Vikings poised for strong start to wrestling season
The Augustana wrestling team enters the 2025 season with familiar expectations and fresh motivation under 23rd-year head coach Jason Reitmeier after coming off a national runner-up finish last season. In a preseason poll, the Vikings were ranked 14th in Division II by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, tying with UMary.
Augustana totaled 29.5 points in the poll and is one of five NSIC programs ranked in the top 25. The Vikings also landed three nationally ranked wrestlers — senior Max Ramberg, redshirt senior Cael Larson, and redshirt junior Payton Handevidit — all of whom will play key roles in the team’s push for another postseason run.
The Vikings were picked to finish second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, continuing their streak as one of the league’s most consistent contenders.
At the top of Augustana’s lineup, Larson will compete at 157 pounds this season after winning a national title at 149 last spring. The NSIC Preseason Wrestler of the Year said the move up was both necessary and motivating.
“I got a little too big for 149, and I kind of wanted a new challenge,” Larson said. “There are some great wrestlers at 157, and that brings excitement to my season and goals.”
The new weight class is among the toughest in Division II, but Larson said he’s embracing the competition.
“There’ll be two-time national champs, national finalists and a lot of All-Americans,” he said. “But if I stay true to myself, I still believe I’m one of the best.”
The Vikings also return Ramberg, ranked second nationally at 197 pounds. The senior has earned All-American honors in back-to-back seasons and will look to add a national title to his resume before closing his career.
Alongside those two, Handevidit returns at 165 pounds, ranked 15th nationally entering the season. After bumping up a class last year, he said he feels comfortable at the weight and confident heading into competition.
Rankings aside, Handevidit said the team’s energy and chemistry stand out most.
“Everyone’s excited to be in the room,” he said. “We all have a good team culture and bond together, which makes practice better and helps us stay on the same page.”
With a number of young wrestlers stepping into new roles, he and other upperclassmen have emphasized consistency and resilience.
“There’s going to be ups and downs throughout the season,” Handevidit said. “The biggest thing is staying level-headed and focused every day.”
Larson echoed that sense of unity, saying the team’s momentum from last year’s runner-up finish has carried into this season.
“We lost two big names from our lineup last year, but the energy is at an all-time high,” Larson said. “We’ve got young guys ready to step in, and the best part is we have nationals in Sioux Falls, so everyone is excited about that.”
Hosting the NCAA Division II National Championships at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center adds another layer of motivation for the Vikings.
“It’s exciting just knowing we’ll have a big fan base there,” Handevidit said. “There’s pressure to perform, but I think it’ll be amazing. The focus right now is just doing the little things right so we’re ready when that time comes.”
Augustana opens its season on Nov. 8 at the Dakota Wesleyan University Open in Mitchell before returning home Nov. 16 for a highly anticipated dual against Central Oklahoma, which will feature a marquee matchup between defending national champions at 157 pounds.
“That’s the one I’m most excited for,” Larson said. “Any home dual is special because we get to wrestle in front of one of the best fan bases in the country.”
With veteran leadership, a nationally ranked lineup and the chance to compete for a title on their home turf, the Vikings will enter the season focused on adding another chapter to Augustana wrestling’s tradition of excellence.
