Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs

NWCA Releases Final Division II Rankings Prior to Nationals

MANHEIM, PA – The field has been set for the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships, with the top 10 ranked wrestlers in each weight class making up the final NWCA Division II Coaches Rankings of the season.

The final rankings represent the top 8 seeds and top 10 ranked wrestlers for the upcoming NCAA Division II National Championships in St. Louis March 11-12. Nebraska-Kearney moved into the #1 spot for the first time this season, amassing 115 total points behind an NCAA DII-high nine National Qualifiers. Central Oklahoma moved to the #2 spot with 111 points behind seven National Qualifiers, with 2021 National Champion St. Cloud in the three-spot with 95 points from seven National Qualifiers. West Liberty held in the #4 spot, while Indianapolis moved up to the #5 ranking.

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Steffen earns second straight NCAA bid to lead SMSU at the Super Regional

MOORHEAD, Minn.- Southwest Minnesota State’s Caden Steffen became the third wrestler in the program’s DII history to win a regional championship and has qualified for his second consecutive NCAA Championships to lead SMSU at the NCAA Super Region V tournament.

It’s the fifth straight season SMSU has had a national qualifier. The top three finishers at each weight class qualify for the NCAA Championships, with the fourth-place finisher serving as an alternate in the class.

Steffen would start the day off with a bye in the first round. He would finally get a match in the quarterfinals, where he would defeat Gavin Christofferson of MSU 18-4 in a rematch of their sudden victory match on Feb. 13. Steffen would defeat Kolby Kost of Augie 8-4 in the semifinals, moving on to a rematch with Reece Woracheck of Parkside after a sudden victory match on Feb. 11. Steffen would shut down any debates, winning 3-1 in the finals to solidify his spot in Mustang history.

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Mustangs prepare for Super Regional on Saturday

MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will compete at the NCAA Super Regional V Tournament this Saturday starting at 10 a.m. inside Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

The NCAA Super Regional Tournament V features all 10 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams. The top three finishers at each weight class will qualify for the NCAA Championships, with the fourth-place finisher serving as an alternate in the class. The NCAA Championships will be held at the Chaifetz Center in St. Louis, Mo., starting on Friday, March 11, and running through Saturday, March 12.

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2021-22 NSIC All-Conference Teams Announced

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The 2021-22 NSIC Wrestling All-Conference teams were announced as the regular season concluded last week. The all-conference teams were selected by the league coaches with the top point receivers at each weight class being named first team and the next named to the second team. The NSIC Wrestler of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year will be selected by the league coaches and announced following the NCAA Division II Championships.

Next up for NSIC Wrestling will be the NCAA Super Region V tournament, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. in Moorhead, Minnesota, hosted by Minnesota State University Moorhead. NCAA Super Region V is made up of the ten NSIC wrestling institutions. The top three finishers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Championships on March 11-12 in St. Louis, Missouri.

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NWCA NCAA DII Rankings – February 18, 2022

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.

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