Miles Fitzgerald

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota — Nationally-ranked grapplers.

Augustana University sophomores Miles Fitzgerald and Jaxson Rohman, a pair of former Martin County Red Bull prep standouts, have earned their respective lofty spots in the NCAA Division II individual wrestling rankings this season.

Fitzgerald, who’s currently ranked No. 7 at 157 pounds, and Rohman, who holds the No. 8 position at 125 pounds, have equally combined for 10 victories during dual-meet action to power the Vikings to the No. 10 spot in the Division II team national poll.

Fitzgerald generated Augustana’s only points during a team loss to Division I No. 19-ranked South Dakota State University on Nov. 18. Fitzgerald delivered an 11-2 major decision over SDSU opponent Ryan Dolezal during 157-pound action.

Meanwhile, Rohman produced the Vikings’ only points during a team defeat at the hands of the Division I No. 9-ranked Minnesota Gophers on Dec. 1. Rohman bested the Gophers’ Quincy Hulverson by a 15-7 major decision during 125-pound action.

Both Fitzgerald and Rohman collected a pair of victories for Augustana during the Chadron Duals on Dec. 4 in Chadron, Nebraska.

Fitzgerald claimed a 3-1 decision over San Francisco State opponent Kyle Botelho before chalking up a 12-2 major decision over Western Colorado’s Tannen Kennedy. Both matches were at 157.

Rohman posted a 9-4 decision over San Francisco State’s Zach Wright at 125 before pinning Western Colorado foe Devin Gomez in 1:41.

Five days later, Fitzgerald notched an 11-3 major decision over MSU-Moorhead’s Peyton Ringling, while Rohman pinned the Dragons’ Clayson Mele in 4:15 to help fuel the Vikings’ team triumph.

Rohman and Fitzgerald each garnered a win during dual-meet action on Dec. 17 in Kearney, Nebraska. Rohman pinned the University of Nebraska-Kearney opponent Bishop Murray in 5:48 during 125-pound action, while Fitzgerald earned a 3-0 win over UNK’s Teontae Wilson at 157.

The Augustana Vikings (4-3 in duals) compete at the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 6-7 in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Morningside University junior forward Chloe Lofstrom, a former North Union high school standout, tops the Mustang women’s basketball charts in the above three categories entering the program’s holiday break.

The 6-foot Lofstrom holds Morningside’s top spots in scoring at 13.3 points per outing, rebounding via an 8.0-carom clip and field-goal accuracy at 57.5 percent through the first dozen games of the season.

The elementary education major from Armstrong, Iowa, earned Great Plains Conference basketball player of the week honors for her performance in the Mustangs’ 97-93 victory over Doane on Nov. 22. Lofstrom produced an impressive double-double performance of 22 points and 16 rebounds.

Lofstrom and Morningside (7-5) return to hardwood court action at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, when they play host to Dakota State at Allee Gymnasium in the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa.