Devin Schelske, sports editor

The Augsburg men’s wrestling team began their season ranked number one in the nation after winning consecutive national titles in 2023 and 2024. The team now has an opportunity to do something that hasn’t been accomplished in two decades: complete a three-peat. The chances for the team to win another national title are very high as several Auggie wrestlers are nationally ranked individually at their respective weight classes. Wyatt Kaczrowski is ranked sixth at 125 lbs, Chance Suddeth is ninth at 133, Charlie Stuhl is ninth at 149, Blake Jagodzinske is fourth at 157, Cooper Willis is third at 165, Seth Goetzinger is fifth at 174, Max Borton is fifth at 184 and Parker Venz is third at 197. Jagodzinske, Willis, Goetzinger and Venz were named to the All-American team for placing in the 2024 National Tournament and are serious contenders for individual national titles. 

The Auggies are in good hands with head coach Tony Valek. In coach Valek’s 11 seasons with the Auggies, he has coached four national title squads, two national runner-up squads, 62 All-Americans and 13 individual national champions. He has a career dual meet record of 106-30 (33-6 as the head coach). The Auggies earned a dual meet record of 10-1 during the 2023-24 season, the only loss being to Wartburg at the NWCA Division Three National Dual-Meet Tournament. However, Augsburg evened the season dual series with Wartburg at 1-1 with a win in the Battle of the Burgs, one of the most electric sporting events ever held in Si Melby Hall. 

Some wrestlers with big shoes to fill are Max Borton and Jagger Schack. Max Borton is the successor of Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann, the 2024 National Champion of the 184 lb weight class. Borton is in his first season with the Auggies after transferring from Ursinus College, where he finished his freshman season with a 38-10 record. His big accomplishment was garnering All-American honors after finishing eighth in the national tournament at the 184 lb weight class. His other season highlights included finishing first at the Messiah Invitational, finishing first at the Will Abele Invitational, finishing third at the Racich Rumble and finishing third at the NCAA Mideast championships. 

Jagger Schaak is the successor of Tyler Kim, the 2024 National Champion of the heavyweight class. Schaak is in his senior season with the Auggies and has earned the starting spot after years of hard work and practicing with the best in the nation. Schaak finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-8 record, one of his wins being against a ranked opponent. 

Catch the Auggies in their second event of the year at the University of Olivet Duals in Olivet, Michigan beginning at 9 a.m. on Nov. 23. The next home event for the Auggies will be on Jan. 25, 2025, which is a dual meet against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at 2 p.m. in Si Melby Hall.