Wis./Madison Memorial HS) and Dan Leopold (SR, Afton, Minn./Stillwater HS) received All-MIAC honorable-mention recognition, while Trevor McCormick (SR, Mankato, Minn./West HS) was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. Jensen was also named to the MIAC's All-Rookie Team. The award is Carlson's second of his career; he earned All-MIAC honorable-mention and All-Rookie Team honors in the 2004-05 season. Johnson, a forward, was named to the All-MIAC honorable-mention squad for the second straight year.

A forward, Carlson finished the season ranked No. 4 on the team in scoring, with nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. In 95 career games at Augsburg, Carlson finished with 24 goals and 52 assists for 76 career points. Leopold, a defender, finished fifth on the team in scoring with two goals and 11 assists for 13 points, a total tops among Augsburg defenders. Among MIAC defenders in overall play, Leopold ranked 13th with 13 points, and his 11 assists were tied for seventh-most. He played in 100 games in his four seasons at Augsburg, with nine goals and 24 assists for 33 career points, including four power-play goals.

Jensen, a forward, led the Auggies with 11 goals this season, adding 11 assists for 22 points. His five power-play goals were also tied for the team high. Johnson led the team in total scoring with 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists), a total ranking 16th among MIAC players in overall play. Five of his eight goals were power-play goals, tied with Jensen for the team lead. His 18 assists were 11th-best among MIAC players.

Women's Hockey (4-16-3 overall, 4-11-3 MIAC--8th/10)

Under 13th-year head coach Jill Pohtilla, Augsburg finished 4-16-3 overall, 4-11-3 in MIAC play in the 2007-08 season. Defender Jackie Keller (SR, Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City West HS) and forward Tiffany Magnuson (JR, Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS) each earned All-MIAC honors, while goalie Toni Menth (SO, Buffalo, Minn.) was named to the All-MIAC honorable-mention squad. Keller was also named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.

The award is Keller's second of her career in hockey, after she earned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors last year. She was also named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for the second year in a row. Magnuson earned All-MIAC first-team honors for the third straight year, while Menth earned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors for the second straight year.

A defender, Keller finished the 2007-08 season with eight goals and five assists for 13 points, ranking sixth among MIAC defenders in overall statistics in total points and second in goals scored. Magnuson finished the season with the team's lead in goals (12), assists (11) and points (23). In 73 career games over three years, Magnuson now has 56 goals and 24 assists for 80 points, standing second in school history in goals and fourth in total points. Playing in all but 20 minutes of Augsburg's season in goal, Menth collected 817 saves for a .912 save percentage, with a 3.44 goals-against-average. Menth had the third-most saves of any goalie in the country in Division III women's hockey.

Men's/Women's Indoor Track and Field (Men 11th/11 at MIAC indoor championships; Women 11th/12 at MIAC indoor championships)

The Augsburg men's and women's track and field teams each finished 11th at the MIAC indoor championships, held March 7-8 at St. John's in Collegeville, Minn., completing the first half of the track and field season under 14th-year head coach Dennis Barker.

The Auggie women were led by Whitney Holman (SO, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), who earned an all-conference honor with a second-place finish in the 55-meter dash (7.41 seconds), and earned honorable-mention all-conference honors with a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash (27.08 seconds). Jenny Lovering (FY, Bemidji, Minn.) just missed All-MIAC honorable-mention honors in the mile run, finishing seventh in a season-best 5:25.68. She also placed 10th in the 1,000-meter run in a season-best 3:07.37.

On the men's side, Nick Ward (FY, Coon Rapids, Minn.) earned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors at the conference meet with a sixth-place finish in the men's 55-meter dash, finishing in a season-best 6.55 seconds. Brent Haglund (SO, Fridley, Minn.) set three school records during the indoor season, twice settting marks in the 3,000-meter run (8:44.94) and once in the 5,000-meter run (15:18.49).

Women's Swimming (0-9-0 in dual meets, 11th/11 at MIAC championships)

Under new head coach Tricia Wallace, the Augsburg women's swimming team completed its fifth year of varsity competition in 2007-08, finishing 11th at the MIAC championships. The Auggies were the lone MIAC program to complete its season with every swimmer recording season-bests in every event at the MIAC championships.

Senior Kasi Clauson (SR, Kansas, Okla./Cookson Hills Christian HS) set new school records in five events at the MIAC meet. She closed her career as the top swimmer (and first four-year competitor) in the first five years of Augsburg's women's swimming program, holding school records in 10 of 14 individual events, as well as being a part of school records in all five relay events.

To return to Augsburg Athletics, click here

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.

This is the official web site for Augsburg College athletics.
To contact Augsburg Athletics, click here for Athletic Department directory