FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (12/29/01) -- For the third year in a row, Augsburg College won the competition at the Orange Bowl Sunshine Open wrestling tournament, held at the Broward County Convention Center Friday and Saturday.

Augsburg, the two-time defending NCAA Division III national champions and winners of seven of the last 11 national crowns, claimed seven individual champions and dominated the action at the Orange Bowl tourney, as the Auggie varsity claimed 244 points to win the competition. Augsburg split into five groups for the tournament. In all, teams from seven colleges, including two Division I programs, competed at the tournament.

Individual weight-class champions for Augsburg were: Darin Bertram * (Sr., Herman, Minn./Herman-Norcross HS) at 125 pounds, John Marchette (Sr., Canual Fulton, Ohio/North Canton Hoover HS) at 133, Brad Fisher * (Sr., Austin, Minn.) at 141, Blaine Kuhlman (So., Medford, Minn.) at 149, Jeremy Jirele (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) at 157, Tony Abbott * (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy HS) at 165, Nick Slack * (Sr., Belle Plaine, Minn.) at 174 and Ricky Crone (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) at 184.

Augsburg returns to varsity action with a dual meet against Augustana (S.D.) on Friday (1/4) at 7 p.m. at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall. The Auggies face Wartburg (Iowa), the No. 2-ranked team in Division III, next Sunday (1/6) at 2 p.m. in Waverly, Iowa.

Orange Bowl Sunshine Open team results: 1. Augsburg Maroon (varsity) 244, 2. Augsburg White 125.5, 3. Appalachian State (N.C.) Black 107.5, 4. Upper Iowa (varsity) 101.5, 5. Cumberland (Ky.) 87, 6. Augsburg Misc. 71.5, 7. Augsburg Auggies 61.5, 8. Augsburg Gray 50, 9t. Upper Iowa Misc. 37, 9t. Central Florida Wrestling Club 37, 11. Davidson (N.C.) 25. 12. Mt. St. Joseph (Ohio) 23, 13. Appalachian State (N.C.) Gold 20; 14t. Boone (club) 8; 14t. Mountaineer (club) 8; 16. Unattached 5; 17. Apprentice School (Va.) 3; 18t. Brandon (club) 2; 18t. Upper Iowa White 2.

Augsburg Results:
First -- Darin Bertram * (125), John Marchette (133), Brad Fisher * (141), Blaine Kuhlman (149), Jeremy Jirele (157), Tony Abbott * (165), Nick Slack * (174), Ricky Crone (184).
Second -- Jamell Tidwell (141), Tony Quance (149), Kevin Rasmussen (197).
Third -- Rich Miller (174).
Fourth -- Mike Weyer (149), Eric Roth (157), Joe Kunisher (165).
Fifth -- Ryan Stroud (149), Andy Fraley (174), Scott Revier (HWT).
Sixth -- John Peterson (141), Josh Barlage (184).