Augustana University Athletics

Don Lubbert battled through injuries throughout his wrestling career at Augustana to compile an 81-29 career record and lead the Vikings to a national runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II NationalTournament in 1977.
        
As a freshman, Don compiled a 21-11 record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament where he won two matches. In 1974-75, after redshirting his second season due to knee surgery, Don compiled a 27-7 record, including a 13-1 dual met record. He finished the year with a second place finish at the NCC Tournament. At the NCAA Tournament he won three matches and missed earning All-American status by a controversial referee's decision. If the NCAA awarded All-American status to the top eight places as they do now, Don would have been Augustana's first All-American wrestler. His teammates voted him team captain and outstanding wrestler of the year.

Despite two knee surgeries during his junior year Don qualified for the nationals with a 12-3 record. His senior year, finally healthy, Don responded by compiling a 27-7 record and finishing second at the NCC Tournament. He ended his senior year by placing fifth at the NCAA Division II National Tournament and earning All-American status. The 1977 team, captained by Don and Pat Flaherty, finished the season as runners-up at the Division II National Tournament. After graduation, he received invitations to attend the U.S. Olympic training camps and try out for the 1980 and 1984 Olympic teams.

Don also was a 3-time All Lutheran Champion, finished 2nd at the Augsburg Takedown Tourney, was a co-champion at the UNI Open, and was NCC Wrestler of the Week.

One of Don's best memories is of his last match. He said,"I made it through four matches in the wrestle backs to face the same guy who defeated me earlier. Before the match, Coach Kendle told me that if I won we would finish in second place; if I lost, UNI would finish second and we would finish third. (Historical note: Coach Patten from UNI recruited me. When I told him I was going to Augie he said he would retire if Augustana ever finished ahead of them. He retired in 1977.) I hurt my shoulder and couldn't do my moves to the right, like I usually did. My opponent expected my moves to come to the right again, like they had in our first match. He couldn't stop my moves to left so I did all my moves that way and ended up beating him 4 to 1 for fifth place. Just recently, I found out that Coach Kendle told all the other guys in the wrestle back matches the same thing he told me before my match. No pressure coach.