WAVERLY, Iowa - The Wartburg wrestling team is set to travel to Iowa State University for the 2020-21 season opener, taking on the Division I Cyclones at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3.
Fans can
purchase tickets to watch the meet at Hilton Coliseum. Masks are required;
click here for more information about COVID mitigation and distanced seating in Ames. The match will also be broadcasted on ESPN+ and KWAY Radio.
Wartburg and Iowa State will also have a 'B Team' competition following the varsity dual along with five exhibition matches.
WARTBURG COLLEGE (0-0, 0-0 A-R-C) AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021
Time: 3 p.m.
Site: Ames, Iowa // Hilton Coliseum
Series: Iowa State leads 2-0
Radio: KWAY Country AM 1470 FM 96.3
Watch Live: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ ($)
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Iowa State
125 – Alex Mackall
133 – Ramazan Attasauov or Zach Redding
141 – Ian Parker
149 – Jarrett Degen
157 – David Carr
165 – Isaac Judge
174 – Julien Broderson
184 – Tate Battani
197 – Yonger Bastida
HWT – Gannon Gremmel
Wartburg
125 -
Owen McClave
133 -
Joe Pins
141 -
Kris Rumph
149 -
Brady Fritz
157 -
David Hollingsworth
165 -
Zane Mulder
174 -
Kyle Briggs
184 -
Jordan Bushey
197 -
Kobe Woods
HWT -
Jordon Brandon
B Team
125 -
Brenden Baker
133 -
Noah Padilla
141 -
Brock Rathbun
149 -
Zayren Terukina
157 -
Dallin Ewart
165 -
Matthew Doyle
174 -
Jacob Herrmann
184 -
David Papach
HWT -
Eli Pannell
Exhibitions
141 -
Nick Meling
149 -
Jacob McBride
157 -
Blake Bauer
157 -
Carter Proffitt
165 -
Braxton Doebel
THE SERIES
Sunday's match will mark third meeting between Wartburg and Iowa State, with the Cyclones holding a 2-0 advantage. The Knights and Cyclones battled in back-to-back seasons from 1994-96, with ISU prevailing 23-11 and 23-16.
Wartburg is 12-11-1 all-time against Division I schools, with the most recent victory coming against Portland State in 2001. This year's competition will be the first DI opponent since 2011, a 17-16 tiebreaker loss at the University of Wisconsin.
IN THE POLLS
Wartburg was ranked first in the initial release of the 2020-21 Division III FloWrestling team rankings, totaling 62 points to sit atop the top-25 preseason poll. Six Knights were ranked individually in respective weight classes by FloWrestling, including a No. 1 ranking for
Kris Rumph at 133 lbs. Rumph compiled a 17-1 record last season and was undefeated during dual competition.
125 -
Brady Kyner, 11th
133 -
Kris Rumph, 1st
141 -
Brady Fritz, 5th
174 -
Kyle Briggs, 2nd
197 -
Kobe Woods, 11th
285 -
Jordon Brandon, 2nd
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Knights are coming off a 16-1 season in 2019-20, headlined by the program's 12th NWCA National Duals Championship along with their 10th consecutive victory over Augsburg University during the annual 'Battle of the Burgs.'
Wartburg returns a trio of NWCA All-Americans and a pair of All-Region wrestlers from last year's squad.
Kyle Briggs,
Jordon Brandon, and
Kris Rumph were set to compete at the 2020 NCAA Championships before the competition was canceled due to COVID-19. In addition, 2018 All-American
Owen McClave, 2019 All-American
Brady Fritz, and 2018 133 lbs. National Champion
Brock Rathbun help bolster the Knights' roster.
A trio of transfers are projected to crack the varsity lineup;
David Hollingsworth,
Zane Mulder, and
Jordan Bushey. Hollingsworth and Bushey are both former All-Americans while Mulder is set to compete against his former school in Iowa State.
The American Rivers Conference announced the revised 2021 schedule in November of 2020, with the conference wrestling schedule to consist of four triangular, creating a round-robin. The Knights will open the A-R-C slate in Decorah on Jan. 23, facing Luther and Dubuque. Wartburg will host Buena Vista and Central on Feb. 6 for its home opener.
