Grand View remains No. 1 in NAIA rankings, with Indiana Tech at No. 2
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by Alan Grosbach, NAIA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Grand View (Iowa) continues its stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking, as the Vikings top the first regular-season edition of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. Grand View garnered 165.5 total points in the edition. The second regular-season installment is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Top 25 Highlights (historical information dates back to 2000-01)
• Grand View claims the No. 1 ranking for the 38th time in program history, and extends its current top-billing streak to 33-straight. Former-member Lindenwood (Mo.) holds the record for most No. 1 appearances since the start of the 2000-01 season with 39.
• The Vikings, which are chasing a sixth-consecutive national championship this season, have 12 grapplers ranked in the edition, all of which are listed among the top 10 in their respective weight class.
• Grand View’s top-ranked wrestlers are: Hunter Genco at 133 pounds, Lawton Benna at 174 pounds and Dean Broghammer at 285 pounds. Genco is the only new No. 1 among the trio, as Benna and Broghammer both claimed the top-spot in the preseason poll. The Clinton, Iowa, native is 3-2 on the year, including a major decision (15-2) over preseason No. 1 Kodie Cole of Concordia (Neb.).
• Checking in at No. 2 for a second-straight poll is Indiana Tech. The Warriors garnered 98 points and also have 12 ranked wrestlers. Defending national champion Mitch Pawlak is once again the No. 1 at 125 pounds. Pawlak boasts an exhibition major decision (8-0) win at the NWCA All-Star Classic over Mitch Tikkanen of NCAA Division III John Carroll (Ohio).
• The remainder of the top five consists of No. 3 Williams Baptist (Ark.), No. 4 Oklahoma City and No. 5 Menlo (Calif.).
• Blake Cooper of Warner Pacific (Ore.) is the new top-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds. Cooper, who won Warner Pacific’s first-ever individual title at last year’s championships, is 1-0 on the season with a 17-2 technical fall over James Bowers of Southern Oregon.
• Michael Naiper of Wayland Baptist (Texas) takes over the top-spot in the 184-pound weight class after starting the year with a 5-2 record. Naiper finished fourth at last year’s national championships and was ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll.
• Seven of 10 weight classes have the same top-ranked grappler as the preseason poll.
• Since 2001, only Grand View (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16), former members Notre Dame (Ohio) (2010-11) and Lindenwood (2006-07) have spent the entire season ranked No. 1.
Poll Methodology
• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the six national qualifying groups.
• One day prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his geographic area into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a qualifying group ballot are considered for the national ballot.
• The top 16 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first place vote, 18 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
• The postseason poll was determined using the individual and team results from the national championship
Dropped from the Top 20: Dickinson State (N.D.) (No. 5); Midland (Neb.) (No. 11); Briar Cliff (Iowa) (No. 18)
Others receiving votes: Lyon (Ark.) 22.5; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 21.5; Northwestern (Iowa) 21.5; Midland (Neb.) 20; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 18; Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 14.5; Southeastern (Fla.) 13.5; Great Falls (Mont.) 13.5; Doane (Neb.) 10.5; Hastings (Neb.) 9; Benedictine (Kan.) 6; Eastern Oregon 4.5; Bethany (Kan.) 3; Marian (Ind.) 2.5; Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 2.5; Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 2.5; William Penn (Iowa) 2; Bacone (Okla.) 1; Graceland (Iowa) 1.
Top 25 Highlights (historical information dates back to 2000-01)
• Grand View claims the No. 1 ranking for the 38th time in program history, and extends its current top-billing streak to 33-straight. Former-member Lindenwood (Mo.) holds the record for most No. 1 appearances since the start of the 2000-01 season with 39.
• The Vikings, which are chasing a sixth-consecutive national championship this season, have 12 grapplers ranked in the edition, all of which are listed among the top 10 in their respective weight class.
• Grand View’s top-ranked wrestlers are: Hunter Genco at 133 pounds, Lawton Benna at 174 pounds and Dean Broghammer at 285 pounds. Genco is the only new No. 1 among the trio, as Benna and Broghammer both claimed the top-spot in the preseason poll. The Clinton, Iowa, native is 3-2 on the year, including a major decision (15-2) over preseason No. 1 Kodie Cole of Concordia (Neb.).
