The St. Cloud State University wrestling team, which has won NCAA Division II national championships in 2019, 2018, 2016 and 2015, has earned a number three ranking in The Open Mat’s Division II preseason rankings for the upcoming 2019-20 season.
In the top five poll, Notre Dame (Ohio) was ranked number one and Nebraska-Kearney was ranked number two ahead of St. Cloud State, which has finished ahead of those two schools at the NCAA DII championships in four of the last five seasons. The top five poll for 2019-20 was completed by Pitt-Johnstown and Lindenwood. The poll is compiled by The Open Mat DII wrestling expert Bryce Villa.
Individually, SCSU saw five of its returning wrestlers gain individual rankings in the preseason poll. At 133-pounds, Garrett Vos was ranked fourth and James Pleski was ranked fourth at 149-pounds. At 157-pounds, Jake Barzowski received a #2 preseason rating for 2019-20 and Devin FitzPatrick was ranked third in the poll at 165-pounds. The group of preseason ranked wrestlers for the Huskies was completed by Kolton Eischens at 174-pounds, who was ranked fourth. All five ranked wrestlers for the Huskies are returning All-Americans. Pleski is a three-time All-American and Eischens is a two-time All-America award recipient for the Huskies.
The Huskies charted a 20-0 record this season with an 8-0 record in the always rugged NSIC. SCSU captured its eighth consecutive NSIC title in 2018-19 and also won the 2019 NWCA DII National Duals tournament and the 2019 NCAA Division II Super V regional crown.
The Huskies have not lost a dual meet since Jan. 14, 2017 (48 consecutive dual victories). SCSU has won the NCAA DII Regional title in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and the Huskies have also won NWCA DII National Duals championships in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013 and 2012.
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