DUBUQUE - Luther College scored a second-place record 160 points while finishing runner-up to Wartburg for the seventh time in eight seasons at the Feb. 15 Iowa Conference wrestling tournament.

Two years ago at the NCAA Division III nationals at St. Olaf, the Norse scored 100 points to become the first third-place team to achieve triple-digits.

Those achievements used to be a nice novelty marking the progress of Luther coach Dave Mitchell's program.

Anymore, they make the 11th-year Norse head man sick to his stomach.

Not that Mitchell is complaining about his team's five top-five finishes at the Division III national tournament in the past six years, but he admits it would be nice to barge past the two-headed juggernaut of Augsburg College and Wartburg College one of these years.

"To be honest, I'm tired of that," said Mitchell. "Boy it would be nice to get over the hump. We're knocking at the door, but it just isn't falling over for us."

Friday, when the Division III national tournament gets started at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, if everything goes by the norm, the Norse will be knocking on the outside of the proverbial door once again.

Top-ranked and defending champion Wartburg and second-ranked Augsburg enter as the clear favorites with 10 qualifiers each. Luther, ranked fourth, and third-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse each have eight qualifiers.

Either Wartburg or Augsburg has won the national championship 12 consecutive years.

The Knights are top-ranked by virtue of their 19-13 victory over the Auggies Feb. 1, but Wartburg coach Jim Miller doesn't view his team as the prohibitive favorite, and he points to Augsburg's lineup.

The Auggies feature seven wrestlers who are ranked fourth or better in the national rankings, including top-ranked Quincy Osborn at 141 and Marcus LeVesseur at 165. LeVesseur won three national championships at 157 before taking last season off.

"Seed-wise, we will not be the favorite," said Miller. "To have a chance, each of our qualifiers has to go down and wrestle to their potential."

Miller said he's proud of how his team has performed despite somewhat of a nomadic life. While Wartburg's new wellness center is being constructed, the Knights bounced around from practice facility to practice facility before finally staying put in the Player's Theater, which was converted into a mini-wrestling room.

"We had to think outside of the box a little bit as far as practice was concerned," said Miller. "We had to split practice to give guys more chances to wrestle rather than standing around waiting for room to maneuver.

"Our staff did a good job of getting that done, and I thought our team did a great job of adapting."

Wartburg will be paced by three top-ranked wrestlers - Aaron Wernimont at 157, T.J. Miller at 197 and Blake Gillis at 285. Romeo Djoumessi is ranked second at 184.

Luther's Mitchell has a theory for what it will for the Norse to crack the top two and possibly win it all.

"I think with the way the championships have been in recent years, you are going to have to have four or five guys in the finals and at least eight all-Americans," said Mitchell. "We have to have an outstanding performance … wrestle to the very near potential to be in that mix. That is where we would like to be."

Luther has the potential to score a lot of points and has two top-ranked wrestlers - Nate Hansen at 125 and Matt Pyle at 149, as well as second-ranked Alec Bonander at 197.

Heavyweight John Miller is a returning all-American. Travis Grawin (141), Nate Van Dyke (165), Paul Meirick (174) and Mark Mueller (184) are all making their first trips to the national meet.

La Crosse, coached by former Wartburg top assistant Dave Malecek, also is a serious contender.

The Eagles return defending 149-pound national champion Jake Larsen, as well as two top-ranked wrestlers - Josh Chelf at 174 and Jason Luloff at 184. Additionally, Tim Palmer is ranked second at 165, and Jim Swanson was the national runner-up at 197 last year.

"The big thing is, we need to take care of ourselves," said Malecek. "Six of our eight qualifiers have national experience and the two that don't have wrestled in big tournaments. I feel good about this team. We're very excited and anxious to get down there."

Two defending champs return, but neither is at the weight he won at last year.

Heidelberg College's Joe Pflug won at 157 a year ago, but dropped to 149. With Larsen and Pyle, the 149-pound champ in 2005 who was third last year, 149 has three former national champions competing.

Cortland State's Stephon Sair won at 174 last year, but is now at 184 where he is ranked third behind Luloff and Djoumessi.

