Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings

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Augustana Vikings
Augustana University Vikings logo.svg
University Augustana University
Conference NSIC (primary)
CCHA (men's ice hockey)
NCAA Division II (primary)
Division I (men's ice hockey)
Athletic directorJosh Morton
Location Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Varsity teams22 (10 men's, 12 women's)
Football stadium Kirkeby–Over Stadium
Basketball arena Elmen Center
Sanford Pentagon
Baseball stadiumKarras Park
Softball stadiumBowden Field
Soccer stadiumMorstad Field
Other venues Howard Wood Field
Sanford Gymnasium
NicknameVikings
ColorsNavy and gold [1]
   
Website 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.

Contents

In December 2018 Augustana announced its intentions to transition to NCAA Division I by 2030 at the latest. However, they had hoped 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

NCAA Division II National Championships

Football

Kirkeby-Over Stadium, seats over 6,500 fans Kirkeby-Over Stadium 1.jpg
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 19641974), Bryan Schwartz (Jacksonville Jaguars 19951999), Corbin Lacina (19932003), Kevin Kaesviharn (20012009), and C. J. Ham (Minnesota Vikings 2016–present). [6]

The Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Playoffs 7 times. Their combined record is 2-7.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1988 First round North Dakota State L 7–49
1989 First round St. Cloud State L 20–27
2010 Second Round
Quarterfinals
Grand Valley State
Minnesota–Duluth
W 38–6
L 13–24
2015 First round Humboldt State L 31–45
2019 First round Colorado State–Pueblo L 0–17
2021 First round Bemidji State L 24–28
2023 First round
Second Round
Minnesota State
Colorado Mines
W 51-24
L 10-56

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.

Men's 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 Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 15 times. Their combined record is 19–17. They were National Champions in 2016.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1975 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Nebraska-Omaha
Missouri—Rolla
L 61–69
W 71–64
1977 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
North Dakota
Nebraska–Omaha
L 64–71
L 91–93
1978 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Chapman
Wisconsin–Green Bay
W 78–66
L 60–72
1986 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Wayne State (MI)
Eastern Montana
L 57–72
L 61–86
1988 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Ferris State
St. Cloud State
L 75–91
L 114–118 OT
1989 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Alaska–Fairbanks
L 95–99
W 112–107 OT
2008 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Minnesota State–Mankato
Northern State
W 95–87
L 66–75
2009 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
St. Cloud State
Winona State
Southwest Minnesota State
W 73–72
W 88–82
L 60–73
2010 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
New Mexico Highlands
Mesa State
St. Cloud State
W 87–73
W 95–84
L 75–84 OT
2012 Regional Quarterfinals Colorado Mines L 69–82
2013 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Upper Iowa
Winona State
W 79–65
L 65–77
2015 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Arkansas Tech
Northwest Missouri State
W 104–77
L 65–66
2016 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game
Harding
Nebraska–Kearney
Northwest Missouri State
Tarleton State
Western Oregon
Lincoln Memorial
W 100–85
W 77–67
W 80–78
W 86–79
W 74–55
W 90–81
2017 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Arkansas–Monticello
Northwest Missouri State
W 76–69
L 53–74
2022 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Upper Iowa
Northwest Missouri State
W 83–64
W 65–60
L 56–70

Women's Basketball

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

The Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 15 times. Their combined record is 12–15.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1990 Regional semifinals North Dakota L 78–93
1991 Regional semifinals North Dakota State L 89–90
1992 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Nebraska–Omaha
North Dakota State
W 83–70
L 69–104
1993 Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
North Dakota
North Dakota State
W 79–67
L 82–91
1994 Regional First round
Regional semifinals
Metro State
North Dakota State
W 88–65
L 59–82
1997 Regional First round Northern State L 65–68
1999 Regional First round
Regional semifinals
South Dakota State
North Dakota
W 66–62
L 62–84
2006 Regional Quarterfinals St. Cloud State L 69–82
2007 Regional Quarterfinals Nebraska–Kearney L 68–75
2009 Regional Quarterfinals Minnesota State–Mankato L 68–81
2010 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Minnesota–Duluth
Fort Lewis
W 74–57
L 52–79
2012 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Colorado State–Pueblo
Wayne State (NE)
W 82–76
L 40–63
2013 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
Concordia–St. Paul
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Emporia State
Clayton State
Dowling
W 78–66
W 68–64
W 75–74
W 81–68
L 54–76
2018 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Lindenwood
Northern State
Central Missouri
W 75–41
W 90–86
L 42–81
2023 Regional Quarterfinals Missouri Southern State L 74-75

