March 1, 2009
2008-09 WRESTLING REVIEW
In his second year at the helm of the Augustana wrestling program, Eric Juergens guided his charges to a third place finish in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. For a program that has won a total of 36 conference titles, the third place finish might not seem like much. A closer examination of the numbers, however, tells a different story.
The Vikings’ last league crown came in 2004 and they were fifth in 2007 and fourth in 2008. In 2007 they scored 33.5 points and in 2008 they tallied 34.5. This year they totaled 48.5 points to place third behind North Central (98.5) and Elmhurst (85). Wheaton was fourth with 33.5 points.
Three Augustana wrestlers recorded second place finishes in the CCIW tournament, which was held on Saturday, February 14 at Wheaton College. Junior Kyle Brodwater (St. Joseph Hamm HS, Medford, New Jersey) at 125, senior Andrew Randone (Davenport Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) at 133 and sophomore Matt Nykaza (Brother Rice HS, Oak Lawn, Ill.) at 197 all made it to the championship matches in their respective weight classes.
In addition to the three runners-up, four Vikings placed third in the conference tournament. Freshman Alberto Quiros (Morton HS, Cicero, Ill.) at 141, junior Zac Holland (West Des Moines Dowling HS, Pleasant Hill, Iowa) at 149, freshman Matt McIntyre (West Carroll HS, Savanna, Ill.) at 157 and senior Brian Kerr (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) at 197 all recorded third place finishes.
The Vikings were 4-11 in dual meets, winning three of their final five matches of the season after beginning the campaign with a 1-9 mark.
Kerr led the team in victories with a record of 21-15 while Brodwater also eclipsed the 20 win mark with a 20-12 record. Holland was 19-20 and George Gogonas (Bowie HS, Austin, Texas) finished up 13-10.
2009 COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN TOURNAMENT
February 14, 2009 *** King Arena *** Wheaton, Illinois
TEAM SCORES: 1. North Central 98.5; 2. Elmhurst 85; 3. AUGUSTANA 48.5; 4. Wheaton 33.5; 5. Millikin, Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan and North Park did not field teams.
INDIVIDUAL PLACE WINNERS
|
WEIGHT CLASS |
CHAMPION |
SECOND |
THIRD |
FOURTH |
|
125 |
Jake Oster, Elmhurst |
KYLE BRODWATER, AUGUSTANA |
Joe Norton, North Central |
|
|
133 |
Jake Denhof, Elmhurst |
ANDREW RANDONE, AUGUSTANA |
Sean Tomas, North Central |
Caleb Cardenas, Wheaton |
|
141 |
Jamie Devine, North Central |
Rob Lejman, Elmhurst |
ALBERTO QUIROS, AUGUSTANA |
Jeff Coners, Wheaton |
|
149 |
Jason Fitzenreider, North Central |
Charlie Curran, Elmhurst |
ZAC HOLLAND, AUGUSTANA |
Matt Cordell, Wheaton |
|
157 |
Cowan Brown, North Central |
Nick Parrish, Elmhurst |
MATT MCINTYRE, AUGUSTANA |
|
|
165 |
Ben Youel, North Central |
Greg Horn, Elmhurst |
Justin Marble, Wheaton |
KRIS KOVACH, AUGUSTANA |
|
174 |
Greg Schroeder, North Central |
Justin Tomal, Wheaton |
Frank Savegnago, Elmhurst |
GABE GARDNER, AUGUSTANA |
|
184 |
Gabe Youel, North Central |
Toby Boltz, Wheaton |
BRIAN KERR, AUGUSTANA |
Garrett Washington, Elmhurst |
|
197 |
Vinnie Sapienza, North Central |
MATT NYKAZA, AUGUSTANA |
Bernie Vazquez, Elmhurst |
|
|
285 |
Mark Corsello, Elmhurst |
Billy Malone, North Central |
Chase Campbell, Wheaton |
|
2008-09 AUGUSTANA WRESTLING SUPERLATIVES
MOST VALUABLE WRESTLER - Brian Kerr
MOST IMPROVED WRESTLER - Alberto Quiros
HARDEST WORKER - Kyle Brodwater
SACRIFICE AWARD - George Gogonas
