2012 Auggie Awards - Men's Outstanding Team of the Year Finalists

BASKETBALL (16-10 overall, 13-7 MIAC—4th/11, MIAC Playoff Qualifier) -- Augsburg reached the MIAC postseason playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. The 16 victories marked the sixth straight year that Augsburg has recorded double-digit wins under seventh-year head coach Aaron Griess, and the fifth straight year that Augsburg has had at least 10 wins in MIAC play. Post player Andy Grzesiak-Grimm was named to the D3hoops.com All-West Region third team, in addition to earning All-MIAC honors. Guard Tyler Schmidt was also an All-MIAC selection, while post player Cory Polta was named All-MIAC Honorable Mention and forward Brett Sorenson was named to the MIAC All-Defensive Team.

FOOTBALL (6-4 overall, 4-4 MIAC—t5th/9) -- Under seventh-year head coach Frank Haege, Augsburg recorded its 13th above-.500 finish in school history and first since a 6-4 overall (5-4 MIAC) finish in 1999. The Auggies won their first four games to start the season, including a 32-31 win at St. John’s on Sept. 24 – as the Auggies marched 80 yards on four plays in the final 18 seconds of the game. The win was the first for the Auggies at St. John’s since 1980 and the first Auggie win over the Johnnies since 1997. Augsburg also claimed conference wins over Hamline, Carleton and Gustavus. Tight end Adam Carl and defensive lineman Edmond Smith were named to the D3football.com All-West Region squad. Carl and running back Tyler Maxwell were named All-MIAC first team. Earning All-MIAC second-team honors were Smith, quarterback Marcus Brumm, offensive lineman Chad Thompson, linebacker Bryce Vee and defensive back Tyler Phillips. Defensive lineman Aaron Perry was an honorable-mention all-conference honoree. Phillips was named to the squad for the Aztec Bowl all-star game in Mexico, and Haege was a member of the coaching staff there.

SOCCER (10-5-3 overall, 6-3-1 MIAC—t4th/11, MIAC Playoff Qualifier) – Under eighth-year head coach Greg Holker, Augsburg reached the MIAC postseason playoffs for the fourth time in the last six years. Augsburg has won 69 games (69-33-15, .654 winning percentage) during the past six seasons. Defenders Chad Gilmer and Peter Loyd were named to the NSCAA All-North Region squads for the second straight year, and both earned All-MIAC honors. Four Auggies earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention recognition – forward Ahmed Gobana, defender Mathias Macody Lund, goalkeeper Will Morlock and midfielder Peter Osborn. The Auggies outscored their opponents by a 30-12 margin, and Augsburg’s 0.64 team goals-against-average and 10 shutouts were both second-lowest among MIAC schools in overall statistics.

WRESTLING (10-3 in dual meets, NCAA Division III second place, NWCA Division III National Duals second place, NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional champions) – Under fourth-year head coach Mark Matzek, Augsburg finished second at the NCAA Division III national championships, its 22nd top-two national tournament finish (11 national titles, 11 second-place finishes). Augsburg extended its streak of finishing in the top four in NCAA competition to 24 straight years, the longest active top-four streak among any NCAA wrestling program, regardless of division, and the second-longest top-four streak in NCAA wrestling history. Five Auggies earned All-American honors, marking the 24rd straight year that Augsburg has had five or more All-Americans in wrestling competition. Chad Johnson won the national title at heavyweight, Orlando Ponce placed second at 157, Tony Valek (149) and Will Keeter (141) placed third and Brad Baus (197) placed fourth. Augsburg won the NCAA Great Lakes Regional for the 10th straight season and finished second at the NWCA Division III National Duals.