Augsburg, winners of 10 of the last 17 Division III national titles, are ranked ahead of perennial rival Wartburg (Iowa), which finished second last season, and Wisconsin-La Crosse, which finished third. Heidelberg (Ohio) is ranked No. 4 and Luther (Iowa) is ranked No. 5. St. John's (Minn.) is ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll.
The Auggies are in their first season under new head coach Sam Barber, who served as an assistant for six seasons under former head coach Jeff Swenson.
Augsburg's Quincy Osborn (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), who went 44-3 last season to win the Division III national title at 141 pounds, will move up two weight classes to 157 this season. He opens the year ranked No. 1 in the 157-pound class. Osborn was an Division I national tournament qualifier his first two seasons (2003-04, 2004-05) at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Augsburg last year. He is 104-35 in his collegiate career.
Also opening the season top-ranked in their weight class is Augsburg's Seth Flodeen (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) at 125 pounds. Flodeen was a national runner-up last season at 125, finishing with a 25-5 record. He is 53-20 in his Auggie career.
Robbie Gotreau (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS), a two-time All-American at 174 pounds (fifth in 2007, fourth in 2006), will move up to 184 pounds this season. Gotreau, 41-6 last season and 109-26 in his Auggie career, begins the year ranked No. 3 at 184.
Wallace O'Connor (Sr., Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS) enters the year ranked No. 3 at 197 pounds. He earned All-American honors for the first time last season, finishing eighth at 197. O'Connor finished 21-17 last season and is 55-47 in his Auggie career.
Willy Holst (So., Prescott, Wis.) enters the season ranked No. 5 at 149 pounds. Holst transferred to Augsburg last season after spending his freshman year at Division I Minnesota, but missed nearly all of the season due to an injury. Holst is 14-5 as a collegiate wrestler.
Augsburg opens its season with its annual Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. at Si Melby Hall. The Auggies' first dual meet is on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., as Augsburg hosts Augustana (S.D.) at Si Melby Hall.
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