Andy Witzel

Andy Witzel
Andy Witzel, 2009.
Weight:	HWT

Andy Witzel is a 285-pound (heavyweight) wrestler for Augsburg College. He earned his first All-American honors with a fifth-place finish at the 2009 National Championships.

College Career

2008–09 season

See also: 2008–09 season

Regionals

Witzel represented Augsburg at heavyweight and earned the top seed and Augsburg third first-round bye. In the second round, Witzel earned a 2-0 decision over eight-seeded Ryan Hatten (U of Chic). In the semi-finals, Witzel claimed a 6:54 pin over Billy Malone (North Central). Witzel fell in the final, 3-2 against second-seeded Mark Corsello (Elmhurst). Witzel advanced to Nationals with a true-second match 2-1 decision over third-seeded Adam Sutter (Lakeland).

Nationals

Seventh-ranked Witzel competed for Augsburg at heavyweight and earned the eighth seed. Witzel was one of only four wrestlers to earn a second round bye, after all heavyweight wrestlers recieved a first-round bye.

In the quarter-finals, Witzel faced top-seeded Kyle Bilquist (Delaware Valley), whom he had beaten at the National Duals, but fell to Bilquist 2-0. In the third round of the wrestlebacks, Witzel defeated Luther's Allyn Plattner, 4-3 the first tie breaker. In the wrestleback quarter-finals, Witzel earned a 3-1 decision over Brock Glotfelty (McDaniel). In the wrestleback semi-finals, Witzel fell to third-seeded John Helgerson (Wartburg), 7-1. In the fifth-place match, Witzel faced Adam Sutter (Lakeland), whom he had beaten in the regional and prevailed again, this time by a 3-2 margin. It was Witzel's first All-American honors.

Nationals

Second-ranked Jared Massey competed for Augsburg at 197 pounds and earned the second seed. Massey received a first round bye and faced Joseph Silverman (MIT) in the second round, whom he defeated by fall at 3:52. In the quarter-finals, Massey earned a 12-1 major decision victory over seventh-seeded Rob Kramer (Coe). In the semi-finals, Massey defeated Karl Voeck (UW Whitewater) by a 4-1 decision. Massey earned his first individual national title when he defeated Ryan Malo (Williams) by a 12-1 major decision.

2009–10 season

See also: 2009–10 season

Witzel will be serving as a captain for the 2009–10 season.