Mike Fuenffinger

Mike Fuenffinger is a 125 pound Augsburg wrestler. He is the defending 125 Pound NCAA Division National Champion, claiming the title on March 15, 2014. A transfer from the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan, Fuenffinger joined the team during the spring 2012 semester finishing season at 14–9 and qualified for Nationals though he did not place. In his second season, he finished 29–8 with a seventh-place All-American finish. As a junior, Fuenffinger won his first individual title at 125 pounds. His career college record is 101–21 as Feb. 5, 2015.

As a wrestler for Hibbing High School in Hibbing, Minn., Fuenffinger won a Minnesota Class AA state championship at 112 pounds in 2010, while finishing third his senior season at 119 pounds. Fuenffinger went 80–6 during his final two seasons while posting a 41–8 record as sophomore and qualifying for the state tournament.

2013-14 season
See: 2013–14 Augsburg Wrestling season

Fuenffinger began the season at the home Auggie-Brute Open on November 23, finishing first in the 125-pound Gold Division, including a 2–1 decision over Dakota Trom (Rochester Community and Technical College) in the final. In his first dual meet match of the season on November 26, Fuenffinger pinned Waldorf's No. 14 (NAIA) Bo Bettinson in 4:41. On Dec. 11, he picked up another win, this time an 8–5 decision over Blake Bosch (Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead).

On Dec. 14, Fuenffinger won the St. Cloud State Open, going 4–0, with the final three victories coming over Division II wrestlers. He opened the tournament with a 9–5 decision over Kevin Bonilla (Missouri Valley College), a 14–0 major decision over Antonio Meikel (Southwest State University), a 9–2 decision over Ronzel Darling (Wisconsin-Parkside) and a 4–2 decision over Joel Salomon (St. Cloud State) in the final.

On Dec. 29, Fuenffinger participated in the 51st Ken Kraft Midlands Championships. In the first round, he pinned Tom Angsten (Triton College, NJCAA) in 1:42. In the second round, Fuenffinger fell to fifth-seeded and seventh-ranked Div. I wrestler Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa) by a 19-3 technical fall in 6:34. He received a bye in the consolation third round and will face the winner of a match between Dominic Olivieri (Illinois) and Billy Watterson (Brown).

Regional
Fuenffinger claimed his first Regional title with a 3–0 run through the 2014 West Regional hosted by Augsburg on April 1, 2014. After a first round bye, he pinned Pacific's Lucas Beltz in 2:43 followed by a pair of major decisions: first 16–3 over Cole Furgeson (UW-Platteville) and then 10–2 over Sean Ambrocio (Concordia (Wis.)).

Nationals
Fuenffinger completed his perfect post-season with a 4–0 finish at the National tournament March 14 and 15. Given the fourth seed, he started the tournament off with a 13-3 major decision over Michael Mui (Merchant Marine). In the next round, Fuenffinger faced fifth-seeded Jesse Gunter of Baldwin-Wallace, who is legally blind meaning both wrestlers had to keep in contact at all times. Fuenffinger prevailed 8–3 to earn his second All American honors. In the semifinals, he faced eighth-seeded Matthew Ellis II (Brockport State), winning by a 10-0 major decision. In the finals, Fuenffinger faced third-seeded Lucas Malmberg of Messiah (Pa.) who he defeated by 12-4 margin behind five takedowns and collected 3:00 of riding times. The match against Malmberg was the only time in the tournament when Fuenffinger gave up non-escape offensive points: a two-point nearfall early in the second period.

2014–15 season
See: 2014–15 Augsburg Wrestling season

Fuenffinger began the 2014–15 season at the Auggie Open on November 22, 2015, placing second after going 3–1 in the 125 pound Gold Bracket. He opened the day with three bonus-point victories: first a 19–2 technical fall over Trevor Schultz (MSU Mankato), then a 3:45 pin over Jeremy Andujar (William Penn), and a 15–4 major decision over Garrett Wangsness (Upper Iowa). In the final, he dropped a 3–1 decision to Da’Wayne Robertson (MSU Mankato).

At the Candlewood Suite Duals on Dec. 6, Fuenffinger went 3–0, claiming two technical falls, the first over Joey Cisneros (Dubuque) by a 20–5 in 7:00, followed by a 10–6 decision over Vincent Elizarde (Loras), and finally this second tech. fall of the day, this time a 16–0 match in 4:32 over Scott Smith (Cornell). On December 11, he recorded a 14–3 major decision over Taylor Curtis (Southwest Minnesota State).

Fuenffinger next competed at the St. Cloud State Holiday Inn/Husky duals, going 3–0 and claiming first place. He opened with a 9–0 blanking of Ronzel Darling (Wisconsin–Parkside), then a 12–2 major decision over Joel Salomon (St. Cloud State) and a 9–4 decision over Tim Prescott (St. Cloud State).

He started the second semester at the Citrus Open going 4–0 to claim the 125 pound crown. He opened with two pins, the first over Steven Lee (Oneota State) in 3:15, then in 4:12 over Vikash Hypio (Cornell). The then claimed two major decisions, the first a 14–3 over Scott Smith (Cornell) and then 12–0 over Nick Mancini (Mount Union). In a dual meet with Augustana (S.D.), he defeated Javier Vieyra with a 6:04 pin.

At the NWCA Division III National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Jan. 9 and 10, Fuenffinger went 5–0. He started the tournament with a 2:51 pin over Scott Smith (Cornell), followed up with 6–0 decision over Zac Denny (Wisconsin–Whitewater) before closing out the day with a 11–3 major decision over Collin Lesko (Alma). On the second day, Fuenffinger claimed a 10–2 major decision over Nick Mancini (Mount Union) and then a 8–5 decision over Ryan Weinmann (Wisconsin–La Crosse).

Fuenffinger next competed on Jan. 23, defeating Jakob Stageberg (Concordia Moorhead) by an 8–0 major decision. Against St. John's on Jan. 25, he pinned Ben Kollaja in 2:37.

Regional
Fuenffinger finished first at the 2015 West Regional, posting a 3–0 record.

Nationals
Fuenffinger competed at the 2015 NCAA National Championships, earning the top seed at 125 pounds. He reached the national finals behind four victories. In his preliminary round match, he scored an 8-0 major decision over Devan Richter (U. of Chicago). In the first round proper, he scored a 6-2 decision over Brian Amato (Worcester Polytechnic Institute). In the quarterfinal, he defeated eighth-seeded Cole Ferguson (Wisconsin-Plattevile) by 10-3 decision. In the semifinal, he scored a fall in 6:27 over fourth-seeded Guesseppe Rea (Wilkes). In the final, he is set to face second-seeded Lucas Malmberg (Messiah).

College stats
Stats through Jan. 25, 2015.

University level
Fuenffinger finished third at the 2014 ASICS University Nationals 59 kilogram Greco Roman bracket, finishing 3–1. He begain the day with a bye, followed by a 4:00 fall of Ibrahim Bunduka (Patriot Elite Wrestling Club). In the semifinals, Fuenffinger suffered a 14-6 technical fall defeat to eventual champion Sammy Jones (USOEC). In the wrestlebacks, Fuenffinger defeated both his opponents by technical fall: 10-2 over Jocob Bellis (Harper College) and then 8-0 over Kevon Powell (Bobcat Wrestling Club) to claim third.

Senior level
Fuenffinger competed at the 2014 Senior World Team Trials on June 13, 2014. He went 0-2, losing by 10-1 technical fall to Dmitry Ryabchinskiy (NYAC) and then 8-1 to Sammy Jones (USOTS).