Tony Valek

Tony Valek is a 149-pound wrestler for Augsburg College. He competed at the 2010 National Championships, placing second

and 2009 National Championships, where he went 1-2. Valek is the brother of former Augsburg All-American Ryan Valek. Through March 6, 2009, Valek's collegiate record is 65-18.

2008–09 season
Valek made his debut for Augsburg at the 2008 Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open on November 22, 2008, going 2-0 and sharing the 141 pound Gold Division title with teammate Lucas Murray. Four days later, Valek had his varsity dual debut against St. John's wrestler John Vaith; Valek lost the 149-pound match 8-6. On December 6, 2008, Valek went 3-1, placing third in the 141-pound Red Division at the MSU Moorhead Dragon Open. On December 6, Valek earned his first collegiate victory over a Division II opponent when he defeated Southwest Minnesota State's Brandan Schunk in a 9-2 decision. On December 13, Valek went 3-1 at the St. Cloud State Husky Open, sharing the third-place spot with Lucas Murray. Valek closed out the year with a 4-0 record at the Sunshine Open on December 28 and 29, claiming the top spot.

Valek opened 2009 at the Dickinson State (N.D.) Blue Hawk Classic, where he went 4-2, earning the fourth-place spot. Valek next represented Augsburg at the 2009 NWCA Division III National Duals, going 3-1. Valek first opponent at the Duals was Buena Vista's Josh Allen, whom he pinned at the 1:36 mark in the first period before pinning Johnson & Wales University's Andrew Van Dyk. Valek's next opponent was Delaware Valley's ninth-ranked Eric McCann, whom he pinned 42 seconds into the second period. Valek then faced second-ranked Zach McKray of Wartburg, who pinned Valek at 6:24.

On January 13, 2009, Valek debuted in the NWCA Division III Individual Rankings in the seventh spot. On January 16, Valek earned a 7-4 decision over Division I wrestler Gabriel Mooney of North Dakota State University. On January 20, 2009, Valek lost to Division II opponent Jay Sherer of Augustana (S.D.) in a 6-4 decision. Three days later, Valek faced off with another Division II opponent, fourth-ranked Mario Morgan (who later placed third at the 2009 Division II National Championships ) with a 15-10 decision victory.

On January 25, Valek pinned Wisconsin-La Crosse's Alex Dahl at the 1:16 mark of the second period. On January 27, Valek moved up a spot in the NWCA Division III Individual Rankings to sixth. January 30, Valek lost to second-ranked Zach McKray of Wartburg in a 5-3 decision.

On February 7, 2009, Valek went 3-1 at the 2009 St. John's University North Country Open, earning a second-place spot. Valek closed out the regular season with a 9-6 loss to Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Chase DeCleene on February 13. Valek ended the regular season with a 26-10 record.

Regionals
Valek competed for Augsburg at 141 pounds, and drew the third seed at the 2009 Great Lakes Regional. Valek opened the tournament with a 1:20 pin of Charlie Deutsch of Knox College. Valek then claimed a 8-4 decision over sixth-seeded Jamie Devine of North Central College. Valek then fell in the semi-finals to St John's University's second-ranked Myanganbayar Batsukh by a 7-3 decision. In the wrestleback semi-finals, Valek defeated fifth-seeded Kory Theil of Lakeland College by pin at 4:02. In the third-place match, Valek won by decision over top-seeded Ben Anderson of Concordia College–Moorhead, 2-1. Valek advanced to Nationals by defeated fourth-seeded Virgil Pope of the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 7-3 decision.

Nationals
Fourth-ranked Valek competed for Augsburg at 141 pounds and earned the seventh seed at the 2009 national tournament. Valek began the tournament with a 31-11 record and a first round bye given to all 141-pound wrestlers. In the second round, Valek defeated Kevin Donahue (Cornell) by a 17-2 technical fall (with near fall points awarded) at 7:00. In the quarter-finals, Valek fell to Wartburg's second-seeded Zach McKray by a 7-5 decision. In the second round of the wrestlebacks Valek fell by a 10-1 major decision to John Paxos (Ithaca), ending his tournament. Valek finished with a 32-13 record.

2009–10 season
Valek entered the season ranked fifth in the nation at 141 pounds in the both the NCWA and the d3wrestle.com preseason polls. At the Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open on November 21, Valek went 4-0 at 149-pound gold division. In the first round, Valek defeated Matt Thoma (Morningside) by pin 24 seconds into the second period. He then earned a 5-0 decision over Southwestern Minnesota State's Brandan Schunk. In the semifinals, Valek defeated Wiscosin-La Crosse's Brady Schrupp by a 5-2 decision. Valek then earned a 5-3 decision over defending 149-pound champion Matt Mauseth (Wiscosin-La Crosse). On November 25, Valek, ranked fourth at 141 pounds, defeated Nate Herda (Augustana (S.D.)) 6-4 in a 149-pound match. The following day, he was named WWSport.com Wrestler of the Week by d3wrestle.com for his exploits at the Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open.

On December 8, Valek earned a final-second victory over Division II opponent Derek Bomstad (Minnesota State University Moorhead) in a 6-4 decision.

Regionals
Valek won the Great Lakes Regional Championship at 149 pounds with a 6-0 decision over Concordia Moorhead's Justin Berns. Berns later placed seventh at Nationals.

Nationals
Valek competed for Augsburg at 149 pounds, placing second behind Isaac Dukes of Case Western Reserve (Ohio).