MISSOULA, Mont. – Augustana's incoming freshman class has been ranked No. 4 nationally in the non-Division I category by
Wrestling USA Magazine. The Vikings were the only Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team to be ranked.
The rankings were based on Dan Fickel's final rankings of the Best 2010 High School Seniors that appeared USA Wrestling Magazine's web site. Augustana had four recruits appear in Fickel's rankings, including
Jayd Docken (No. 28 at 189 pounds),
TJ North (No. 2 at 112 pounds),
Jeremiah Peterson (special mention) and
Jake Miller (special mention).
The rankings also considered transfer student-athletes, though the Vikings had no recruits fall into this category.
The Vikings were the second-highest ranked Division II program in the rankings. Central Oklahoma was the only Division II team to fall in ahead of Augustana, checking in at No. 3. The No. 1 and No. 2 spots went to two junior college programs (Iowa Central Junior College and Rend Lake College, respectively).
This offseason, head coach
Jason Reitmeier signed nine recruits for the 2010-11 season. The class includes Jeff O'Brien from West Point, Neb.,
Bradyn Neises from Howard, S.D.,
Parker Swanson from Canton, S.D.,
Jayd Docken from Winner, S.D.,
TJ North from Elk Point, S.D.,
Jeremiah Peterson from Canton, S.D.,
Jake Miller from Omaha, Neb.,
Ryan Hartnett from Gretna, Neb., and
Jeff Nielsen from Zimmerman, Minn.
Augustana was the national runner-up in 2009-10 and owned the 141 pound national champion in
Jay Sherer. The Vikings open the 2010-11 campaign on Dec. 6 at the Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D.
Top 15 Non-Division I Recruiting Classes
1. Iowa Central
2. Rend Lake College
3. Central Oklahoma
4. Augustana
5. CSU-Pueblo
6. Ellsworth JC
7. Nebraska-Omaha
8. Ashland
9. Notre Dame College
10. Clackamas CC
11. Montana State-Northern
12. Nebraska-Kearney
13. North Iowa Area CC
14. San Francisco State
15. Northwest College.
