Tony Valek

Tony Valek is a 149-pound wrestler for Augsburg College. He is currently ranked first in the country. He competed at the 2011 and 2010 National Championships, placing second both times and 2009 National Championships, where he went 1-2. Valek is the brother of former Augsburg All-American Ryan Valek. Through December 3, 2011, Valek's collegiate record is 111–24.

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).

2010–11 season
Valek finished second in the country behind Minga Batsukh at Nationals, earning a dramatic victory over Isaac Dukes in the semifinals.

2011–12 season
Valek is currently ranked first in the country by both major polls with a 22-0 record.

Match Videos

 * January 4, 2008: Tony Valek (Scott West) fall Jason Cirksena (Kasson-Mantorville) 1:28


 * February 6, 2011: No. 3 Tony Valek (AUG, 25-4) dec. No. 6 Matt Mauseth (UWL, 18-9) 3-0