Long before I ever got into college wrestling, the Auggies of Augsburg were among one of the kingdoms that often ruled NCAA Division III wrestling. It's been 35 years, and they're still one of those kingdoms. Someday, I won't be around anymore, and long after I'm gone? Augsburg will still be one of the top teams in D3 wrestling.
As it usually is, the maroon & gray lose a lot of good talent, but they also bring back a lot of great talent.
Out of eligibility...
Keno Vanier, an NCAA D3 qualifier for the Auggies last season, who finished 3rd at Regional VII.
Cole Becker, 8th in the D3 nation this past season with Regional finishes of 3rd & 1st the past two seasons.
You hate to see the last moment of someone's career end like it did for Cooper Willis. 5th-5th-2nd in the D3 nation, he came up short of his fourth All-American honor. Something was off. Not sure what. He had handled both Koedam & Peet rather decisively earlier in the season, so something was most certainly off. Still an all time great in Augsburg wrestling history. Willis was 2nd-3rd-2nd-1st at Regional 7 and had well over 100 career wins.
Brandt Bombard who made the NCAA D3 finals this past season. 4th in 2025, he was 1st & 2nd the past two Regional 7's.
Tyler Raway who demonstrated that the move up from 197 to HWT was very beneficial. Came within one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier in 2025 & then won a Regional 7 title in 2026.
Lastly, I have to put in a word for Lucas Jagodzinske. Probably one of the best D3 backups of the last four seasons. It's hard to believe with the accomplishments he had & some of the names he defeated during his career that he never started a post season. 75 career wins. Want names? How does NCAA DII champ Ronan Schuelke strike you? Jagodzinske defeated him multiple times during his career. All American Joe Penchi? That's another name Jagodzinske took down during his time as an Auggie. Won a very tough Cliff Keen Mike Duroe (CKMD) this past season.
The talent coming back?
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| 133 Chance Suddeth |
What a standout career this young man has had thus far. 7th & 8th in the D3 nation, he's 2nd-1st-1st in Regional 7. 24 wins in '25-'26, he took 3rd at the North Central Invite & 2nd at CKMD.
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| 133 Carter Freeman |
Curious to see if Carter Freeman might move up to 141, now that Cole Becker has graduated. At 133 last season, he showed a lot of signs of greatness. Stuck Matt Chi in just 25 seconds & defeated two-time D3 qualifier Quinton Wolbert 10-7.
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| 149 Matt Randolph |
28-4 on the season, I really think Matt Randolph can challenge for the NCAA Division III title this year. Thus far he's been 4th & 5th, as he'll contend for his third All-American medal, which could very well end up being cloaked in gold. A two-time Regional 7 champion, he won titles at Luther, the Auggie Invite & took runner-up honors at the North Central Invitational.
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| 157 Karsen Otis |
A Regional 7 champion last season, Karsen Otis will contend for All-American honors this season. 29 wins, he was the CKMD champ & 2nd at North Central.
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| 157 Cole Dummer |
With Cooper Willis now graduated, can't help but wonder if Cole Dummer isn't in the weight room putting on some size looking to maybe move up to 165. Dummer went 25-4 last year
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| 174 Nick Alexander |
Hell of a good leg rider, Nick Alexander racked up 20 wins last season in route to a 3rd place finish at Regional 7. He was also a CKMD runner-up.
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| 197 Ethan Winkelman |
Another member of the maroon & gray who will challenge for an NCAA D3 title this season. 3rd in the D3 nation last year on a 32-5 record, he won titles at Regional 7, the Auggie Invite, the North Central Invite & CKMD.
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| HWT Keegan Kuball |
Keegan Kuball is going to step in & take over right where Tyler Raway left off. 26-4 on the year, including a win over All-American Markos Mihalopoulos, he was the runner-up at both North Central & CKMD.
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