LAKELAND, Fla. (12/28/05) -- Claiming nine of 10 weight-class champions and registering 21 individuals in top-three positions, the Augsburg College wrestling team dominated the action at the Sunshine Open Wrestling Tournament, held on Wednesday at the Lakeland Center.

There were no team scores kept at the event, shortened to a one-day tournament in central Florida. The Auggies earned the trophy for outstanding performance as a team, based on individual finishes. Seventy-eight college wrestlers competed in the Sunshine Open tournament.

Augsburg, winners of nine of the last 15 NCAA Division III national titles, is currently ranked No. 3 in the latest Division III national poll.

Augsburg's Brad Tupa * (Sr., Dundas, Minn./Faribault HS) earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Sunshine Open meet with his championship at 184 pounds, as well as earning the Most Falls in Least Time trophy, with four falls in 8:14.

Ryan Valek * (Sr., Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West), the top-ranked wrestler in the NCAA Division III national rankings at 165 pounds, won his weight class, as did Jared Evans (Jr., Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS), ranked No. 3 nationally at 149.

Jeremy Anderson (So., Thief River Falls, Minn.), ranked No. 6 nationally at 157, won his weight class, as did Wally O'Connor (So., Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS), ranked No. 3 at 197. Robbie Gotreau (So., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS), currently ranked No. 8 at 184, moved down to 174 and won the weight class.

Also winning weight-class titles for Augsburg were Seth Flodeen (Fr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) at 125, Josh Hansen (Jr., Albert Lea, Minn.) at 141 and Andrew Neumann (Jr., Somerset, Wis.) at heavyweight.

Finishing second for Augsburg were Brian Barbiaux (Fr., Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco HS) at 125, Greg Brendemuehl (Sr., Medford, Minn.) at 141, Jacob Roberts (Fr., Jordan, Minn./Scott West) at 149, Tim Matzek (So., Ellsworth, Wis.) at 157, Danny Manley (So., Kearny, N.J.) at 197 and Dylan Soberg (Sr., Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central Area HS) at heavyweight.

Placing third for Augsburg were Paul Bjorkstrand (Fr., Burnsville, Minn.) at 133, Rich Taylor (Sr., St. Paul, Minn./Como Park HS) at 141, Dominic Dvorak (Fr., Belle Plaine, Minn./Holy Family HS-Scott West) at 149, Brandon Klukow (Fr., Albert Lea, Minn.) at 165, Kirk Rall (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) at 174, and Bill Boeschenstein (Fr., Marblehead, Mass./Hyde School) at 197.

Augsburg returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., hosting defending Division II national runner-up Augustana (S.D.) at Si Melby Hall.