Three Individual Wrestlers Remain Ranked in Respective Weight-Classes
Edmund, Okla. – The Minnesota State Mavericks remain the seventh-ranked team in the latest version of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll after getting out to a perfect 2-0 start in NSIC action.
The Mavericks, who totaled 111 points, are one of five NSIC schools ranked in the top 20 poll. The Mavericks trail No. 2 ranked Augustana and No. 3 ranked St. Cloud State, while they hold higher rankings than No. 10 Upper Iowa and No. 20 Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Dropping one spot from last week in the individual rankings was MSU senior Andy Forstner. Despite a perfect 2-0 weekend, which improved his overall record to 14-9 (7-1 in duals), the 125-lb Forstner slipped one spot in the rankings behind North Carolina-Pembroke’s Russell Weakley. Forstner lost a 3-2 decision against Weakley on Jan. 9 in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.
Also dropping one spot in his respective weight class was 174-lb senior Ben Becker. Becker went 2-0 over the weekend as he participated in his first dual action of the season. Becker holds a 9-4 overall record on the season including a 3-0 record in matches determined by fall.
Junior Aaron Norgren fell two spots in the latest rankings as he is now ranked fifth in the 184-lb weight class. Norgren went 1-1 over the weekend including a loss to the now No. 4 ranked Cale Cornemann from Northern State University. Despite his first loss in the last seven matches, Norgren maintains a 16-8 overall record and a 7-1 dual record.
The Mavericks will be back in action this Thursday as they hit the road for their first NSIC action away from home. The Mavericks (6-2, 2-0 NSIC) will square off against Minnesota State – Moorhead (2-4, 0-1 NSIC) as they look to remain perfect in NSIC action.
The top 20 poll, with points and the teams’ last ranking following by the top-eight rankings at each weight:
NCAA Division II Team Rankings
Rank School (State) Points Last Ranking
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. Augustana (S.D.) 152 3rd
3. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 144 2nd
4. Newberry (S.C.) 136 5th
5. Central Oklahoma 128 9th
6. North Carolina-Pembroke 119 13th
7. Minnesota State 111 7th
8. San Francisco State (Calif.) 101 20th
9. Western State (Colo.) 88 4th
10. Upper Iowa 81 11th
11. Nebraska-Kearney 71 8th
12. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 63 6th
13. Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 62 10th
14. Gannon (Pa.) 55 NR
15. Findlay (Ohio) 51 14th
16. Wisconsin-Parkside 43 12th
17. Ashland (Ohio) 34 18th
18. Adams State (Colo.) 27 17th
19. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 22 16th
20. Minnesota State-Moorhead 14 NR
Others receiving votes: Central Missouri, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State-Pueblo, Kutztown (Pa.) and West Liberty (W.Va.).
NCAA Division II Individual Rankings
125 Pounds
1. Russell Weakley, North Carolina-Pembroke
2. Andy Forstner, Minnesota State
3. Trevor Franklin, Upper Iowa
4. Josh Smith, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Connor McDonald, Newberry (S.C.)
6. Corey Ulmer, Minnesota State-Moorhead
7. Kyle O’Brien, Western State (Colo.)
8. Pierre Bondoc, San Francisco State (Calif.)
133 Pounds
1. Kyle Pedretti, Upper Iowa
2. Todd Wilcox, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
3. Ryan Link, Pittsburgh-Johnstown
4. Cody Zimmerman, Wisconsin-Parkside
5. B.J. Young, Newberry (S.C.)
6. Michael Magaha, Limestone (S.C.)
7. Trison Graham, Central Oklahoma
8. Aldon Isenberg, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
141 Pounds
1. Mario Morgan, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Naveed Bagheri, San Francisco State (Calif.)
3. Brady Schneeberger, Minnesota State-Moorhead
4. Jay Sherer, Augustana (S.D.)
5. Andre Harrison, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6. Dalton Jensen, Nebraska-Kearney
7. Kenny Jordan, Adams State (Colo.)
8. A.J. Milanek, Gannon (Pa.)
149 Pounds
1. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
2. T.J. Hepburn, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Nick Walpole, Indianapolis (Ind.)
4. Jacob Horn, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
5. Dale Debacco, Newberry (S.C.)
6. Josh Hensley, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Matthew Thomas, San Francisco State (Calif.)
8. Nate Herda, Augustana (S.D.)
157 Pounds
1. George Ivanov, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Marcus Edgington, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Dillon Bera, Wisconsin-Parkside
4. Seth Phalen, West Liberty (W.Va.)
5. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6. Sean Byrnes, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Cory Dauphin, Central Oklahoma
8. Justin Morris, Western State (Colo.)
165 Pounds
1. Mike Williams, North Carolina-Pembroke
2. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. Michael Lybarger, Findlay (Ohio)
4. Jake Varilek, Belmont Abbey (N.C.)
5. Joey Wilson, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Gavin Nelson, Augustana (S.D.)
7. Travis Budke, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
8. Derrick Adkins, Central Oklahoma
174 Pounds
1. Luke Rynish, Wisconsin-Parkside
2. Tony Petrella, Gannon (Pa.)
3. Ryan Pankoke, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Victor Carazo, Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
5. Tim Darling, Kutztown (Pa.)
6. Carl Serck, Augustana (S.D.)
7. Shamus O’Grady, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Ben Becker, Minnesota State
184 Pounds
1. Bryant Blanton, Newberry (S.C.)
2. Charlie Pipher, Western State (Colo.)
3. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Cale Cornemann, Northern State (S.D.)
5. Aaron Norgren, Minnesota State
6. Mitch Schultz, Upper Iowa
7. Tanner Keck, Central Oklahoma
8. Casey Bradley, Limestone (S.C.)
197 Pounds
1. Donovan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
2. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Mitch Knapp, West Liberty (W.Va.)
4. Luke McPeek, Adams State (Colo.)
5. Jarrett Edison, Central Oklahoma
6. Carl Broghammer, Upper Iowa
7. Daniel Stevenson, Findlay (Ohio)
8. Matt Baker, Nebraska-Omaha
285 Pounds
1. Jacob Kahnke, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
2. Matt Meuleners, Northern State (S.D.)
3. Charlie Alexander, Western State (Colo.)
4. Ben Hohensee, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Zach Rosol, Upper Iowa
6. Jacob Southwick, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Matt Clum, Findlay (Ohio)
8. Taylor Escamilla, Nebraska-Omaha