First-round preliminary action gets under way at 11 a.m. Friday. The finals are slated for 7 p.m. Saturday.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

Division III National Tournament

March 2-3

At Five Flags Center (Dubuque)

FRIDAY

Session I

9:30 a.m. - Doors open

11 a.m. - Championship preliminary rounds one and two, consolation first and second rounds (six mats)

Session II

5 p.m. - Doors open

6 p.m. - Championship quarterfinals, consolation third and fourth rounds (six mats)

SATURDAY

Session III

9:30 a.m. - Doors open

10:30 a.m. - Championship semifinals and consolation quarterfinals (four mats)

Session IV

3 p.m. - Doors open

4 p.m. - Parade of All-Americans, 3rd, 5th, 7th-place matches (three mats)

7 p.m. - Championship finals

Most Qualifiers

Wartburg 10

Augsburg 10

Wisconsin-LaCrosse 8

Luther 8

Cortland State 6

College of New Jersey 5

Championship history

Year Champion Pts Runner-up Pts Site

1974 Wilkes 135.5 John Carroll 86.5 Wilkes

1975 John Carroll 111 Montclair St. 96 John Carroll

1976 Montclair St. 143 John Carroll 112.25 Coe

1977 Brockport St. 99.25 Humboldt St. 93 Binghamton

1978 Buffalo 91.75 Millersville 90 Wheaton (Ill.)

1979 TCNJ 77.75 Brockport St. 77.5 Humboldt St.

1980 Brockport St. 111.25 TCNJ 88.75 Coast Guard

1981 TCNJ 111.75 Brockport St. 100 John Carroll

1982 Brockport St. 111.5 TCNJ 93.5 Cortland St.

1983 Brockport St. 85.75 TCNJ 80.75 Wheaton (Ill.)

1984 TCNJ 96.75 Augsburg 68.5 Binghamton

1985 TCNJ 67.0 Central 59.25 Augustana (Ill.)

1986 Montclair St. 87.25 Brockport St. 78 College of New Jersey

1987 TCNJ 107.5 Brockport St. 70.75 Buffalo

1988 St. Lawrence 71.0 Montclair St. 66.75 Wheaton (Ill.)

1989 Ithaca 72.5 Delaware Valley 64.5 John Carroll

1990 Ithaca 81.0 Augsburg 64.0 Ithaca

1991 Augsburg 92.0 TCNJ 59.5 Augustana (Ill.)

1992 Brockport St. 76.5 Augsburg 62.5 College of New Jersey

1993 Augsburg 93.0 Wartburg 92.0 John Carroll

1994 Ithaca 77.75 Wartburg 75.0 Wisconsin-Stevens Point

1995 Augsburg 84.5 TCNJ 76.5 Augustana (Ill.)

1996 Wartburg 95.5 Augsburg 89.5 Cortland St.

1997 Augsburg 122 Wartburg 80.0 Ohio Northern

1998 Augsburg 132 Wartburg 90.0 Waterloo (IA)

1999 Wartburg 117.5 Augsburg 116.0 College of New Jersey

2000 Augsburg 136 Wartburg 88.0 Ohio Northern

2001 Augsburg 119.5 UW-La Crosse 72.0 Waterloo (IA)

2002 Augsburg 87 Upper Iowa/Wartburg 81.0 Wilkes-Barre (PA)

2003 Wartburg 166.5 Augsburg 84.5 Ohio Northern

2004 Wartburg 156.5 Augsburg 140.5 Loras

2005 Augsburg 162 Wartburg 104.5 St. Olaf

2006 Wartburg 145.5 Augsburg 106.0 College of New Jersey

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Augsburg (9), Warburg (5), Brockport State (5), College of New Jersey (5), Ithaca (3), Montclair St. (2), Buffalo, John Carroll, St. Lawrence, Wilkes, one each.

Weight-by-Weight preview

125 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Nate Hansen (Luther), sr., 21-5; 2. Brandon McDonough (Johnson&Wales), jr., 33-4; 3. Seth Flodeen (Augsburg), so., 22-4; 4. Chris Heilman (Cornell), jr., 31-4; 5. Mike McInally (R.I.T), fr., 34-7; 6. Robert Struthers (Wartburg), jr., 28-10; 7. Brian Clement (Coe), sr., 28-10; 8. Jake Oster (Elmhurst), so., 25-9.

Favorite: Hansen

Contenders: McDonough, Flodeen, Heilman

The scoop: Hasnen finished fourth a year ago and owns three victories over Heilman, who was seventh in 2006. McDonough is a two-time qualifier, but went 0-2 as the second-seed a year ago. Stephen Kingsland of Ursinus College is also a returning qualifier, while Flodeen has been ranked all year.

