NWCA Releases Division II Men’s Coaches Regular Season Poll #4
MANHEIM, Pa.- Heading into the postseason, the Central Oklahoma Bronchos narrowly held onto the top spot in Division II wrestling, in the latest edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Jan. 20 by the Association.
Just two points separate the Bronchos from #2 Lander, with UCO coming in with 82 points and the Bearcats 80. Central Oklahoma has a poll-high nine ranked wrestlers, highlighted by the nation’s top heavyweight in Shawn Streck. St. Cloud State and West Liberty are tied for the third place spot (64 points), with defending National Champion Nebraska-Kearney rounding out the top five with 59 points.
Behind UCO’s nine ranked wrestlers, the Huskies of St. Cloud State have eight ranked individuals, highlighted by 2021 National Champion Abner Romero in the top spot at 174. Lander features seven ranked wrestlers, led by reigning National Champion Zeth Brower at the top of the 141 ranking.
A pair of wrestlers are new to the #1 spot this ranking, with Quentrevion Campbell of Chadron State taking over the top rank at 133 and the aforementioned Streck taking over the #1 slot at 285. All 10 top-ranked individuals represent different programs.
Super Region 4 & 5 combine for about half of the nation’s ranked wrestlers, with 33 coming from Super Region 5, including a pair of number ones in UW-Parkside’s Shane Gantz at 165 and Romero at 174. Super Region 6 has the most number ones, with Campbell at 133, Adams State’s Noah Hermosillo at 157 and Nebraska-Kearney’s Billy Higgins at 184.
On the team side of things, three of the 10 teams in Super Region 5 are ranked in the Top 10, while 8 total teams appear in the Top 25. Super Regions 4 and 6 both each have a pair of teams in the Top 10.
Super Regionals loom Feb. 25 or 26 for the 64 NCAA Division II wrestling teams, with Super Region 1 being hosted at East Stroudsburg, Super Region 2 at UNC-Pembroke, Super Region 3 at Tiffin, Super Region 4 at Central Oklahoma, Super Region 5 at Northern State and Super Region 6 at Chadron State. The top three at each weight class from each of the six regions will then descend upon Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships March 10-11.
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