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April 1, 2008

2007-08 WRESTLING REVIEW

2007-08 WRESTLING REVIEW

Brian Kerr and George Gogonas lead first-year coach Eric Juergens’ 2007-08 Viking wrestlers

Without a senior on this year’s roster, first-year head coach Eric Juergens’ 2007-08 Augustana wrestlers battled through some growing pains, but got solid performances all year from junior Mike Kerr (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) and sophomore George Gogonas (Bowie HS, Austin, Texas).

Kerr finished the year with a 24-15 record and has 50 wins over the last two seasons. He was Augustana’s highest finisher at the CCIW Championship with a second place finish at 184. As a sophomore he finished third at the same weight. Gogonas led the Vikings in wins, going 28-13, and was the CCIW’s third place finisher at 125 pounds. Both Kerr and Gogonas went on to compete at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional, with Kerr taking fourth place at 184 pounds and Gogonas finishing sixth at 125. As a team, Augustana finished fourth at the CCIW Championship and 12^th at the Great Lakes Regional.

Freshman Derrick Pousson (Round Lake HS, Lake Villa, Ill.) was next on the Vikings’ win list, going 14-13 while wrestling at 133 and 141 pounds. He finished fourth at 141 at the CCIW Championship. Junior Dan Krcmar (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange, Ill.) returned from a hand injury which cost him all of last season and went 13-19 and captured fourth place in the CCIW at 165 pounds. Another freshman, Gabe Gardner (Air Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.) won 14 matches and took fourth in the CCIW at 174 pounds. Junior Jake Mango (Sterling HS, Sterling, Ill.) and sophomore Zac Holland (West Des Moines Dowling HS, Pleasant Hill, Iowa) each won 11 matches and finished third in their respective weight classes at the conference meet. Mango was third at 157 and Holland third at 149.

The other Viking to place at the CCIW meet was freshman Matt Nykaza (Brother Rice HS, Oak Lawn, Ill.). Nykaza switched between 184 and 197 pounds and finished fourth in the CCIW at 197.

2008 COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN TOURNAMENT

February 16, 2008 *** Carver P.E. Center *** Rock Island, Illinois

TEAM SCORES: 1. North Central 100.5; 2. Elmhurst 97.0; 3. Wheaton 54.0; 4. Augustana              34.5; 5. Millikin 8.5; Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan and North Park did not field teams.

INDIVIDUAL PLACE WINNERS