The Sanford Pentagon and the Elmen Center serve 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

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 in the CCHA. The announcement was made at the groundbreaking ceremony for Midco Arena which will serve as the team's home. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference</span> NCAA Division II athletic conference

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, which operates in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Nine of its members are in Minnesota, with three members in South Dakota, two members in North Dakota, and one member in Nebraska. It was founded in 1932. With the recent NSIC expansion, the original six member schools have been reunited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summit League</span> American college athletic conference

The Summit League, or The Summit, is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic conference with its membership mostly located in the Midwestern United States, from Minnesota in the east, to the Dakotas, Nebraska and Colorado to the West, and Missouri and Oklahoma to the South. Founded as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities in 1982, it rebranded as the Mid-Continent Conference in 1989, then again as the Summit League on June 1, 2007. The league headquarters are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augustana University</span> Lutheran university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, US

Augustana University is a private Lutheran university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The university identifies 1860 as the year of its founding, the same as its Rock Island, Illinois, Swedish-heritage sister school, Augustana College. It derives its name from the Confessio Augustana, or Augsburg Confession, a foundational document of Lutheranism. Until September 2015, the university was known as Augustana College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midco</span> American telecommunications company

Midco is a regional cable provider, providing a triple play service of cable television, Internet and telephone service for both North Dakota and South Dakota, along with much of Minnesota, and several communities in Kansas and Wisconsin. The company's business-class service also provides direct fiber-optic communications services via leased data circuits for larger companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanford Health</span> Hospital network in the United States

Sanford Health is a nonprofit, integrated health care delivery system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with additional offices in Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota.

The Elmen Center is the former basketball arena and hosts volleyball games for the Augustana University Vikings in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is located on the Augustana campus. The Elmen Center seats approximately 4,000 fans. The building is also the recreational center for the university and a host of several late night events. The Elmen Center is 81,000 square feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Cloud State Huskies</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of St. Cloud State University

The St. Cloud State Huskies are the athletic teams for St. Cloud State University. The university is primarily a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), and currently sponsors 18 NCAA Division II teams. SCSU also sponsors a women's Nordic skiing team through membership in the CCSA, as well as men's and women's Division I ice hockey teams that are members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (men) and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (women). The teams go by the nickname Huskies, and the school's mascot is a husky named Blizzard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanford Pentagon</span> Multi-purpose arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Sanford Pentagon is an indoor arena located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Pentagon opened in September 2013 and has a seating capacity of 3,250 spectators. It hosts the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. The facility is known for hosting a wide range of sporting events including: regional youth basketball tournaments, NCAA Division I basketball games, NCAA Division II basketball games and tournaments, mixed martial arts events, and occasional concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament</span>

The 2015 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball. It began on March 13, 2015, following the 2014–15 season and concluded with the championship game on March 28, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament</span>

The 2016 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball. It began in March 2016, following the 2015–16 season, and concluded with the championship game on March 26, 2016.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball tournament is the annual men's conference basketball championship tournament for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The tournament has been held annually since 2000. It is a single-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament</span> USA basketball competition

The 2016 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the NCAA Division II women's college basketball national champion. It began on March 10, 2016, and concluded with the championship game on April 4, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Ham</span> American football player (born 1993)

Cortez Thaddeus Ham Jr. is an American football fullback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Augustana (SD) and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings after the 2016 NFL draft.

Daniel Jansen is an American professional basketball player who last played for MZT Skopje of the Macedonian League. He played college basketball at Augustana University from 2012–2016.

Tom Billeter is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He previously has been the head coach at North Dakota State University, as well as holding assistant coaching roles at a number of NCAA Division I colleges. He led Augustana to the 2016 NCAA Division II national championship and was named the national coach of the year in that season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament</span>

The 2018 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the NCAA Division II women's college basketball national champion. It began on March 9, 2018, and concluded with the championship game on March 23, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings men's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Augustana Vikings men's ice hockey is a NCAA Division I ice hockey team that began play in the fall of 2023.

The Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a 3,082-seat ice hockey arena on the campus of Augustana University. The arena broke ground on October 5, 2021.

The 2022 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament was the single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball in the United States.

Clare Duwelius is an American basketball executive who is the general manager of the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Duwelius started with the Lynx in 2014 as the Basketball Operations Coordinator prior to being elevated to Basketball Operations Manager in 2016 and later assistant general manager in 2018.

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. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  12. "Augustana wins 2016 NCAA Division II men's basketball championship". NCAA.com. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
  13. "Hoopsanalyst". Archived from the original on 2004-07-08. Retrieved 2004-07-08.
  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.