Sam Engelland
UW Oshkosh will be represented by two wrestlers, including three-time qualifier Sam Engelland, a junior from Neenah, at this weekend’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship in La Crosse.
The two-day tournament begins at 11 a.m. on March 11 and continues at 10 a.m. on March 12 at the La Crosse Center. This is the 38th edition of the event, which crowns a team champion along with 10 individual champions. All-America awards will be presented to the top eight finishers in each of the 10 weight classes.
Engelland owns a 29-6 record (nine pins) as a competitor in the 184-pound weight class. He received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship after placing second at the WIAC Championship held Feb. 27 in Platteville.
For his opening match, Engelland takes on Justin Marble (37-13) of Wheaton College, located in Illinois. Engelland would then battle third-seeded Mike Denver (36-3) of the College of New Jersey in the second round or Seth Rehn (18-13) of Coe College, located in Iowa, or fourth-seeded Brennan Ward (31-2) of Johnson & Wales University, located in Rhode Island, in the wrestlebacks.
Engelland’s bracket contains 17 participants, including top-seeded Phil Moenkedick (31-1) of Concordia College, located in Minnesota, and second-seeded Ben Engelland (22-1) of UW-Stevens Point. Ben Engelland is the older brother of UW Oshkosh’s Sam Engelland.
Engelland brings an 88-34 career record (21 pins) to this weekend’s meet. At each of the past two national championships, Engelland tallied a 1-2 record. He lost his opening bout before winning his second match in both 2009 and 2010.
Carl DeLuca
Also competing at this year’s championship is UW Oshkosh’s Carl DeLuca, a junior from Wisconsin Rapids. DeLuca, an at-large entrant at 125 pounds, makes his NCAA postseason debut after finishing second at the 2011 WIAC Championship.
DeLuca, who owns an 18-11 record (one pin), is one of 17 competitors in his weight class. He received an opening round bye and will challenge sixth-seeded Ben Prester (21-12) of Concordia College in the second round. DeLuca will then wrestle Steve Godine (24-14) of The College of New Jersey or third-seeded Albie McKinney (18-7) of UW-La Crosse in the third round or wrestlebacks.
DeLuca has registered a 47-41 record (five pins) during his three seasons with the Titans.
Defending champion Augsburg College, Minnesota, and Ithaca College, New York, host UW-La Crosse and 2009 champion Wartburg College, located in Iowa, are expected to contend for this year’s team title. Wartburg College, which sends 10 competitors to this year’s championship, is the top-ranked squad in the country by D3wrestle.com. Second-ranked Ithaca College and third-ranked UW-La Crosse will each be represented in eight weight classes.
Augsburg College won last year’s meet with 110.5 points, while UW-La Crosse placed second with 100.5. Engelland’s wins have given the Titans one point at each of the past two championships. UW Oshkosh placed 44th last year and 45th in 2009.
For more information regarding the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship, log on to www.ncaa.com. Highlights of the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship will be shown on CBS at 2 p.m. (ET) on April 30.
Kennan Timm, athletic department, submitted this announcement. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to contribute calendar items, campus announcements and other good news to UW Oshkosh Today.