As the winter seasons come to a close, a select few athletes get an opportunity to end their season on the highest note, getting a chance to compete at their sport’s respective national event. This time around, seven Augustana athletes in three different sports were given the chance to compete and showcase the culmination of their hard work.
The first batch of athletes who went on to compete at nationals came from the Augustana women’s wrestling team. Following the conclusion of a 4-5 season, the Vikings went on to finish fourth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships Regional event, with three Vikings initially getting the nod to move on to nationals. Senior Sandie Pfeil was able to notch the third-place spot in the 124 weight class, displaying what she claims to be the biggest skill she developed, even after falling in her semifinal match.
“I think over this past season, I’ve gained more confidence in myself and in my moves,” Pfeil said. “I think that when you first come in as a freshman, there’s a lot of pressure, but then going into my senior year I just reminded myself that I’ve been here, I know what’s going on now. I feel I can trust what I’ve been doing, and I trust what works.”
Alongside Pfeil, fellow senior Sawyer Graham was also given the nod as she was able to snatch the third place spot in the 180 weight class, also receiving a loss in the semifinals before winning two more matches in pursuit of her second nationals appearance in a row, joining Pfeil in that feat as well. After accomplishing her goal of returning to nationals, Graham made sure to note how she has prepared to take on her national competitors as well as how her little goals helped lead to her biggest one.
“This past week, I’ve been working with just my coaches, and since they’re bigger than me, it’s a lot more intense than what practices usually are,” Graham said. “I also know that wrestling is a very mental sport, and so I definitely feel like I’m improving when it comes to keeping my mind healthy. Mainly, I just focus on little goals I know I can accomplish.”
The third wrestler to stake her claim at nationals was sophomore Moni Griffin. Coming off of an injury-plagued freshman season, Griffin came into this season with something to prove, and she certainly proved it as she was able to claim a third-place finish at the regional meet in the 131 weight class, showing that her trust in herself and those around her paid dividends.
“The second half of the season was really great to me,” Griffin said. “I’ve just been able to breathe and let my training show its work. I’ve been trusting my training, trusting that my coaches had their best interest in mind for me. I just had to trust that I had it and not try and overthink it.”
While three Vikings were initially set to advance, Ainé Moffit was able to step up from her role as an alternate and compete, following one of the competitors opting out of the event. Moffit was able to run with her opportunity as she made it to the blood rounds on Saturday before falling just before the podium. While caught off-guard by the sudden opening, Moffit made sure she prepared as best as possible with the short notice.
“I wasn’t really expecting to have anyone drop out a week in advance, especially not two days before the national tournament,” Moffit said. “I guess I was just taking it one step at a time. I knew it was a tough tournament, and I knew I just needed to take it one match at a time and not try and look three matches ahead. That’s really what kept me going.”
Despite being unable to claim an All-American spot at nationals, the women’s wrestler qualifiers’ achievements are far from overlooked as they return to campus following an incredible showing to tie up a phenomenal season.
The next few athletes to snag a spot at nationals came from the men’s wrestling team, as both Michael Macias and Josh Woodrey were able to advance following their performance at the Lower Midwest Regional. Macias, a sophomore in the 157 weight class, came out hot, winning his first three matches before opting out of the first-place match.
Woodrey, a senior in the 285 division, also won his first three matches but lost the first-place match. After both athletes secured second-place finishes at regionals, they will compete for a top spot at the national level at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 14-15.
The final Viking to advance to nationals came from the men’s swimming and diving team. Junior Tyler Leslie qualified for three events: the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle. In the 200 freestyle, he recorded the ninth-ranked time in the nation, earning him an official invite. Being ranked in the top 50 for both the 50 and 100 freestyle would also earn him national bids.
As Leslie, the first member of the Augustana men’s swimming and diving team to compete at nationals since 2019, heads off to the Greensboro Aquatic Center on March 19-22, he will certainly carry over the confidence he had this past season, as he looks to finish off what has been a spectacular season for him and the men’s and women’s swimming and diving program.
“Last year, I was injured, so I was just trying to have some fun, but this year, with so many seniors graduating, we wanted to make sure this was our best year possible,” Leslie said. “So I just told myself, ‘This is the year, this is the year you make nationals.’ I knew that if I put in the work during practice and tried to improve every day, I could make it.”