Three area graduates are scheduled to be on the mat and two could meet each other when Augsburg faces Augustana in a nonconference wrestling dual at 7 p.m. Thursday at Elmen Center on the Augustana campus in Sioux Falls.
The visiting Auggies (8-1) are rated first in the Division III tournament ratings and second in the dual rankings by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The Vikings (12-4) are 14th in the Division II poll.
Martin County West graduate and former Martin County Red Bull Jaxson Rohman is scheduled to wrestle at 125 pounds for the Vikings.
Rohman, a junior, is a two-time national qualifier and placed second last year. He’s ranked second.
Rohman is 15-3 this season with two falls, three technical falls and eight major decisions. He has a career record of 50-16.
It’s likely that two area grads will square off in the 157-pound match.
MCW grad Blake Jagodzinske is scheduled to wrestle at 157 for Augsburg.
Either Jackson County Central graduate Payton Handevidt or Martin County West grad Connor Simmonds will wrestle for Augustana.
Jagodzinske, rated fifth at 157 pounds in Division III, recently picked up a key win for Augsburg in the “Battle of the Burgs” as he won a 5-2 decision over No. 9 Daniel Meeker of Wartburg. Wartburg is rated second in the tournament ratings and first in the dual ratings.
A junior, Jagodzinske has an 11-4 record this season with six wins by fall, one by technical fall and two by major decision. He has a career record of 55-13.
Handevidt is a redshirt freshman with a 5-6 record this season with two of those wins have been by fall. He was 19-2 in 2022-23 and has a career record of 24-8.
Simmonds is a sophomore with an 11-2 record for the season with three falls, one tech fall and three majors. His career record is 38-17.
Other JCC graduates on the Augustana roster are freshmen Logan Butzon and Caleb Vancura. Another MCW grad is junior Payton Anderson.
Also, Jackson County Central grad Cooper Moore is a graduate assistant coach for the Vikings.
Augustana is also home Saturday for a 2 p.m. dual vs. Minnesota State. The Vikings’ final appearance at home is Friday, Feb. 16 vs. St. Cloud State.
Augsburg closes its regular-season schedule on Saturday, Feb. at Concordia-Moorhead.