SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame Committee has announced that former Augustana wrestling student-athletes Sam Herriman and Tom Meester have been selected for induction into its Hall of Fame.

The 20th class of inductees consists of 11 individuals who will be inducted into the wrestlers category and one into the coaches category. The 2016 induction class includes Sam Herriman (Augustana, 1975-79), Tom Meester (Augustana, 2001-05), George Thompson (North Dakota State, 1994-98), Nick Severson (North Dakota State, 1998-2002), Ryan Wolters (North Dakota State, 1994-98), Steve Saxlund (North Dakota State, 1997-2001) Todd Fuller (North Dakota State, 1998-2002), Matt Petsinger (Minnesota State, Mankato, 1997-2001), Jason Liles (Coach, South Dakota State, 1993-2012), Pat Dorn (South Dakota State, 1985-89), Paul Konechne (South Dakota State, 1997-2001), Ryan Resel (South Dakota State, 1995-99).

Herriman and Meester, along with the nine other inductees, will be officially inducted into the Division II NWCA Hall of Fame at a ceremony on March 10 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center prior to the start of the 2016 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship. The NWCA Hall of Fame ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets for the reception are $25 and can be reserved by emailing Sean Derry at sfsaintern@siouxfalls.com.

Herriman, a native of Tulsa, Okla., graduated from Augustana in 1980 with a degree in history. He made history in 1978 becoming the first Viking wrestler to win a national championship. Herriman was inducted into Augustana's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

He won the 126-pound title in the North Central Conference tournament and went on to top the field at the NCAA Division II Championship in 1978. A team captain his senior season, Herriman posted a 27-6 record and won his second straight NCC Championship at 126 pounds. He was a three-time All-American during his career at Augustana and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships before going on to win the title in 1977-78.

Herriman came up just short of back-to-back national championships falling in the 126-pound national title bout as a senior in 1978-79. During his time at Augustana, the Vikings placed sixth or better as a team at the National Championships, including a runner-up finish in 1976-77.

A 2006 Augustana grad, Meester graduated as one of Augustana's most decorated wrestlers in program history. Meester, a native of Rock Rapids, Iowa, compiled a 137-18 record at Augustana and was a three-time All-American. He was inducted into Augustana's Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2015.

Meester is one of just two wrestlers in Augustana history to win two individual national championships. He claimed back-to-back titles at 184 pounds as a junior and senior in 2004 and 2005. When he won the 184-pound national championship in 2004, Meester became Augustana's first national champion since his head coach Jason Reitmeier won the 142-pound title in 1997.

Meester has since worked to keep the championship expectations as they were when he was a member of the team, joining Reitmeier's staff as an assistant coach following his outstanding career. Meester joined the staff as a graduate assistant and to this day is the team's associate head coach. He also serves as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Augustana.

Meester made three national tournament appearances during his career and helped the Vikings to a 44-20 record during his career. He was a three-time North Central Conference Champion at 184 pounds and was a member of the 2004-05 NCC Championship team that went on to win a region championship and place second at the NCAA Championships.

In 2003-04, Meester was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the North Central Region Championship and following his first national championship in 2004-05, he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Division II Championships.

Meester was named the NCC Freshman of the Year in 2001-02 and for the next three seasons, he did not lose a single bout to an NCAA Division II opponent.

Herriman and Meester are the third and fourth former Vikings to be inducted into the NCAA Division II NWCA Hall of Fame. Former Augustana head wrestling coach Paul Kendle and student-athlete Brian Parlet were inducted into the NWCA Hall of Fame in 2000.