Edmond, Okla. – Following a pair of close conference setbacks, Minnesota State fell from fourth to seventh in the latest edition of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll. Nebraska-Omaha retained its top ranking once again, while conference foes Upper Iowa and Augustana jumped to #3 and #6 respectively.
Senior heavyweight Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) once again occupied the top spot on the individual side. The three-time All-American went 4-0 since the last poll, earning two falls, a technical fall and a major decision to improve to 22-4 on the season. Junior Ben Becker (Fort Dodge, Iowa) jumped up three spots to #5 at 174, going 3-1 with a fall in the last two weeks. Rounding out the Maverick showing is junior Andy Forstner (Madelia, Minn.) who fell from #4 to #6 following a loss to now-#5 Tyler Mumbolo of Upper Iowa. He is currently 15-9 on the season.
Minnesota State heads to Omaha, Neb., this weekend to square off with defending national champion Nebraska-Omaha. The Friday dual is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
Rank School (State) Points Last Ranking
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. Newberry (S.C.) 152 2nd
3. Upper Iowa 138 6th
4. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 130 3rd
5. Wisconsin-Parkside 123 7th
6. Augustana (S.D.) 107 10th
7. Minnesota State 106 4th
8. Gannon (Pa.) 103 5th
T9. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 96 8th
T9. Nebraska-Kearney 96 9th
11. North Carolina-Pembroke 71 NR
12. Western State (Colo.) 70 13th
13. Central Oklahoma 60 11th
14. Findlay (Ohio) 53 T15th
15. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 51 17th
16. Adams State (Colo.) 50 14th
17. West Liberty (W.Va.) 37 12th
18. Kutztown (Pa.) 34 T15th
19. San Francisco State (Calif.) 22 18th
20. Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 11 19th
Others receiving votes: Central Missouri, East Stroudsburg (Pa.), Indianapolis (Ind.), Mesa State (Colo.), Northern State (S.D).
125 Pounds
1. Seth Wright, New Mexico Highlands
2. Terrell McKinney, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Arsenia Barksdale, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Tommy Edgmon, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
5. Tyler Mumbalo, Upper Iowa
6. Andy Forstner, Minnesota State
7. Casy Rowell, Central Oklahoma
8. Russell Weakley, North Carolina-Pembroke
133 Pounds
1. Shane Valko, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
2. Cody Garcia, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Naveed Bagheri, San Francisco State (Calif.)
4. Sheridan Moran, Newberry (S.C.)
5. Corey Bowers, Gannon (Pa.)
6. Todd Wilcox, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
7. Nick Wykoff, West Liberty (W.Va.)
8. Kyle Pedretti, Upper Iowa
141 Pounds
1. Josh Hensley, Adams State (Colo.)
2. Andre Harrison, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
3. Mario Morgan, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Ben Lockett, San Francisco State (Calif.)
5. Adam Whetstone, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
6. Jeremy Parker, Limestone (S.C.)
7. Jay Sherer, Augustana (S.D.)
8. J.R. Baker, Upper Iowa
149 Pounds
1. Craig Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside
2. Mitch Smith, West Liberty (W.Va.)
3. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
4. T. J. Hepburn, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Nate Herda, Augustana (S.D.)
6. Demond Carter, Southwest Minnesota
7. Colby Robinson, Central Oklahoma
8. Kevin McElhaney, Gannon (Pa.)
157 Pounds
1. Marcus Edgington, Augustana (S.D.)
2. George Ivanov, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Andy Lamancusa, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
4. Danny Grater, Fort Hay State (Kan.)
5. Joey Deaguero, Adams State (Colo.)
6. Chase Walker, Mesa State (Colo.)
7. Zack McKendree, Gannon (Pa.)
8. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
165 Pounds
1. Josh Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
2. Travis Eggers, Upper Iowa
3. Kyle Keane, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Ryan Pankoke, Nebraska-Omaha
5. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6. Victor Carazo, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
7. Blake Malloy, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
8. Derrick Adkins, Central Oklahoma
174 Pounds
1. Marty Usman, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa
4. J.J. Davis, North Carolina-Pembroke
5. Ben Becker, Minnesota State
6. Curtis Chenoweth, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Luke Rynish, Wisconsin-Parkside
8. Justin Shannon, Findlay (Ohio)
184 Pounds
1. Charlie Pipher, Western State (Colo.)
2. Mitchell Schultz, Upper Iowa
3. Derek Skala, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Austin Boehm, Nebraska-Omaha
5. Lucas Haag, Wisconsin-Parkside
6. Tim Darling, Kutztown (Pa.)
7. Bryant Blanton, Newberry (S.C.)
8. Landon Hall, Limestone (S.C.)
197 Pounds
1. Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Keeno Griffin, Newberry (S.C.)
3. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
4. Donavan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
5. Kyle Sand, Adams State (Colo.)
6. Lucas Munkelwitz, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
7. Mitch Knapp, West Liberty (W.Va.)
8. Vince Bordi, San Franciso State (Calif.)
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. Jacob Kahnke, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
7. Lynn Panko, Indianapolis (Ind.)
8. Steve Franklin, San Francisco State (Calif.)