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MSU-Mankato 2nd, St. Cloud State 8th in Preseason DII Wrestling Poll

October 21, 2009

EDMOND, Okla. -- Defending NCAA Division II national champion Nebraska-Omaha is the unanimous pick to retain its title in 2010, according to the preseason poll released Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.

The Mavericks, who ran away with their fifth Division II national crown last year, received all eight first-place votes in balloting of coaches from around the country to finish with 160 points and earn the No. 1 tag.  UNO topped the poll in all seven rankings last season.

Minnesota State was second in the poll with 148 points, followed by Newberry (S.C.), Nebraska-Kearney and Adams State.  Rounding out the top 10 is seven-time Division II champion Central Oklahoma, Western State (Colo.), St. Cloud State (Minn.), Upper Iowa and Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.).

UNO had two individuals ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll -- Esai Dominguez at 149 pounds and Aaron Denson at 174.  UPJ also had two top-rated individuals in 133 Shane Valko and 141 Adam Whetstone.

The 2010 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships will be held March 12-13 in Omaha, Neb.

The top 20 poll, with points and the teams' national tournament finish last year following by the top-eight rankings at each weight:

Rank School (State) Points 2009 National Finish
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. Minnesota State 148 3rd
3. Newberry (S.C.) 138 2nd
4. Nebraska-Kearney 132 4th
5. Adams State (Colo.) 123 5th
6. Central Oklahoma 121 6th
7. Western State (Colo.) 103 7th
T8. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 95 8th
T8. Upper Iowa 95 10th
10. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 90 14th
11. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 77 9th
12. Wisconsin-Parkside 68 12th
13. San Francisco State (Calif.) 65 13th
14. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 53 17th
15. Central Missouri 45 18th
16. West Liberty (W.Va.) 42 T15th
17. Gannon (Pa.) 41 T15th
18. Chadron State (Neb.) 34 11th
19. Augustana (S.D.) 21 21st
20. Kutztown (Pa.) 8 19th

Others receiving votes: Ashland (Ohio), East Stroudsburg (Pa.), Findlay (Ohio), Mesa State (Colo.), New Mexico Highlands, North Carolina-Pembroke, Shippensburg (Pa.).

Individual Rankings

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. Russell Weakley, North Carolina-Pembroke
6. Cody Zimmerman, Wisconsin-Parkside
7. Matt Rein, Nebraska-Omaha
8. Chris Sheets, Kutztown (Pa.)

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. Scott Berens, Central Oklahoma
6. Trevor Franklin, Upper Iowa
7. Rhett Breed, Mesa State (Colo.)
8. Nick Wykoff, West Liberty (W.Va.)

141 Pounds
1. Adam Whetsone, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
2. Ben Lockett, San Francisco State (Calif.)
3. Jay Sherer, Augustana (S.D.)
4. Cory Bloodgood, Central Missouri
5. Steven Baker, Upper Iowa
6. Jimmy Savala, Chadron State (Neb.)
7. Jeremy Parker, Limestone (S.C.)
8. Matt Irwin, Indianapolis (Ind.)

149 Pounds
1. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Craig Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside
3. Mitch Smith, West Liberty (W.Va.)
4. Kevin McElhaney, Gannon (Pa.)
5. William Forrest, Central Missouir
6. Joey Deaguero, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Colby Robinson, Central Oklahoma
8. Jacob Robets, St. Cloud State (Minn.)

157 Pounds
1. Travis Eggers, Upper Iowa
2. Andy Lamancusa, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
3. Danny Grater, Fort Hay State (Kan.)
4. Denis Ryzhov, Central Missouri
5. Ryan Etherton, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Noomis Jones, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Travis Elg, Minnesota State
8. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)

165 Pounds
1. Josh Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
2. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. Taylor May, Nebraska-Kearney
4. Kyle Keane, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
5. Justin Shannon, Findlay (Ohio)
6. Skye Wells, Western State (Colo.)
7. Jordan Larson, Colorado School of Mines
8. Gavin Nelson, Augustana (S.D.)

174 Pounds
1. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa
3. Derek Skala, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Chris Barrick, Shippensburg (Pa.)
5. J.J. Davis, North Carolina-Pembroke
6. Jarret Hall, Minnesota State-Moorhead
7. Luke Rynish, Wisconsin-Parkside
8. Ben Becker, Minnesota State

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. Derek Ross, Nebraska-Kearney
8. Charlie Pipher, Western State (Colo.)

197 Pounds
1. Keeno Griffin, Newberry (S.C.)
2. Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Luke McPeek, New Mexico Highlands
4. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
5. Donavan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
6. Pat Mahan, Minnesota State
7. Mitch Knapp, West Liberty (W.Va.)
8. Lucas Munkelwitz, St. Cloud State (Minn.)

285 Pounds
1. Dustin Finn, Central Oklahoma
2. Brady Wilson, Minnesota State-Mankato
3. Charlie Alexander, Western State (Colo.)
4. Nail McGrath, Gannon (Pa.)
5. Steve Franklin, San Francisco State (Calif.)
6. Chris Dempsey, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Elijah Madison, Nebraska-Omaha
8. Jesse Boggs, New Mexico Highlands