News Archives - 2007

The NCAA Division III national champion Augsburg College wrestling team was honored on Monday, May 14 by Minnesota's state government with an appearance at the governor's office.

Augsburg's wrestling team and staff met with Gov. Tim Pawlenty at 4 p.m. on Monday. The State House of Representatives and State Senate presented resolutions honoring the team.

In March, Augsburg won its 10th Division III national championship, claiming three individual champions and nine All-Americans, in the national competition in Dubuque, Iowa. It was the third year in the last four that Augsburg has had nine or more All-Americans. Augsburg finished 11-1 in dual meets this season, winning the NWCA Division III National Duals tournament in January. Outgoing head coach Jeff Swenson was named National Wrestling Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. Swenson resigned his head coaching position in March and has been replaced by former associate head coach Sam Barber.

Augsburg has won 10 NCAA Division III wrestling national titles in the last 17 years, a championship total doubling that of any other Division III school. Augsburg is one of only three NCAA schools to have won 10 or more wrestling national titles (Oklahoma State has won 34 Division I team titles, while Iowa has won 20 Division I team titles). Augsburg has also finished second in Division III national competition seven times, and has finished among the top four teams in national competition the last 19 seasons in a row, the only NCAA school in any division that can make that claim.

Photo: Coach Jeff Swenson presents Governor Pawlenty with an Auggie wrestling t-shirt. President Pribbenow looks on. Photo by Sarah Stacke.