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Luverne High School graduate Solomon Nielsen earned his third All-American honor Saturday during the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship.
Crowds in the Alliant Energy PowerHouse chanted, “Thank You, Solo,” when he accepted his fifth-place trophy during the ceremony in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Tony Valek, who recruited Nielsen to Augsburg University in Minneapolis after the LHS wrestler graduated in 2017, watched the awards ceremony as the chanting began.
“The reaction from his teammates and the Augsburg wrestling extended family of parents, alumni and fans on the podium when they chanted ‘Thank you, Solo’ and at the social following the championship definitely was not common,” Valek said.
Nielsen, a fifth-year senior, fell short of the goal he set for himself this season of a Division III NCAA Wrestling Championship title, but he came away from the weekend tournament with more than a fifth-place trophy.
“I didn’t feel disappointed at all,” said Nielsen who competed at 174 pounds.
“I wanted to accomplish my goal but accepted the fact that it was my last time competing and to enjoy my love for the sport.”
He won both his bouts Friday night before losing the next two, which dropped him into the bout for the fifth-place trophy.
Nielsen, grandson of Ann and Jerry Rigney, Luverne, said he heard the crowd’s chanting.
“It made my experience so much better. I’ve put so much into the program, and I am satisfied with how much I achieved throughout my career,” he said, “They have given me so much in return — it was a perfect ending.”
Coach Valek said Nielsen’s final match in the All-American round was his favorite moment that weekend when three other Augsburg athletes were also crowned as All-Americans.
“Solo ended his wrestling career with a pin in the last second of his NCAA All-American placing match,” Valek said.
“I’ll be even more proud to see him walk across the graduation stage and receive his diploma this spring.”
Nielsen said he is finishing an internship in the classroom at Burnsville High School, the last requirement for his physical education degree.
After working in the Twin Cities this summer, he hopes to begin a teaching and coaching career, his ultimate goal.
Nielsen will be an example for other wrestlers to follow.
“The Augsburg University (Minneapolis) wrestling program has produced 268 All-Americans in our program’s history, and Solo will go down as one of our most well-liked and appreciated because of the way he treats his teammates and everyone he comes in contact with,” Valek said.
“Solomon is a perfect example of a student-athlete, which is what NCAA D3 athletics is all about.”