Augustana University Vikings

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This article is about the athletics teams of Augustana University in South Dakota. For the similarly named athletics teams of Augustana College in Illinois, see Augustana (Illinois) Vikings.
Augustana University Vikings
Logo
UniversityAugustana University
ConferenceNorthern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAANCAA Division II
NCAA Division I (Ice Hockey)
Athletic directorJosh Morton
LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
Varsity teams14
Football stadiumKirkeby-Over Stadium
Basketball arenaElmen Center/Sanford Pentagon
Baseball stadiumKarras Park
Softball stadiumBowden Field
Soccer stadiumMorstad Field
Other arenasHoward Wood Field
Sanford Gymnasium
NicknameVikings
ColorsNavy and gold[1]
   
Websitewww.goaugie.com

The Augustana Vikings are the athletic teams that represent Augustana University, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Vikings compete as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for all 14 varsity sports. The Vikings joined the NSIC from the North Central Conference, which folded in 2008.

In December 2018 Augustana announced its intentions to transition to NCAA Division I by 2030 at the latest. However, they hope to receive a bid to join a conference by 2020, according to Sioux Falls newspaper The Argus Leader. Multiple regional media reports in 2018 indicated that Augustana's likeliest Division I destination was the Sioux Falls-based Summit League. Many of the school's boosters are tied to Sanford Health, a hospital company also based in Sioux Falls that has long been a major sponsor of the Summit League. The conference moved its headquarters in 2018 to an office complex owned by Sanford.[2][3] On May 22, 2020, the Summit League commissioner, Tom Douple, informed Augustana president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin that the conference would not be adding more new teams "at this time."[4]

Varsity sports[]

List of teams[]

Football[]

Kirkeby–Over Stadium, seats over 6,500 fans

On September 26, 2007, it was officially announced that Bob and Kari Hall were making a $7.1 million donation for an on-campus football stadium. The stadium is to bear the name Kirkeby–Over Stadium in honor of Kari Hall's parents. Construction began on November 12, 2007[5] with the official groundbreaking taking place on November 16, 2007. Augustana University recently completed the Hall Football Complex; complete with its own locker rooms, weight room, and football meeting rooms. The head football coach is Jerry Olszewski.

Augustana players who have had significant NFL careers include Les Josephson (Los Angeles Rams 1964–1974), Bryan Schwartz (Jacksonville Jaguars 1995–1999), Corbin Lacina (1993–2003), Kevin Kaesviharn (2001–2009), and C. J. Ham (Minnesota Vikings 2016–present).[6]

Wrestling[]

In 1976–77, 2004–05, and 2009–10, the Augustana wrestling team finished second in the NCAA Division II Championship. The Elmen Center serves as the home for both the volleyball team and the wrestling team.

Basketball[]

In 2015–16 the men's basketball team coached by Tom Billeter finished the season 34-2 and won the NCAA Division II National Championship. On November 6, 2015 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, the Vikings upset the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference 76–74 in an exhibition game on a buzzer-beating right-handed jumper by Daniel Jansen.[7] Led by Jansen, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Player of the Year,[8][9][10][11] the Vikings were 21–1 in the Northern Sun, then won the NSIC tournament title and captured the Central Regional title with an 80–78 victory over Northwest Missouri State to qualify for the Elite Eight, which was played at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. Augustana defeated Lincoln Memorial 90–81 in the championship game on March 26.[12] Augustana's Arvid Kramer[13][14][15][16] and Brett Szabo[17] both played in the NBA.

The 2012–13 women's basketball team played at San Antonio in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

The Sioux Falls Arena serves as the home court for the men's and women's basketball teams.

Baseball[]

The 2018 Augustana baseball team won the NCAA Division II College World Series, defeating Columbus State 3–2 in the final. They finished the year 52–9, a school record.[18]

Ice Hockey[]

Main article: Augustana University Vikings men's ice hockey

On October 5, 2021 Augustana University announced that it will add men's ice hockey starting in the fall of 2023. The team will compete at the NCAA Division I level. The announcement was made at the groundbreaking ceremony for Midco Arena which will serve as the team's home.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ "Augustana University Athletics Quick Facts". Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. ^ Gaskins, John (May 23, 2018). "Summit League Chief: Sanford-tied Augustana boosters lobbying for move to Div. I". Sioux Falls, SD: KELO-TV. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  3. ^ Kolpack, Jeff (July 28, 2018). "Kolpack: All vital signs pointing to Augustana joining Summit League". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Summit League snub sends Augustana back to reality". Sioux Falls Argus Leader/USA Today. June 29, 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Site Work on Kirkeby-Over Stadium to Begin Monday". Augie.edu. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  6. ^ "Vikings in the Pros". Augie.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  7. ^ "Vikings stun Iowa with buzzer beater by Jansen in exhibition finale". goaugie.com.
  8. ^ "High ambitions led Jansen to become Augustana career scoring leader". siouxcityjournal.com. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Dan Jansen leaves mark as one of the best to ever play at Augustana". argusleader.com. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Augustana's Daniel Jansen named 2016 Division II National Player of the Year by the NABC". basketballcatalyst.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Augustana's Daniel Jansen Named NSIC Player of the Year". keloland.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Augustana wins 2016 NCAA Division II men's basketball championship". NCAA.com. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2004-07-08. Retrieved 2004-07-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Arvid Kramer Stats".
  15. ^ "The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News".
  16. ^ Goldaper, Sam (24 June 1988). "Miami Chooses 'Who?' First". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "Brett Szabo Stats".
  18. ^ "Augustana Baseball Wins 2018 National Championship". goaugie.com.
  19. ^ "Augustana University Formally Announces Addition of Men's Hockey Program, Breaks Ground on Midco Arena". Augie.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-06.

External links[]

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