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April 1, 2007

2006-07 WRESTLING REVIEW

2006-07 WRESTLING REVIEW

Mike Kerr joins exclusive 100 victory club to highlight season for Vikings; Kerr and John Parkhurst are named to Scholar All-America team; Kerr and Ryan McMurray finish careers in top 20 in career victories

Augustana College senior Mike Kerr (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) finished his fine wrestling career by becoming just the 19^th member of the 100 victory club. Kerr, who wrestled at 165 pounds during his senior season, led the Vikings in victories for the 2006-07 season with a record of 29-17. He finished his career with a mark of 101-77 and is now in 19^th place on the school’s all-time victory list.

Fellow senior Ryan McMurray (Lyons Township HS, Willow Springs, Ill.) was off to a great start and had a 12-2 record at 141 pounds before he got hurt before Christmas. Despite missing the entire second half of the season, McMurray finished his fine career with a record of 117-52 and ended up tied for 15^th place on the school’s all-time win list.

Kerr and senior John Parkhurst (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) were both selected to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Scholar All-America team as chosen by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Kerr majored in German, finance and international business and had a grade point average of 3.18. He placed third in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin and was fourth in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Parkhurst made tremendous strides throughout his career and finished the 2006-07 season with a fine 27-15 record at 197 pounds. He was second in the CCIW and fifth in the Great Lakes Regional. A psychology and speech communications major, he carries a 3.18 grade point average.

The Vikings finished fifth in the CCIW tournament on Saturday, February 10 at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois. Elmhurst won the team title with 91 points while North Central was second with 81.5. Wheaton had 54.5 points in third, Millikin scored 41.5 in fourth and Augustana was fifth with 33.5 points. North Park, Carthage and Illinois Wesleyan did not field teams. Parkhurst was the top individual place winner for the Vikings with a second place at 197 pounds. He was the number one seed and lost to second seeded Nick Metcalf of Elmhurst in the championship match. Freshman George Gogonas (Bowie HS, Austin, Texas) at 125, Kerr at 165 and sophomore Brian Kerr (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) at 184 all placed third for the Vikings.

In the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional on February 17 Augustana placed eighth with 40 points. The top finisher was Mike Kerr with a fourth place finish at 165 pounds. Parkhurst took fifth at 197 pounds while sophomore Jake Mango (Sterling HS, Rock Falls, Ill.) was sixth at 157 and Brian Kerr placed sixth at 184.

Mike Kerr led the team in victories with his 29-17 record while Parkhurst compiled a mark of 27-15 and Brian Kerr was 26-18. Those were the only wrestlers on the team to eclipse the 20 victory plateau.

2007 COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN TOURNAMENT

February 10, 2007 *** Faganel Hall *** Elmhurst, Illinois

TEAM SCORES: 1. Elmhurst 91; 2. North Central 81.5; 3. Wheaton 54.5; 4. Millikin 41.5; 5. AUGUSTANA 33.5; 6. North Park, Carthage and Illinois Wesleyan did not field teams.

INDIVIDUAL PLACE WINNERS

2006-07 AUGUSTANA WRESTLING SUPERLATIVES

100 CAREER VICTORY LIST – Mike Kerr…finished his career with career record of 101-77…Ryan McMurray…ended his career with mark of 117-52

TOP 20 CAREER VICTORY LIST – Mike Kerr…19^th place with career record of 101-77…Ryan McMurray…ended his career tied for 15^th with 117-52 record

NCAA DIVISION III SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA TEAM – Mike Kerr (3.18 GPA) and John Parkhurst (3.18 GPA)

MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER – Mike Kerr

MOST VALUABLE PERFORMER – John Parkhurst

MOST IMPROVED WRESTLER – Brian Kerr

HARDEST WORKER – Beau Bielecki

MOST VALUABLE FRESHMAN – George Gogonas

2007-08 CAPTAINS-ELECT – Jake Mango, Brian Kerr & Dan Krcmar