WAVERLY, Iowa - The No. 1/2-ranked Wartburg wrestling team is set for its 2021 home opener this Saturday, Feb. 6 at Levick Arena, hosting Buena Vista University and Central College for the Wartburg Triangular.

MEET SCHEDULE
Buena Vista vs. Central, 1 p.m.
Wartburg vs. Buena Vista, 2:30 p.m.
Wartburg vs. Central, 4 p.m.

Two other mats inside Levick Arena will also host extra individual matches separate from the varsity duals throughout the afternoon. 

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Two people per each participant (student-athlete/coach/staff member) will be permitted to attend the meet inside Levick Arena. Seating for spectators will take place in the west bleachers.
 
SPECTATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW CAMPUS MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES. LEARN MORE HERE.

#1/2 WARTBURG (4-1, 4-0 A-R-C) VS. BUENA VISTA (2-2, 2-2 A-R-C)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Site: Waverly, Iowa // Levick Arena
Series: Wartburg leads 37-13
Last meeting: Wartburg 44, Central 3 (1/25/2020)

#1/2 WARTBURG (4-1, 4-0 A-R-C) VS. CENTRAL (2-0, 2-0 A-R-C)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Waverly, Iowa // Levick Arena
Series: Wartburg leads 40-12-2
Last meeting: Wartburg 29, Central 15 (1/25/2020)

WARTBURG PROJECTED LINEUPS
125 - Jamal Chakkour / Brady Kyner
133 - Joe Pins
141 - Kris Rumph
149 - Brady Fritz
157 - Carter Proffitt / David Hollingsworth
165 - Zane Mulder
174 - Kyle Briggs
184 - Cael Krueger
197 - Kobe Woods
HWT - Jordon Brandon

LAST TIME OUT
Wartburg improved to 4-0 on Tuesday evening with a 30-14 American Rivers Conference victory at Luther College. 

The Norse opened the evening with a 6-0 advantage with a pin at 125 lbs., but the Knights bounced back with five-straight victories to claim a 24-6 lead, including wins by fall from Joe Pins and Zane Mulder along with a 17-0 technical fall from freshman Carter Proffitt. 

Luther trimmed the difference to 24-14 with two matches remaining, but Kobe Woods and Jordon Brandon closed out the night with decisions to seal the win for the Orange & Black.

RUMPH HONORED BY A-R-C
The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced its athletes of the week for the week ending Sunday, Jan. 31, with Kris Rumph (Jr., Portage, Ind.) named the Wrester of the Week. 

The award is the second of Rumph's career and the second conference weekly award in a row for Wartburg, as the Knights' Zane Mulder received the honor last week.

Rumph improved his record to 3-0 during A-R-C action at 141 lbs. with a pair of wins to help guide Wartburg to victories over No. 14 Coe and Simpson. He won by fall in 5:54 over Coe's No. 4-ranked and 2020 A-R-C Freshman of the Year Riley Wright and followed up with a 21-6 technical fall over Simpson's Josh Bower.

KNIGHTS SELECTED FIRST IN PRESEASON POLL
Wartburg was voted to finish first in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Jan. 13. The Knights received 63 points and seven first place votes, which was seven points higher than second place Loras College who collected 56 points and one first place vote. 

IN THE RANKINGS
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its first edition of the 2021 NCAA Division III Coaches Rankings Thursday, Jan. 21, with Wartburg tied for second of 16 teams with 39 points. 

Additionally, six Knights were ranked individually among the top 10 in their respective weight classes, which leads the nation.

125 - Brady Kyner, 10th
141 - Kris Rumph, 2nd
149 - Brady Fritz, 10th
174 - Kyle Briggs, 2nd
197 - Kobe Woods, 10th
HWT - Jordon Brandon, 2nd

Wartburg was ranked first in the second release of the 2020-21 Division III FloWrestling team rankings, totaling 61 points to sit atop the top-25 poll, released Jan. 29, 2021.

The Knights lead the nation in the first d3wrestle.com rankings, announced Feb. 2. Eight Knights were ranked; Kyner, Rumph, Fritz, Mulder, Briggs, Jordan Bushey, Woods, and Brandon.