MANHEIM, Pa. – Augustana wrestling maintained its top-10 team ranking in the latest NWCA Division II Poll while five Vikings—including two #2-ranked wrestlers—appeared in the individual top 15.
 
In the Dec. 23 poll, the Vikings totaled 55.5 points and are one of four NSIC teams in the top 25, with three placing in the top 10. St. Cloud State leads with 103.5 points, followed by Glenville State, Parkside, Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Jaxson Rohman sits No. 2 at 125 pounds with a 1-2 record so far in his senior season. In his first dual appearance of the year, the Trimont, Minn.-native pinned then-rated #4 Shane Corrigan during a battle against Parkside, helping push the Vikings to the upset road victory. Rohman earned his first NSIC Wrestler of the Week honor following his performance.
 
Also climbing the rankings up to No. 2 at 149 is Cael Larson. The redshirt junior is 7-2 on the year and most recently claimed a 21-5 tech fall over John Hostler of Nebraska-Kearney. Larson also defeated then-ranked No. 4 Jalen Spuhler of Parkside earlier this season in a 4-3 decision to pull off the upset.
 
Connor Simmonds breaks into the rankings of 157 pounds at No. 15 and sits 1-1 in action this season. His lone victory of the year came in convincing fashion as he took down then-ranked #5 Ben Durocher of Parkside in a 7-2 decision, logging a takedown and a four-point nearfall.
 
At 184 pounds, Cade Mueller jumped to #3 after kicking off the season with an 8-2 record. His most recent victory came in the dual against Parkside, where he took then-ranked #3 Reece Worachek to the first overtime period and logged a takedown in the final five seconds to claim the 4-1 sudden victory. Mueller also went a combined 6-0 at the DWU and Yellowjacket Opens.
 
The final individual ranking for Augustana is Max Ramberg, who sits No. 5 at 197 pounds. Ramberg is 8-2 on the year and claimed two victories in the triangular with Nebraska-Kearney and Nebraska. The junior defeated then-ranked #3 Jackson Kinsella of UNK in a 4-1 sudden victory before dominating Dominic Thebaeu of NEB with a 15-3 major decision.
 
Augustana will open its home slate with a Friday night dual against Southwest Minnesota State this week. Action is set for 5 p.m. inside the Elmen Center.