Wartburg Knights wrestling
Wrestling team of the Wartburg College Knights From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wrestling team of the Wartburg College Knights From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wartburg Knights wrestling program is one of the most successful programs in the NCAA Division III. They are a member of the American Rivers Conference and wrestle for Wartburg College. Wartburg has 15 NCAA DIII National Championships while finishing as a runner-up 11 times.[2] After the 2024 tournament they are now tied with Augsburg University for the record of most Team National Titles.[2] They have also won 13 NWCA National Duals titles.
| Wartburg Knights | |
|---|---|
| |
| Head Coach | Eric Keller (14th season) |
| Assistant Coach | Trevor Kittleson Elard Coello Brady Kyner |
| Conference | ARC |
| Location | Waverly, IA |
| Arena | Levick Arena (Capacity: 2,000) |
| Nickname | Knights |
| Colors | Orange and Black[1] |
| Team national championships | |
| 15 | |
| National championship years | |
| 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 | |
| NCAA individual champions | |
| 50 | |
| All-Americans | |
| 248 | |
| Conference championships | |
| 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
Wartburg wrestling began in 1955. It took until 1996 when Wartburg would win their first ever National Championship. Since then Wartburg has won an NCAA DIII leading 15 NCAA wrestling National Championships. Since 1995 only two teams have won a DIII NCAA wrestling team title, those two being Wartburg College and Augsburg University. Both teams have gone back and forth throughout the last 28 years which created one of the greatest rivalries in any sport. The rivalry gained national attention when it was placed front and center on the New York Times sports section in 2012.[3] The two teams meet every year and wrestling for a belt in a dual aptly named "Battle of the Burgs",[4] with Wartburg winning the last 8 straight and most recent in 2023.[5] In 2022, Wartburg would go on to win its NCAA leading 15th National Championship by beating Wabash by one single point 79-78.[6]
Home meets are held in the Levick Arena in Waverly, Iowa.[7]
| Year | Coach | NCAA Meet Points | Duals Record (W-L-T) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Jim Miller | 95.5 | 17-2-0 | ||
| 1999 | Jim Miller | 117.5 | 17-1-0 | ||
| 2003 | Jim Miller | 166.5 | 22-1-0 | ||
| 2004 | Jim Miller | 156.5 | 27-1-0 | ||
| 2006 | Jim Miller | 145.4 | 27-0 | ||
| 2008 | Jim Miller | 147 | 22-0-0 | ||
| 2009 | Jim Miller | 117.5 | 15-2-1 | ||
| 2011 | Jim Miller/Eric Keller | 117 | 19-1-0 | ||
| 2012 | Jim Miller/Eric Keller | 141.5 | 19-1-0 | ||
| 2013 | Jim Miller/Eric Keller | 103 | 19-0-0 | ||
| 2014 | Eric Keller | 103.5 | 18-0-0 | ||
| 2016 | Eric Keller | 129.5 | 19-0-0 | ||
| 2017 | Eric Keller | 129.5 | 20-0-0 | ||
| 2018 | Eric Keller | 136.5 | 18-2-0 | ||
| 2022 | Eric Keller | 79 | 13-1-0 | ||
| 15 NCAA Championships | |||||
2021 (no NCAA Championship was held due to the COVID-19 Pandemic)[9]
1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024[10]
2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024 [11][12]
| Year | NCAA Champion | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Dean Gavin | 190 lbs |
| 1993 | Tom Hogan | 150 lbs |
| 1993 | Lance Christensen | 167 lbs |
| 1994 | Zane Braggs | 118 lbs |
| 1996 | Tom Smith | 126 lbs |
| 1996 | Jamal Fox | 142 lbs |
| 1997 | Tom Smith | 126 lbs |
| 1997 | Dusty Rhodes | 134 lbs |
| 1998 | Ben Shane | 142 lbs |
| 1999 | Zac Weiglein | 125 lbs |
