Augustana College wrestler
Aaron Graumann has been awarded a $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Graumann was one of 28 males from winter sports to be awarded scholarships. He was the only male student-athlete from the North Central Conference to receive a postgraduate scholarship. In addition, Graumann is the fifth Viking wrestler and 23rd Augustana student-athlete in school history to receive a postgraduate scholarship.
Graumann, a Sioux Falls native, posted a 35-4 record at 125 pounds in 2004-05 and capped his career by winning the national championship. A four-time national qualifier and a three-time All-American, Graumann helped the Vikings to a runner-up finish at the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championships. In addition, Graumann was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the North Regional Championships, where he helped Augustana to the team title. He was unbeaten against Division II opponents as a senior and finished his career with a 109-41 overall record.
Off the mat, Graumann maintains a 3.78 grade point average while majoring in chemistry and Spanish. He was a three-time Academic All-North Central Conference selection and was a 2003-04 CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large Third Team honoree.
Graumann is also involved in numerous campus and community activities. The 2004 Viking Days Homecoming King, Graumann is active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Spanish Club and the Student Affiliate American Chemical Society. In addition, he has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and Mark Twain Elementary School.
To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.
Nomination forms are sent to faculty athletics representatives for fall sports in September, for winter sports in late November, and for spring sports in January. Selections are made three times each academic year. The application must be submitted during the appropriate seasonal category for the sport to the appropriate regional committee chair. Candidates are screened by seven regional selection committees, and the award recipients are selected by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee.