133 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. David Morgan (King's), so., 32-2; 2. Jafari Vanier (Augsburg), jr., 17-1; 3. Jake Helvey (Wartburg), jr., 27-6; 4. Jestin Hulegaard (Buena Vista), sr., 19-7; 5. Adam Johnson (North Central), jr., 30-5; 6. Ray Sarinelli (TCNJ), jr., 31-6; 7. Nick Northern (Cornell), fr., 34-12; 8. Sean Cullen (Lycoming), sr., 31-4.

Favorite: Vanier

Contenders: Morgan, Helvey, Hulegaard, Johnson.

The scoop: Morgan's ranked No. 1 and the returning all-American will be a tough to beat. But Vanier, a former junior college all-American at Iowa Central, was the national runner-up a year ago. Helvey has handed Vanier his only loss this season, while Hulegaard is a two-time all-American at 133, including finishing third last year. Johnson finished seventh last year, while Wisconsin-La Crosse's Jordan Kolinksi was seventh at 125 in 2005.

141 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Quincy Osborn (Augsburg), jr., 40-2; 2. Ricky LaForge (Delaware Valley), sr., 29-2; 3. Paul LeBlanc (Cortland St.), so., 32-2; 4. Mike Bonora (Rhode Island), jr., 46-3; 5. Mike Gaeta (Springfield), sr., 19-4; 6. Jared Creason (Coe), sr., 36-4; 7. Zach Chambers (UW-Platteville), sr., 24-3; 8. Ken Thomas (Elmhurst), sr., 26-6.

Favorite: Osborn

Contenders: LaForge, LeBlanc, Gaeta.

The scoop: Osborn, a former two-time national qualifier for Minnesota, has been tough all year and will be tough to beat. LaForge was a two-time national qualifier for Division I Hofstra before transferring this year, while LeBlanc was fourth last year at the College of New Jersey. Gaeta is a three-time all-American, finishing fifth twice and seventh once. He was fifth last year. Bonora beat Gaeta for the New England College Conference Wrestling championship.

149 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Matt Pyle (Luther), sr., 31-5; 2. Joe Pflug (Heidelberg), jr., 15-2; 3. Jason Roush (Mount St. Joseph), sr., 31-7; 4. Jared Evans (Augsburg), sr., 34-3; 5. Jacob Larsen (UW-LaCrosse), sr., 12-4; 6. Jeff Kastel (Elmhurst), sr., 29-9; 7. Don Ooton (SUNY-Brockport), jr., 31-4; 8. Tim Bohlman (York), sr., 33-7.

Favorite: Pyle.

Contenders: Pflug, Roush, Larsen, Evans.

The scoop: Without a doubt, this is the must-see weight class. Three former national champions are qualified with Pyle (149 in 05), Larsen (defending champion) and Pflug (champ at 157 in 06). In addition, Roush is a four-time qualifier who has finished third at each of the last two tournaments. Evans is a two-time all-American, Ooton and New York University's Eugene Kobilansky are dark horses.

157 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Aaron Wernimont (Wartburg), so., 36-4; 2. Jeremy Anderson (Augsburg), jr., 35-2; 3. Bobby Gingerich (North Central), sr., 27-6; 4. Ross Needham (UW-La Crosse), sr., 26-5; 5. Elliott Spence (Mount St. Joseph), jr., 29-9; 6. Pat McAuley (Cornell), jr., 37-11; 7. Dan DeLalla (Wesleyan), sr., 32-4; 8. Joe Galante (TCNJ), sr., 28-2.

Favorite: Anderson.

Contenders: Gingerich, Wernimont, Needham, Galante

The scoop: Wernimont won the last meeting with Anderson, but we'll go with the defending national runner-up as the favorite. Gingerich was fifth a year ago, while Needham was third and Spence eighth. Jacob Malone of St. John's was fourth but is not ranked. Galante was the top-seed last year and an all-American in 2005. Wernimont is in his first season since transferring from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

165 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Marcus LeVesseur (Augsburg), sr., 27-0; 2. Tim Palmer (UW-LaCrosse), jr., 36-9; 3. Steve Martell (Johnson&Wales), jr., 28-3; 4. Jerry Bowne (York), sr., 26-3; 5. Jason Knipp (Wartburg), sr., 12-2; 6. Mike Guenther (TCNJ), sr., 27-3; 7. Corey Murphy (Theil), sr., 34-7; 8. Shaheim Bradshaw (SUNY-Brockport), jr., 34-6.