| 1999 | Ben Shane | 149 lbs |
| 2000 | Zac Weiglein | 125 lbs |
| 2003 | Heath Ropp | 125 lbs |
| 2003 | Wil Kelly | 141 lbs |
| 2003 | LeRoy Gardner III | Hwt. |
| 2004 | Dustin Hinschberger | 141 lbs |
| 2004 | Bart Mehlert | 149 lbs |
| 2004 | Ryan Sturm | 184 lbs |
| 2004 | Akeem Carter | 197 lbs |
| 2005 | Dustin Hinschberger | 141 lbs |
| 2005 | Akeem Carter | 197 lbs |
| 2006 | Tyler Hubbard | 125 lbs |
| 2006 | Dustin Hinschberger | 141 lbs |
| 2007 | T.J. Miller | 197 lbs |
| 2007 | Blake Gillis | Hwt. |
| 2008 | Jacob Naig | 149 lbs |
| 2008 | Aaron Wernimont | 157 lbs |
| 2008 | Romeo Djoumessi | 184 lbs |
| 2009 | Aaron Wernimont | 157 lbs |
| 2009 | Justin Hanson | 197 lbs |
| 2010 | Byron Tate | 197 lbs |
| 2011 | Byron Tate | 197 lbs |
| 2011 | John Helgerson | Hwt. |
| 2012 | Kenny Anderson | 125 lbs |
| 2012 | Kodie Silvestri | 141 lbs |
| 2012 | Landon Williams | 165 lbs |
| 2012 | Byron Tate | 197 lbs |
| 2013 | Kenny Anderson | 133 lbs |
| 2014 | Kenny Anderson | 133 lbs |
| 2014 | Cole Welter | 165 lbs |
| 2014 | Landon Williams | 174 lbs |
| 2015 | Kenny Martin | 149 lbs |
| 2016 | Kenny Martin | 149 lbs |
| 2017 | Eric DeVos | 174 lbs |
| 2018 | Brock Rathbun | 133 lbs |
| 2018 | Cross Cannone | 149 lbs |
| 2018 | Kyle Fank | 197 lbs |
| 2023 | Zane Mulder | 174 lbs |
| 2023 | Massoma Endene | 197 lbs |
| 2024 | Massoma Endene | 197 lbs |
The following table counts the achievements of Wartburg Knight wrestlers by name as opposed to year.
| Wrestler | NCAA Championships | NCAA Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Kenny Anderson | 3 | 0 |
| Dustin Hinschberger | 3 | 0 |
| Byron Tate | 3 | 0 |
| Akeem Carter | 2 | 1 |
| Kenny Martin | 2 | 0 |
| Ben Shane | 2 | 0 |
| Tom Smith | 2 | 1 |
| Zac Weiglein | 2 | 0 |
| Aaron Wernimont | 2 | 0 |
| Landon Williams | 2 | 0 |
| Zane Braags | 1 | 1 |
| Cross Cannone | 1 | 1 |
| Lance Christensen | 1 | 0 |
| Eric DeVos | 1 | 1 |
| Romeo Djoumessi | 1 | 0 |
| Massoma Endene | 2 | 0 |
| Kyle Fank | 1 | 0 |
| Dean Gavin | 1 | 0 |
| LeRoy Gardner III | 1 | 0 |
| Blake Gillis | 1 | 3 |
| Justin Hanson | 1 | 0 |
| John Helgerson | 1 | 1 |
| Tom Hogan | 1 | 1 |
| Tyler Hubbard | 1 | 0 |
| Wil Kelly | 1 | 0 |
| Bart Mehlert | 1 | 0 |
| TJ Miller | 1 | 1 |
| Zane Mulder | 1 | 1 |
| Jacob Naig | 1 | 1 |
| Brock Rathbun | 1 | 0 |
| Dusty Rhodes | 1 | 0 |
| Heath Ropp | 1 | 0 |
| Kodi Silvestri | 1 | 1 |
| Ryan Sturm | 1 | 0 |
| Cole Welter | 1 | 0 |
| Bruce Brye | 0 | 2 |
| Jon Dawley | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Alesch | 0 | 1 |
| Josh Dodd | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Buskohl | 0 | 1 |
| Ozzie Saxon | 0 | 2 |
| Kevin Bratland | 0 | 1 |
| Sonny Alvarez | 0 | 1 |
| Cory Connell | 0 | 1 |
| Scott Kauffman | 0 | 1 |
| Jake Helvey | 0 | 1 |
| Brian Borchers | 0 | 1 |
| Drew Wagenhoffer | 0 | 1 |
| Zach McKray | 0 | 1 |
| Bradley Banks | 0 | 2 |
| Ryan Fank | 0 | 1 |
| Devin Peterson | 0 | 1 |
| Nick Michael | 0 | 1 |
| Gerard Roman | 0 | 1 |
| Logan Thomsen | 0 | 2 |
| Tyler Lutes | 0 | 1 |
| Zayren Terukina | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 50 | 41 |
As of the completion of 2023 season[14]
| Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955–1966, 1967-1968 | Norm Johansen | 10 | 50–49–7 | .505 |
| 1966–1967 | Kaye Young | 1 | 4–7–0 | .364 |
| 1968–1990 | Dick Walker | 22 | 175-85-4 | .670 |
| 1991-2013 | Jim Miller | 22 | 411–38–2 | .914 |
| 2010–present | Eric Keller | 14 | 233–11–0 | .955 |
| Totals | 5 coaches | 64 seasons | 816–190–14 | .807 |
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