WAVERLY, Iowa—In a return to the mat, the No. 1 ranked Wartburg Wrestling squad has a packed schedule with top competition from around the region.
The Knights open the 2021-22 season with an A-R-C dual at Simpson College on Nov. 10.
Preseason Rankings
The Knights have earned top rankings in the preseason polls released by the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
In the D3wrestle.com preseason rankings, the Knights are represented in all 10 weight classes. Defending national champion, David Hollingsworth, is the top-ranked wrestle at 157. Defending national champion, Kyle Briggs (174), Kristian Rumph (141), and Brady Fritz (149) are ranked No. 2 in the preseason rankings. Brady Kyner, who competed at the USA Wrestling World Team Trials, is No. 2 at 125.
Zane Mulder (165) is ranked No. 3, while Joe Pins (133) and Jordon Brandon (heavyweight) are ranked in the top-10. Receiving consideration for the Knights is Cael Kruger (184) and Kobe Woods (197).
Kyner is ranked No. 5 at the 125 in the NWCA rankings. At 133, Pins lands in the top-10. Rumph is No. 2 at 141, while Brady Fritz is No. 5 at 149. Hollingsworth is No. 5 at 157 and Briggs is No. 2 at 174. At 165, Mulder lands at No. 5 while Brandon lands in the top-10 at heavyweight.
Nine Knights also received regional rankings from the NWCA. Kyner (125), Pins (133), Fritz (149), and Mulder (165) are ranked No. 2 in their weight classes. Kruger (184) is ranked No. 4, while Brandon (heavyweight) is ranked No. 3. Rumph (141), Hollingsworth (157), and Briggs (174) are the top ranked wrestlers for their weight class.
Last Season Recap
The Knights had several top finishers from last season, including national champions in Hollingsworth at 157 and Briggs at 174. Kyner (125), Rumph (141), Fritz (149), and Mulder (165) took runner-up honors at the NWCA National Championships, while Pins at 133 and Brandon at heavyweight landed on the podium. Krueger (184) and Woods (197) finished in the round of 12.
The Knights finished the 2020-21 season with a 9-1 record and 8-0 in A-R-C action.
Top returners for the Knights include Kyner (2019 NCAA Round of 12), Pins, Rumph (two-time All-American), Fritz (two-time All-American), Briggs (three-time All-American), and Brandon (two-time All-American).
Briggs was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American At-Large team in 2020-21 for the tenth honor for Wartburg Wrestling.
Briggs, Fritz, Kyner, Mulder, Pins, Alex Crawford, Zak Kozumplik, Nick Meling, and Carter Proffitt earned NWCA Scholar All-American honors. The Knights placed eight indivuduals on the All-Conference team from the A-R-C as Kyner and Briggs qualified for the 2021 Senior World Team Trials.
Schedule Outlook
Wartburg unveils their 2021-22 line-up Wednesday, November 10 in an A-R-C dual at Simpson. The Knights will see Coe, Luther, and Loras at the Luther College Open on November 13. The Knights host Nebraska Wesleyan on November 17 inside Levick Arena.
The Knights round out November action on the mat, competing at the Augsburg and Concordia Opens on Nov. 20.
The Knights host the Aaron Wernimont/Kenny Anderson Duals against Luther on Friday, December 3. The Dick Walker Duals takes place on December 11 as Wisconsin-Platteville and Olivet College visit Levick Arena.
The Knights hit the road and wrestle in Las Vegas on December 19 as the Knights are set to host the Desert Duals.
The NWCA National Duals are slated to take place on January 6-7 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Orange & Black return from National Duals to a slate of A-R-C action. The Orange & Black are scheduled to compete at the Central Invite on January 8, before hosting Coe on January 14. The Knights hit the road for the Cornell Invite on January 15. The A-R-C Conference Duals are slated for January 22 in Dubuque.
The annual "Battle of the Burgs" is slated for January 27 at Augsburg in Minneapolis.
The Knights round of the regular season, traveling to Loras on February 11.
The NCAA Lower Midwest Regionals are set for February 25-26 and the national championships are set for March 11-12 in Cedar Rapids.
Keller Promoted
In October 2021, Wartburg College Athletics announced the addition of women's wrestling to the college's athletic department.
Current men's head coach, Eric Keller, was promoted to Director of Wrestling, allowing him to oversee both programs and continue leading the Knights in his twelfth season.
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