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Central Oklahoma No. 1, St. Cloud State No. 2 in most recent NWCA Div. II Coaches Poll
by NWCA
MANHEIM, Penn.- The Bronchos of Central Oklahoma held onto the top spot in NCAA Division II wrestling, in the latest edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Friday, Jan. 21.
Reigning National Champions St. Cloud State are hot on the heels of the Bronchos, however, closing the gap between the top two teams to just three points in this version of the poll. UCO maintained the top spot behind 109 total points from eight ranked wrestlers, while SCSU comes in with 106 points from nine individuals. Nebraska-Kearney moved from the five spot to #3, while West Liberty held at #4. McKendree rounds out the top five, moving from #3 in the previous poll.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
The nine ranked Huskies, along with nine ranked from Nebraska-Kearney, lead the field. Both teams feature a #1, with Joey Bianchini from SCSU still atop the 141 rankings, while Sam Turner still holds the #1 spot at 149 for UNK. Central Oklahoma has eight ranked wrestlers, led by 133’s #1 in Tanner Cole, and back-to-back #1s at 184 and 197 in Heath Gray and Dalton Abney.
The lone new #1 in this edition of the rankings is a familiar face, with reigning National Champion Cole Laya of West Liberty moving back into the top spot at 125. James Wimer of Findlay (157), Gannon’s Alex Farenchak (165), Andrew Sams of Indianapolis (174), and Kutztown’s Andrew Dunn (285) round out the top-ranked wrestlers in NCAA Division II.
Thirty-four wrestlers in this ranking come from Super Region 5, along with eight teams in the Top 25. Super Region 6 comes in next with 24 ranked individuals and five teams ranked in the Top 25. Super Region 4 has six teams in the Top 25 and 23 total ranked wrestlers, including a nation’s best four #1s.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference continued to lead all conferences with eight teams in D2’s Top 25, behind 34 ranked wrestlers. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association is next with 20 ranked individuals, including four #1s, while the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference all have four teams in the Top 25.
The next NWCA Division II Coaches Rankings will come out Feb. 18, prior to the start of the NCAA postseason.
Reigning National Champions St. Cloud State are hot on the heels of the Bronchos, however, closing the gap between the top two teams to just three points in this version of the poll. UCO maintained the top spot behind 109 total points from eight ranked wrestlers, while SCSU comes in with 106 points from nine individuals. Nebraska-Kearney moved from the five spot to #3, while West Liberty held at #4. McKendree rounds out the top five, moving from #3 in the previous poll.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
The nine ranked Huskies, along with nine ranked from Nebraska-Kearney, lead the field. Both teams feature a #1, with Joey Bianchini from SCSU still atop the 141 rankings, while Sam Turner still holds the #1 spot at 149 for UNK. Central Oklahoma has eight ranked wrestlers, led by 133’s #1 in Tanner Cole, and back-to-back #1s at 184 and 197 in Heath Gray and Dalton Abney.
The lone new #1 in this edition of the rankings is a familiar face, with reigning National Champion Cole Laya of West Liberty moving back into the top spot at 125. James Wimer of Findlay (157), Gannon’s Alex Farenchak (165), Andrew Sams of Indianapolis (174), and Kutztown’s Andrew Dunn (285) round out the top-ranked wrestlers in NCAA Division II.
Thirty-four wrestlers in this ranking come from Super Region 5, along with eight teams in the Top 25. Super Region 6 comes in next with 24 ranked individuals and five teams ranked in the Top 25. Super Region 4 has six teams in the Top 25 and 23 total ranked wrestlers, including a nation’s best four #1s.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference continued to lead all conferences with eight teams in D2’s Top 25, behind 34 ranked wrestlers. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association is next with 20 ranked individuals, including four #1s, while the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference all have four teams in the Top 25.
The next NWCA Division II Coaches Rankings will come out Feb. 18, prior to the start of the NCAA postseason.