Interested in hearing your impressions of this years incoming class at Augsburg.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College wrestling program will feature three high school state champions, 11 state tournament qualifiers and a junior college All-American among its 12-wrestler recruiting and transfer class, head coach Mark Matzek has announced.

“The coaching staff and I are very excited to work with this group of wrestlers,” Matzek said. “They fit into the Augsburg wrestling program athletically, academically and socially. These young men, as well as our returning wrestlers, will push one another to new levels in the practice room, which will translate into competition.”

Matzek will enter his second season as Augsburg’s head coach in 2009-10, coming off of last season’s second-place NCAA Division III national finish. Four All-Americans and six national tournament qualifiers, including 197-pound national champion Jared Massey (SR, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS), will be among the 32 letterwinners expected to return to the Auggie program this season.

Augsburg’s 2009-10 season opens on Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. with the annual open practice/fall banquet at Si Melby Hall. The competitive season begins on Nov. 21 with the Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open, also at Si Melby Hall. Augsburg will host the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional on Feb. 20, and the NCAA Division III National Championships will be held on March 5-6 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Here is a look at Augsburg’s 2009-10 recruiting and transfer class:

Matt Bailey (FY, Robbinsdale, Minn./Armstrong HS) -- A three-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 135 in 2009, Class AAA 130 in 2008, Class AAA 125 in 2007), Bailey finished 33-12 last season at 135 pounds. He finished 132-46 in his career, and was a two-time Academic All-State honorable-mention selection by The Guillotine magazine.

Devon Bonds (FY, St. Paul, Minn./Humboldt HS) -- A 2009 Class AA state champion at 130 pounds, Bonds finished 41-8 his senior season. He qualified for the state tournament three times (Class AA 125 fourth place in 2008, Class AA 112 in 2007) and finished 100-31 in his career. He was also named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2008 Minneapolis Edison Twin Cities Championships tournament. He is ranked No. 17 at 130 pounds in the Wrestling USA Magazine 2009 Best High School Senior Wrestlers list.

Tyler Bowling (JR, Lakeville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) -- A transfer from Ellsworth Community College (Iowa), Bowling earned Junior College All-American honors with a seventh-place finish at 184 pounds at the 2008 NJCAA national tournament. Bowling earned state runner-up honors at 171 pounds (Class AAA) at the 2006 high school state tournament.

Doug Fuller (FY, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) -- A Wisconsin Division 1 state tournament runner-up at 189 pounds in 2009, finishing 44-8 his senior season. He was also a state qualifier and conference champion at 189 in 208. Fuller also finished seventh at 285 pounds at the 2008 USA Wrestling ASICS Junior Folkstyle National Championships, and was fourth at 285 at the 2007 Junior folkstyle national meet.

Brian Gaffney (JR, Portage, Wis.) -- A transfer from the University of Dubuque (Iowa), Gaffney finished fourth his senior season (2005) at the Wisconsin Division 1 state tournament at 125 pounds.

Cody Hansen (FY, Albert Lea, Minn.) -- A four-time state tournament entrant and three-time state placewinner (Class AAA 103 pounds second place in 2007, Class AAA 112 pounds third place in 2008, Class AAA 125 pounds third place in 2009). He finished 167-37 in his high school career, and earned “Special Mention” honors at 125 pounds in the 2009 Wrestling USA magazine Best High School Seniors list. Hansen also earned Academic All-State first-team honors in both 2008 and 2009 by The Guillotine magazine. Hansen is the fourth member of his family to wrestle at Augsburg (previous Auggies were brothers Josh, Zach and Beau).

Dusty Holmes (SO, West Fargo, N.D.) -- Holmes was a three-time North Dakota state tournament placewinner (Class A 125 pounds sixth place in 2006, Class A 140 pounds third place in 2007, Class A 140 pounds third place in 2008).

Jesse Hylton (FY, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS) -- Hylton was a two-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 112 pounds in 2008, Class AAA 119 pounds in 2009), finishing his high school career with a 91-36 record.

Cody Madsen (FY, Stillwater, Minn.) -- A three-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 119 pounds in 2007, Class AAA 125 pounds in 2008 and 2009), Madsen finished fourth at the state tournament in both 2008 and 2009. He finished 40-7 his senior season.

Michael Orange (FY, Southfield, Mich.) -- Orange was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and an all-district selection as a 125-pounder in Michigan. He placed third in district competition in 2009.

Ryan Seidler (FY, Adams, Wis./Adams-Friendship HS) -- A three-time Wisconsin state tournament placewinner, Seidler won the Wisconsin Division 2 state title at 135 pounds in 2009, while finishing fourth at 119 in 2008 and fourth at 125 in 2007. Seidler holds the Adams-Friendship school record for career wins (171-17 career record), including 65 poins and 280 takedowns. He was a four-time conference titlist.

Tossaporn Suparat (FY, North Branch, Minn.) -- A two-time state tournament placewinner, Suparat won the Class AA state title at 130 pounds in 2008 (42-3 record), while finishing second in Class AA at 135 pounds in 2009 (40-5 record). He finished his career as North Branch’s all-time wins leader with a 160-54 record. A two-time all-conference wrestler, he also earned Academic All-State first-team honors in both 2008 and 2009 from The Guillotine magazine.

No disrespect to the individuals in this group, but they have big holes to fill to contend for a title, and these guys won't be ready this year. They needed transfers, and they didn't get them. Recruiting is huge, and it looks like Matzek didn't get it done. All their studs are left over from the previous coaches. Bonds has potential, but he isn't enough.

I think the additions of Costanzo at SCSU and Nagel at Concordia have been what has made Augsburg's recruits seem a little more down to earth. This is a nice class, they are just used to getting more D I dropouts and did not get them.

So far it looks to me like Coe may have the strongest recruiting class in all of DIII and that it will be a VERY even 4-team battle in Cedar Rapids on March 5 & 6.

Wartburg
Augsburg
LAX
Coe

If Bonds goes 133, they'll get him up to speed. Rocha might be back at 125, he's pretty good.

141-Valek-So.
149-Murray -So.
157-Adams-Sr.
165-Ponce-Jr or one of a bunch of guys
174-Molitor-Jr.
184-Lines-MR-Fr. or Bowling-Jr.
197-Massey-Sr.
Hwt-Witzel-Sr.

Only 3 Srs. and 4 are AA's and 2-3 others are probably close to being ranked...184 could too once it proves strong enough. Unknown will be the 125/133 wgts.

Could Mincey end up at Augsburg?

So how can all the people who are "supposely" in the know, not know what his future plans are. They knew all about him in high school.

not sure what you mean by this. I read the forum to try to learn what is happening, not because I think i know anything of great value. Most posts I make are questions posed in order to gain information.

If he would go there, I think he'd dominate D3 at 141 to the tune of 3x Champ (unless they can get him a 7th Semester/4th year) then I think he'd have a Marcus-like career there...he's THAT talented.

What is their depth like for a couple years?

Itd be cool to see a Mincey/Valek one two punch.

If it makes you feel any better I wasn't posing the question to you, theres others who come on here all the time when the kids are in high school to set the record straight, apparently they answer only when they want too, or don't follow them after they graduate.