MANHEIM, Pa.- Heading into the postseason, the Central Oklahoma Bronchos narrowly held onto the top spot in Division II wrestling, in the latest edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Jan. 20 by the Association.
Just two points separate the Bronchos from #2 Lander, with UCO coming in with 82 points and the Bearcats 80. Central Oklahoma has a poll-high nine ranked wrestlers, highlighted by the nation’s top heavyweight in Shawn Streck. St. Cloud State and West Liberty are tied for the third place spot (64 points), with defending National Champion Nebraska-Kearney rounding out the top five with 59 points.
Behind UCO’s nine ranked wrestlers, the Huskies of St. Cloud State have eight ranked individuals, highlighted by 2021 National Champion Abner Romero in the top spot at 174. Lander features seven ranked wrestlers, led by reigning National Champion Zeth Brower at the top of the 141 ranking.
A pair of wrestlers are new to the #1 spot this ranking, with Quentrevion Campbell of Chadron State taking over the top rank at 133 and the aforementioned Streck taking over the #1 slot at 285. All 10 top-ranked individuals represent different programs.
Super Region 4 & 5 combine for about half of the nation’s ranked wrestlers, with 33 coming from Super Region 5, including a pair of number ones in UW-Parkside’s Shane Gantz at 165 and Romero at 174. Super Region 6 has the most number ones, with Campbell at 133, Adams State’s Noah Hermosillo at 157 and Nebraska-Kearney’s Billy Higgins at 184.
On the team side of things, three of the ten teams in Super Region 5 are ranked in the Top 10, while eight total teams appear in the Top 25. Super Regions 4 and 6 both each have a pair of teams in the Top 10.
Super Regionals loom Feb. 25 or 26 for the 64 NCAA Division II wrestling teams, with Super Region 1 being hosted at East Stroudsburg, Super Region 2 at UNC-Pembroke, Super Region 3 at Tiffin, Super Region 4 at Central Oklahoma, Super Region 5 at Northern State and Super Region 6 at Chadron State. The top three at each weight class from each of the six regions will then descend upon Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships March 10-11.
125
- Logan Seliga Unc-Pembroke
- Cole Laya West Liberty
- Brendon Garcia Adams State
- James Joplin Lander
- Paxton Creese St. Cloud State
- Jaxson Rohman Augustana
- Shane Corrigan Uw-Parkside
- Studd Morris Central Oklahoma
- Patrick Allis Western Colorado
- Dawson Collins Colorado Mesa
- Brandon Mendoza Tiffin
- Christian Mejia Mckendree
133
- Quentrevion Campbell Chadron State
- Eric Bartos Mercyhurst
- Reece Barnhardt Mary
- Devin Flannery Millersville
- Vincent Scollo West Liberty
- Elijah Lusk Lander
- Breyden Bailey Indianapolis
- Collin Metzgar Colorado Mesa
- Gavin Quiocho Glenville State
- Sam Spencer St. Cloud State
- Kaden Anderlik Upper Iowa
- Joseph Airola Nebraska-Kearney
141
- Zeth Brower Lander
- Peter Kuster Drury
- Christian Small Lake Erie
- Cayden Henschel Uw-Parkside
- Tate Murty Upper Iowa
- Nick James Nebraska-Kearney
- John Carayainnis Belmont Abbey
- Taylor Jokerst Maryville
- Nate Keim Central Oklahoma
- Grayston Diblasi Colorado Mines
- Alyeus Craig St. Cloud State
- Brock Luthens Minnesota State
149
- Jacob Ealy Pitt.-Johnstown
- Nick Young Gannon
- Josiah Rider Adams State
- Jason Hanenberg Western Colorado
- Craig Cook Millersville
- Jalen Spuhler Uw-Parkside
- Joey Bianchini St. Cloud State
- Wyatt Turnquist Northern State
- Brik Filippo Central Oklahoma
- Darick Lapaglia Central Missouri
- Dallas Wilson Mount Olive
- Jake Piccirilli Unc-Pembroke
157
- Noah Hermosillo Adams State
- Nick Novak St. Cloud State
- Gabe Johnson Central Oklahoma
- Jamar Williams West Liberty
- Logan Bailey Indianapolis
- Casey Barnett Tiffin
- Nate Smith Pitt-Johnstown
- Dom Means Gannon
- Noah Villarreal Mckendree
- Donny Whitted Maryville
- Ben Durocher Uw-Parkside
- Cale Hoskinson Notre Dame
165
- Shane Gantz Uw-Parkside
- Chase Luensman Upper Iowa
- Alex Farenchak Gannon
- David Hunsberger Lander
- Jack Eiteljorge Indianapolis
- Hunter Mullin Western Colorado
- Aaden Valdez Adams State
- Ty Lucas Central Oklahoma
- John Ridle Central Missouri
- Anthony Herrera St. Cloud State
- Dillon Keane Pitt-Johnstown
- Tyler Wagener Augustana
174
- Abner Romero St. Cloud State
- Max Bruss Mary
- Austin Eldredge Nebraska-Kearney
- Cade Lindsey Fort Hays State
- Anthony Des Vigne Central Oklahoma
- Cole Hernandez Western Colorado
- Cael Meyer Upper Iowa
- Kolby Kost Augustana
- Zeke Waltz Mckendree
- Hunter Delong Glenville State
- Alex Weber Pitt.-Johnstown
- Dillon Walker Mercyhurst
184
- Billy Higgins Nebraska-Kearney
- Ty McGeary West Liberty
- Caden Steffen Sw Minnesota State
- Daniel Beemer Ashland
- Matt Weinberg Kutztown
- Logan Hall Lander
- Reece Worachek Uw-Parkside
- Wyatt Lidberg Mary
- Cade Mueller Augustana
- Alex Kaufman Central Oklahoma
- Joey Williams Maryville
- Josh Jones Mckendree
197
- Derek Blubaugh Indianapolis
- Dalton Abney Central Oklahoma
- Cole Huss Northern State
- Tereus Henry Fort Hays State
- Walker Uhl Ashland
- Anthony Yacovetti Lander
- Dalton Hahn Upper Iowa
- Logan Kvein Mckendree
- Luke McGonigal Mercyhurst
- Dominic Murphy St. Cloud State
- Joel Leise Gannon
- Anderson Salisbury Colorado Mines
285
- Shawn Streck Central Oklahoma
- Lee Herrington Nebraska-Kearney
- Jared Campbell Glenville State
- Johnny Green Ouachita Baptist
- Francesco Borsellino West Liberty
- Juan Holmes Lander
- John Meyers Seton Hill
- Isaiah Vance Pitt-Johnstown
- Zach Ryg Upper Iowa
- Jacob Dykes Southwest Minn.
- Darell Mason Minnesota State
- Laron Parks Notre Dame