Nebraska-Omaha will be the overwhelming favorite to capture its third consecutive title at next week’s NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, according to the final NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll of the season that was released Wednesday.
Nebraska-Omaha will be the overwhelming favorite to capture its third consecutive title at next week’s NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, according to the final NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll of the season that was released Wednesday.
The Mavericks rolled to the Super Region Two title last week and were the only team to advance all 10 individuals to the national tournament, set for March 11-12 in Kearney, Neb. UNO received all eight first-place votes cast in balloting of coaches from around the country to finish with 160 points.
Super Region Three winner St. Cloud State (Minn.) moved up to No. 2 in the new poll with 146 points, just three points ahead of Super Region One champion Newberry (S.C.). Augustana (S.D.) is fourth in the rankings, followed by Super Region Four champion Nebraska-Kearney.
Rounding out the top 10 is Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.), Western State (Colo.), Central Oklahoma, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) and Minnesota State.
UNO is led by four top-ranked individuals -- 141-pounder Mario Morgan, 149-pounder Esai Dominguez, 157-pounder George Ivanov and 174-pounder Ryan Pankoke.
The top 20 poll, with points and the teams’ last ranking following by the top-eight rankings at each weight:
Rank School (State) Points Last Ranking
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 146 3rd
3. Newberry (S.C.) 143 4th
4. Augustana (S.D.) 139 2nd
5. Nebraska-Kearney 118 T8th
6. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 110 6th
7. Western State (Colo.) 104 13th
8. Central Oklahoma 102 5th
9. Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 96 7th
10. Minnesota State 95 T8th
11. Ashland (Ohio) 91 12th
12. Upper Iowa 82 10th
13. San Francisco State (Calif.) 63 14th
14. Findlay (Ohio) 48 15th
15. Gannon (Pa.) 42 16th
16. Wisconsin-Parkside 38 19th
17. North Carolina-Pembroke 32 11th
18. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 20 20th
19. Kutztown (Pa.) 13 NR
20. Adams State (Colo.) 12 17th
Others receiving votes: Central Missouri, Chadron State (Neb.), Fort Hays State (Kan.), Limestone (S.C.).
NCAA Division II
Individual Rankings
125 Pounds
1. Trevor Franklin, Upper Iowa
2. Connor McDonald, Newberry (S.C.)
3. Kyle O’Brien, Western State (Colo.)
4. Jose Matos, Gannon (Pa.)
5. Russell Weakley, North Carolina-Pembroke
6. Alex Meger, Augustana (S.D.)
7. Andy Forstner, Minnesota State
8. Corey Ulmer, Minnesota State-Moorhead
133 Pounds
1. Todd Wilcox, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
2. Austin Williams, Kutztown (Pa.)
3. Ryan Link, Pittsburgh-Johnstown
4. Cody Zimmerman, Wisconsin-Parkside
5. Jason Jeremiason, Augustana (S.D.)
6. Aldon Isenberg, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
7. William Young, Newberry (S.C.)
8. Michael Magaha, Limestone (S.C.)
141 Pounds
1. Mario Morgan, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Jay Sherer, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Dalton Jensen, Nebraska-Kearney
4. Naveed Bagheri, San Francisco State (Calif.)
5. Matt Irwin, Indianapolis (Ind.)
6. Gabe Suarez, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
7. Brady Schneeberger, Minnesota State-Moorhead
8. Jimmy Savala, Chadron State (Neb.)
149 Pounds
1. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
2. T.J. Hepburn, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Nick Walpole, Indianapolis (Ind.)
4. Nate Herda, Augustana (S.D.)
5. Jacob Horn, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6. Mitchell Means, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
7. John Paukovits, Kutztown (Pa.)
8. Kenny Jordan, Adams State (Colo.)
157 Pounds
1. George Ivanov, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Cory Dauphin, Central Oklahoma
3. Dillon Bera, Wisconsin-Parkside
4. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
5. Marcus Edgington, Augustana (S.D.)
6. Sean Byrnes, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Jordan Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8. Josh Nolan, San Francisco State
165 Pounds
1. Mike Williams, North Carolina-Pembroke
2. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. Michael Lybarger, Findlay (Ohio)
4. Gavin Nelson, Augustana (S.D.)
5. Matt Gille, Wisconsin-Parkside
6. Joey Wilson, Nebraska-Kearney
7. Brandon Kelly, Ashland (Ohio)
8. Zack McKendree, Gannon (Pa.)
174 Pounds
1. Ryan Pankoke, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Victor Carazo, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
3. Shamus O’Grady, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Ben Becker, Minnesota State
5. Mark Meuller, Upper Iowa
6. Luke Rynish, Wisconsin-Parkside
7. Jeff Jacobs, East Stroudsburg (Pa.)
8. Bryce Sopko, Limestone (S.C.)
184 Pounds
1. Bryant Blanton, Newberry (S.C.)
2. Charlie Pipher, Western State (Colo.)
3. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
4. A.J. Brentzel, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
5. Aaron Norgren, Minnesota State
6. Ryan Becerra, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
7. Mitch Schultz, Upper Iowa
8. Ross Brunkhardt, Nebraska-Kearney
197 Pounds
1. Donovan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
2. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Charles Morgan, King (Tenn.)
4. Matt Baker, Nebraska-Omaha
5. Eli Arismendez, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
6. Luke McPeek, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Pat Mahan, Minnesota State
8. Mitch Knapp, West Liberty (W.Va.)
285 Pounds
1. Jacob Kahnke, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
2. Matt Meuleners, Northern State (S.D.)
3. Charlie Alexander, Western State (Colo.)
4. Zach Rosol, Upper Iowa
5. Jacob Southwick, Ashland (Ohio)
6. Brandon Hayes, Central Missouri
7. Chris Dempsey, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
8. Jake Elkins, Newberry (S.C.)