Favorite: LeVesseur

Contenders: Palmer, Martell, Bowne, Knipp, Bradshaw.

The scoop: After LeVesseur, it is a wide-open race. LeVesseur won three titles at 157 before taking a year off. He comes into the tournament a perfect 151-0 for his career. Palmer is tough to score on, while Martell, Bowne and Bradshaw are all returning all-Americans. Bradshaw was sixth last year and fifth the year before at 157. Knipp is a transfer from Iowa State.

174 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Josh Chelf (UW-La Crosse), jr., 39-3; 2. John Dolan (Williams), sr., 15-0; 3. Robbie Gotreau (Augsburg), jr., 38-4; 4. Kyle Vanderhyde (Olivet), so., 24-4; 5. Jason Zastrow (Wartburg), sr., 28-5; 6. Andrew Winfield (McDaniel), so., 19-3; 7. Greg Osgoodby (College of New Jersey), so., 38-5; 8. Trevor LeBlanc (Cortland St.), so., 23-5.

Favorite: Chelf.

Contenders: Dolan, Gotreau.

The scoop: This weight class has the fewest returning national qualifiers in the entire tournament. That doesn't mean the depth isn't quality. Chelf was third last year, and sixth two years ago. Dolan took sixth in New Jersey last season. Gotreau has been extremely tough to beat down the stretch.

184 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Jason Lulloff (UW-La Crosse), sr., 25-3; 2. Romeo Djoumessi (Wartburg), so., 30-1; 3. Stephon Sair (Cortland St.), sr., 19-2; 4. Terry Madden (Hunter), sr., 9-0; 5. Jay Figgins (Loras), jr., 31-4; 6. Brett Giehl (SUNY-Brockport), jr., 21-6; 7. Elliott Smith (Springfield), jr., 31-4; 8. Nick Calandrino (Ithaca), sr., 30-9.

Favorite: Luloff

Contenders: Djoumessi, Sair.

The scoop: Luloff was third a year ago, and fourth in 04 after missing the 2005 season. Sair is the defending national champion at 174 and was fourth in 05. Djoumessi's only loss is to Iowa State's Jake Varner, ranked sixth in Division I. Loras' Jay Figgins was a national qualifier and a real darkhorse is Luther's Mark Mueller, the former Iowa wrestler, who posted a 177-6 high school mark in Iowa.

197 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. T.J. Miller, (Wartburg), jr., 22-0; 2. Alec Bonander (Luther), so., 29-5; 3. Matt Loesch (Muhlenberg), sr., 16-0; 4. Phil Archer (Cortland St.), jr., 14-5; 5. Ben Strandberg (Buena Vista), sr., 26-12; 6. Tyler Wozniak (UW-Stevens Point), sr., 31-4; 7. Mike Schmidt (UW-Whitewater), jr., 20-7; 8. Jim Swanson (UW-LaCrosse), sr., 8-3.

Favorite: Miller.

Contenders: Bonander, Loesch, Swanson, Wozniak.

The scoop: Miller was fourth a year ago, while Loesch is a two-time all-American, including sixth last season. Swanson was the national runner-up in 2006, and fifth in 2005. Wozniak is the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Conference champion.

285 POUNDS

RANKINGS - 1. Blake Gillis (Wartburg), sr., 35-1; 2. Arkadiy Levitin (Hunter), jr., 36-1; 3. Bryan Kmetz (Baldwin Wallace), sr., 15-0; 4. John Miller (Luther), so., 16-4; 5. Trevor Hiffa (Oneonta St.), jr., 36-5; 6. Jake Taylor (Oswego St.), jr., 25-3; 7. Ryan Bowers (Heidelberg), jr., 18-6; 8. Kyle Brown (Thiel), sr., 39-7.

Favorite: Gillis.

Contenders: Levitin, Miller.

The scoop: Gillis' only loss this year is to Northwestern's Dustin Fox at the Midlands Championships where Gillis finished third. Gillis finished second to UW-LaCrosse's Ryan Allen in each of the previous three years. Levitin has put up an impressive mark, while Miller was eighth a year ago. Augsburg's Andrew Neumann is a returning qualifier.

- Compiled by Courier Sports Writer Jim Nelson