SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana PR) — The Augustana wrestling team will be heading down to sunny Tempe, Arizona, on Nov. 15 for a dual with the Sun Devils of Arizona State, head coach Jason Reitmeier announced this morning.
ASU finished second in the Pac-12 Championship last season and also finished in 12th place at the NCAA Division I Championship. Reitmeier is very excited for the opportunity against a strong Division I program.
“First of all, I would like to thank ASU and their coaching staff for inviting us down to compete against them,” Reitmeier said. “This is a great opportunity and experience for our young men to compete against one of the best D1 programs in the nation.
“Wrestling against one of the best teams, in a beautiful city, in front of a great crowd will be an experience our student-athletes will never forget.”
The dual will be ASU’s home opener for the 2019-20 season and will be the second time that the two squads have faced each other. The Vikings and Sun Devils dualed 41 years ago during the 1978 season.
The Sun Devils return a veteran group this season that includes two-time National Champion Zahid Valencia, All-Americans Josh Shields and Tanner Hall, and Pac-12 Champions Anthony Valencia and Josh Maruca.
“This is also an experience that will help us grow, learn from and be able to use as we look to our NSIC duals, Regional Tournament and the National Championship,” Reitmeier said.
The Vikings look to improve upon an impressive 2018-19 campaign that saw them finish 13th at the NCAA Division II Championship.
