MANHEIM, Penn.- In the final NCAA Division II Coaches Rankings prior to the postseason, Central Oklahoma held on to the top spot with 119 total points. The Bronchos feature three of Division II’s number one wrestlers and widened their gap on reigning National Champions St. Cloud State with Super Regionals looming next weekend.
The Huskies stay in the top spot with 103 total points. The entire top five was unchanged from the last poll, with Nebraska-Kearney (100 points), West Liberty (58 points), and McKendree (56 points) representing the third, fourth and fifth spots yet again.
There are four new number ones in this edition of the poll, with Brik Filippo of Central Oklahoma taking over the top spot at 149 and 2019 National Champion and 2021 National Finalist Connor Craig moving to #1 at 184. A pair of UNK Lopers took over the top spots at 165 and 174, with 2019 National Champion Matt Malcom sitting atop the newest 165 rankings, while teammate Austin Eldredge takes the top spot at 174 after coming down from competing at 184 earlier this season.
Both Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney have nine ranked wrestlers, the most of any teams in the poll. UCO features three #1s, with Tanner Cole at 133 and Dalton Abney at 197 joining Filippo. In addition to the top-ranked Bronchos and Lopers, West Liberty also has multiple #1s, with Cole Laya at 125 joining Craig. Joey Bianchini of St. Cloud State remains at #1 at 141, returning National Champion James Wimer is still #1 at 157, and 2019 National Champion Andrew Dunn is still at the top of the 285 rankings.
Super Region 5 still holds the nation’s most ranked wrestlers, with 28. Super Region 4 isn’t far behind in this edition of the poll, however, with 26 ranked wrestlers, including the three UCO #1s. Super Region 5 features the most teams ranked in the Top 25, with seven, while Super Region 5 is next with five teams in the Top 25.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has seven teams in the Top 25, and 28 total ranked wrestlers to lead the conference race. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference put four teams in the Top 25 in this poll, while the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association has 22 ranked wrestlers.
The six NCAA Division II Super Regional tournaments will be held Feb. 26. Super Region 1 will be contested at PItt.-Johnstown, Super Region 2 will be at UNC-Pembroke, Super Region 3 will be at West Liberty, Super Region 4 will be at Lindenwood, Super Region 5 will be at Minnesota Moorhead, and Super Region 6 will be at Colorado Mesa. The top three placers in each weight class at each regional will meet at the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships in St. Louis at Chaifetz Arena March 11-12.
125
- Cole Laya West Liberty
- Christian Mejia Mckendree
- Dawson Collins Colorado Mesa
- Joe Arroyo Uw-Parkside
- Paxton Rosen Central Oklahoma
- Paxton Creese St. Cloud State
- Josh Portillo Nebraska-Kearney
- Nick Daggett Unc-Pembroke
- Isaiah Delacerda Adams State
- Evan Carrigan Newberry
- Tyshawn White Shippensburg
- Matt Wilde Kutztown
133
- Tanner Cole Central Oklahoma
- Wesley Dawkins Nebraska-Kearney
- Garrett Vos St. Cloud State
- Kaden Anderlik Upper Iowa
- Jack Huffman Augustana
- Jonathan Andreatta Adams State
- Collin Metzgar Colorado Mesa
- Reece Barnhardt Mary
- Eric Bartos Mercyhurst
- Collin Wickramaratna Kutztown
- Tanner Hitchcock Lindenwood
- Majid Corbett Limestone
141
- Joey Bianchini St. Cloud State
- Colby Smith Lindenwood
- Branson Proudlock Findlay
- Nate Keim Central Oklahoma
- Josh Fuentes-Norikiyo San Francisco State
- Christian Small King
- Peter Kuster Drury
- Sean Johnson American Int.
- Nick James Nebraska-Kearney
- Zeth Brower Lander
- Kolton Roth Northern State
- Tate Murty Upper Iowa
149
- Brik Filippo Central Oklahoma
- Sam Turner Nebraska-Kearney
- Isiah Royal Newberry
- Noah Hermosillo Adams State
- Jacob Ealy Pitt-Johnstown
- Dominic Means Gannon
- Kyle Rathman Minnesota State
- Wyatt Turnquist Northern State
- Craig Cook Davis & Elkins
- Darick Lapaglia Central Missouri
- Eric Faught Upper Iowa
- Logan Bailey Indianapolis
157
- James Wimer Findlay
- Josiah Rider Adams State
- Anthony Herrera St. Cloud State
- Chase Luensman Upper Iowa
- John Ridle Central Missouri
- Ty Lucas Central Oklahoma
- Braydon Huber Mary
- Dawson Combest Indianapolis
- Jojo Gonzalez American Int.
- James Burks Northern State
- Nathan Smith Pitt.-Johnstown
- Nick Young Gannon
165
- Matt Malcom Nebraska-Kearney
- Shane Gantz Uw-Parkside
- Cory Peterson Mckendree
- James Penfold Lake Erie
- Mitch Dean Belmont Abbey
- Nate Trepanier Lindenwood
- Dillon Keane Pitt.-Johnstown
- Kameron Frame Newman
- Drew Wiechers Ashland
- Will Kuster Drury
- Hunter Jump Central Oklahoma
- Hunter Mullin Western Colorado
174
- Austin Eldredge Nebraska-Kearney
- Cade Mueller Augustana
- Trevor Turriff Minnesota State
- Andrew Sams Indianapolis
- Daniel Beemer Ashland
- Ty Mcgeary West Liberty
- Dominic Murphy St. Cloud State
- Dillon Walker Mercyhurst
- Brock Biddle Pitt-Johnstown
- Job Ayala Uw-Parkside
- Caleb Spears Newberry
- Josh Jones Mckendree
184
- Connor Craig West Liberty
- Heath Gray Central Oklahoma
- Dan Filipek Mckendree
- Caden Steffen Sw Minnesota State
- Aidan Pasiuk Ashland
- Billy Pitzner St. Cloud State
- Billy Higgins Nebraska-Kearney
- Anderson Salisbury Colorado Mines
- Marty Verhaeghe Fort Hays State
- Luke Mcgonigal Mercyhurst
- Jaquez Bostic Limestone
- Noah Curreri Queens
197
- Dalton Abney Central Oklahoma
- Noah Ryan St. Cloud State
- Joel Liese Gannon
- Derek Blubaugh Indianapolis
- Gino Sita Alderson Broaddus
- Donnie Negus Colorado Mesa
- Hayden Prince Nebraska-Kearney
- Daniel Bishop Augustana
- Rodsean Graham Uw-Parkside
- Jordan Williams Glenville State
- Logan Kemp West Liberty
- Walker Uhl Ashland
285
- Andrew Dunn Kutztown
- Kameron Teacher St. Cloud State
- Ian Kuehl Mckendree
- Jacob Robb Mercyhurst
- Shawn Streck Central Oklahoma
- Weston Hunt Colorado Mines
- Francesco Borsellino West Liberty
- Darrell Mason Minnesota State
- Mason Watt Chadron State
- Lee Herrington Nebraska-Kearney
- Freddie Nixon Gannon
- Zach Shaffer Unc-Pembroke