Edmond, Okla. – Despite winning their only dual of the 2009-10 season to date, the Mavericks dropped seven spots to #9 in the latest edition of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll. Minnesota State is one of four NSIC teams in the top-20, behind #7 Augustana who jumped 12 spots, #10 St. Cloud State and #12 Upper Iowa.
On the individual side, three-time All-American Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) earned top billing at heavyweight after entering the season ranked #2. Wilson is 7-4 on the season with fourth-place finishes at both the Harold Nichols Open and Kaufman/Brand Open. All four losses have been to Division I opponents and he owns a 3-1 decision over Elijah Madison of Nebraska-Omaha who is ranked #2 behind him in the poll.
Returning All-American Andy Forstner (Madelia, Minn.) held steady at #4 at 125 pounds, while senior 157-pounder Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) and junior 174-pounder Ben Becker (Fort Dodge, Iowa ) each jumped a spot from the preseason poll to #6 and #7 respectively. Rounding out the Maverick individuals was sophomore Pat Mahan (Owatonna, Minn.) who fell one spot to #5 at 197 pounds. Mahan has yet to see mat time in 2009-10.
Minnesota State returns to action on Dec. 12th with a trip to St. Cloud State for the Husky Open.
Rank School (State) Points Last Ranking
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. Newberry (S.C.) 152 3rd
3. Adams State (Colo.) 137 5th
4. Central Oklahoma 126 6th
5. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 120 10th
6. Western State (Colo.) 117 7th
7. Augustana (S.D.) 116 19th
8. Nebraska-Kearney 113 4th
9. Minnesota State 95 2nd
10. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 99 8th
11. Wisconsin-Parkside 76 12th
12. Upper Iowa 75 9th
13. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 62 14th
14. West Liberty (W.Va.) 54 16th
15. San Francisco State (Calif.) 44 13th
16. Central Missouri 41 15th
17. Gannon (Pa.) 37 17th
18. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 17 11th
19. Findlay (Ohio) 12 NR
T20. Chadron State (Neb.) 9 18th
T20. North Carolina-Pembroke 9 NR
Others receiving votes: Kutztown (Pa.), Mesa State (Colo.), Minnesota State-Moorhead.
125 Pounds
1. Arsenia Barksdale, Adams State (Colo.)
2. Tommy Edgmon, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
3. Matt Oliver, Newberry (S.C.)
4. Andy Forstner, Minnesota State
5. Chris Sheetz, Kutztown (Pa.)
6. Casy Rowell, Central Oklahoma
7. Russell Weakley, North Carolina-Pembroke
8. Cody Zimmerman, Wisconsin-Parkside
133 Pounds
1. Shane Valko, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
2. Cody Garcia, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Naveed Bagheri, San Francisco State (Calif.)
4. Joey Morrison, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Trison Graham, Central Oklahoma
6. Kyle Pedretti, Upper Iowa
7. Rhett Breed, Mesa State (Colo.)
8. Nick Wykoff, West Liberty (W.Va.)
141 Pounds
1. Ben Lockett, San Francisco State (Calif.)
2. Jay Sherer, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Jeremy Parker, Limestone (S.C.)
4. Jimmy Savala, Chadron State (Neb.)
5. Nate Nauroth, Shippensburg (Pa.)
6. Adam Whetsone, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Gabe Suarez, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Cory Bloodgood, Central Missouri
?149 Pounds
1. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Craig Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside
3. Mitch Smith, West Liberty (W.Va.)
4. William Forrest, Central Missouri
5. Joey Deaguero, Adams State (Colo.)
6. Colby Robinson, Central Oklahoma
7. Jacob Roberts, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Jordan Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
157 Pounds
1. Andy Lamancusa, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
2. Danny Grater, Fort Hay State (Kan.)
3. Denis Ryzhov, Central Missouri
4. Noomis Jones, Adams State (Colo.)
5. Ryan Etherton, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Travis Elg, Minnesota State
7. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Michael Lybarger, Findlay (Ohio)
165 Pounds
1. Josh Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
2. Travis Eggers, Upper Iowa
3. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Taylor May, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Kyle Keane, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
6. Skye Wells, Western State (Colo.)
7. Gavin Nelson, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Ryan Pankoke, Nebraska-Omaha
174 Pounds
1. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa
3. J.J. Davis, North Carolina-Pembroke
4. Chris Barrick, Shippensburg (Pa.)
5. Justin Shannon, Findlay (Ohio)
6. Luke Rynish, Wisconsin-Parkside
7. Ben Becker, Minnesota State
8. Carl Serk, Augustana (S.D.)
?184 Pounds
1. Kyle Sand, Adams State (Colo.)
2. Bryant Blanton, Newberry (S.C.)
3. Austin Boehm, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Lucas Haag, Wisconsin-Parkside
5. Nick Henning, Augustana (S.D.)
6. Patrick Walsh, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Charlie Pipher, Western State (Colo.)
8. Derek Ross, Nebraska-Kearney
197 Pounds
1. Keeno Griffin, Newberry (S.C.)
2. Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
4. Donavan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
5. Pat Mahan, Minnesota State
6. Lucas Munkelwitz, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
7. Scott Snyder, Kutztown (Pa.)
8. Tony Chavarria, Colorado State-Pueblo
285 Pounds
1. Brady Wilson, Minnesota State
2. Elijah Madison, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Dustin Finn, Central Oklahoma
4. Charlie Alexander, Western State (Colo.)
5. Frank McGrath, Gannon (Pa.)
6. Steve Franklin, San Francisco State (Calif.)
7. Nathan Sharp, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8. Jeff Schossow, Adams State (Colo.)
