March 6, 2004

DUBUQUE, IOWA . . . Wartburg College won its second straight NCAA National Wrestling Championship, its fourth since 1996 and was one of three Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) teams to finish in the top-five at the Championship held at the Five Flag Center in Dubuque on Friday and Saturday. Four Iowa Conference wrestlers won individual titles.

Wartburg behind four National Champions and nine All-American performances amassed 156.5 points to edge Augsburg College by 16 points. Luther College finished third with 68.5 points followed by Delaware Valley College (58.0) and Simpson College (55.5). The third-place finish is Luther’s highest ever and their five All-Americans are the most the school has had in one year. Host Loras College finished 15th with 19 points, Coe College finished 17th (16.5), Buena Vista University finished tied for 25th (11.0) and Central College finished tied for 31st (6.5).

Individually, Wartburg’s Dustin Hinschberger (141-pounds), Bart Mehlert (149-pounds), Ryan Sturm (184-pounds) and Akeem Carter (197-pounds) all won their weight class. The four Champions ties a Division III Championship record for most individual Champions for one school. Wartburg’s Ozzie Saxon (133-pounds), Cory Connell (157-pounds) and Blake Gillis (heavyweight), Simpson's Clint Manny (149-pounds) and Luther’s Garrett South (165-pounds) all finished second.

Luther head coach Dave Mitchell, the 2003-04 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year, was selected as the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Coach of the Year, leading the Norse to its best National finish ever.

Complete Championship results can be found here.

A complete list of 2004 Iowa Conference wrestling All-Americans is here.

-30-