By JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Writer
WAVERLY — A national runner-up trophy is nothing to shake a stick at, but one bad day at St. Olaf College last spring has left an awful aftertaste in the mouths of the Wartburg College wrestling team.
It has the Knights hungrier than any other year as the 2005-06 season approaches.
Seeking a third consecutive national championship a year ago, the Knights stumbled on day one of the Division III national tournament and lost sight of eventual national champion and archrival Augsburg College.
Wartburg rebounded, earning seven all-American awards, including two wrestlers ” Dustin Hinschberger and Akeem Carter ” who won their second individual national championships.
But the what-ifs still linger and are being used as motivation.
“I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth left over from last year’s nationals,” said senior Scott Kauffman, who took fourth at 197 pounds. “Not only for myself, but especially for the team.”
Kauffman has just one semester of eligibility remaining, meaning he won’t compete until second semester. He is one of six all-Americans returning for head coach Jim Miller.
Sophomore Jacob Naig (third at 149), junior Blake Gillis (second at heavyweight) and senior Tyler Hubbard (third at 133) also return. Hubbard, like Kauffman, won’t compete until second semester.
“We’re very motivated, including the coaching staff,” said Miller. “I thought we had a real good year last year, just not a good tournament. Actually, just a bad first day of the tournament. I should say we had one bad day for the year really.
“On Saturday, we bounced back and did everything we possibly could do and ended up finishing second. But team-wise, you can’t afford to have a bad day. We learned from it, moved on and are looking forward to this year.
“With six all-Americans, two two-time national champions returning, that is a good place to start.”
While the known commodity has lifted Wartburg to a No. 3 ranking behind Augsburg and Wisconsin-La Crosse in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25, there are still several question marks left in the Knights’ lineup.
Hubbard is attempting to drop to 125, which leaves holes at 133, 157, 165 and 174.
Sophomore Willie Harris, junior Kyle Blood, sophomore Robert Struthers and freshman Zach McKray are all in the mix at 133. Junior Dustin Cooper has the inside track on the 157-pound job, while former junior college all-American Dustin Bliven, who did not compete last year, is the front-runner at 165.
There is no clear favorite at 174 yet, although it is possible freshman Joe Bunne, a two-time Class A state champion from LeRoy, Minn., could fill that spot.
Miller also hinted at other possible weight changes for some of his veterans.
“The cupboard is not bare,” said Miller. “But we do have some concerns about a number of weights. We’re concerned about those weights, but we also feel pretty good about some of the kids in the room.”
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