• Checking in at No. 2 for a second-straight poll is Indiana Tech. The Warriors garnered 98 points and also have 12 ranked wrestlers. Defending national champion Mitch Pawlak is once again the No. 1 at 125 pounds. Pawlak boasts an exhibition major decision (8-0) win at the NWCA All-Star Classic over Mitch Tikkanen of NCAA Division III John Carroll (Ohio).
• The remainder of the top five consists of No. 3 Williams Baptist (Ark.), No. 4 Oklahoma City and No. 5 Menlo (Calif.).
• Blake Cooper of Warner Pacific (Ore.) is the new top-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds. Cooper, who won Warner Pacific’s first-ever individual title at last year’s championships, is 1-0 on the season with a 17-2 technical fall over James Bowers of Southern Oregon.
• Michael Naiper of Wayland Baptist (Texas) takes over the top-spot in the 184-pound weight class after starting the year with a 5-2 record. Naiper finished fourth at last year’s national championships and was ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll.
• Seven of 10 weight classes have the same top-ranked grappler as the preseason poll.
• Since 2001, only Grand View (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16), former members Notre Dame (Ohio) (2010-11) and Lindenwood (2006-07) have spent the entire season ranked No. 1.
Poll Methodology
• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the six national qualifying groups.
• One day prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his geographic area into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a qualifying group ballot are considered for the national ballot.
• The top 16 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first place vote, 18 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
• The postseason poll was determined using the individual and team results from the national championship
2016-17 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – No. 1 (November 16, 2016)
|
Rank |
Previous Rank |
School |
Total Team Points |
|
1 |
1 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
165.5 |
|
2 |
2 |
Indiana Tech |
98 |
|
3 |
T5 |
Williams Baptist (Ark.) |
75.5 |
|
4 |
3 |
Oklahoma City |
65.5 |
|
5 |
12 |
Menlo (Calif.) |
64.5 |
|
6 |
7 |
Southern Oregon |
64 |
|
7 |
4 |
Montana State-Northern |
61.5 |
|
8 |
9 |
Life (Ga.) |
49.5 |
|
T9 |
8 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
48 |
|
T9 |
14 |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
48 |
|
11 |
10 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
42.5 |
|
12 |
15 |
Baker (Kan.) |
41 |
|
13 |
13 |
Missouri Valley |
40 |
|
14 |
19 |
York (Neb.) |
33 |
|
T15 |
RV |
Warner Pacific (Ore.) |
32 |
|
T15 |
RV |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
32 |
|
17 |
17 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
30.5 |
|
18 |
16 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
29.5 |
|
19 |
RV |
Morningside (Iowa) |
27 |
|
20 |
20 |
Simpson (Calif.) |
23 |
Dropped from the Top 20: Dickinson State (N.D.) (No. 5); Midland (Neb.) (No. 11); Briar Cliff (Iowa) (No. 18)
Others receiving votes: Lyon (Ark.) 22.5; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 21.5; Northwestern (Iowa) 21.5; Midland (Neb.) 20; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 18; Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 14.5; Southeastern (Fla.) 13.5; Great Falls (Mont.) 13.5; Doane (Neb.) 10.5; Hastings (Neb.) 9; Benedictine (Kan.) 6; Eastern Oregon 4.5; Bethany (Kan.) 3; Marian (Ind.) 2.5; Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 2.5; Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 2.5; William Penn (Iowa) 2; Bacone (Okla.) 1; Graceland (Iowa) 1.
| 125 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Mitch | Pawlak | Indiana Tech | 120 | Midwest | |
| 2nd | Troy | Lakin | Menlo (Calif.) | 104 | West | |
| 3rd | Da`Wayne | Robertson | Grand View (Iowa) | 100 | Central | |
| 4th | Casey | Coulter | Southern Oregon | 75 | West | |
| 5th | Sawyer | Miller | Indiana Tech | 70 | Midwest | |
| 6th | Oscar | Marin | York (Neb.) | 54.5 | South | |
| 7th | Devane | Dodgens | Life University | 46 | East | |
| T8th | Dustin | Miller | Lyon College | 29.5 | Midwest | |
| T8th | Matthew | Nguyen | Eastern Oregon University (OR) | 29.5 | West | |
| 10th | Austin | Boles | Northwestern (Iowa) | 27 | North | |
| 11th | Adrian | Camposano | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 26.5 | East | |
| 12th | Giovanni | Castillo | Concordia (Neb.) | 23 | North | |
| 13th | Zane | Baugh | Baker (Kan.) | 14 | Central | |
| 14th | John | Altieri | William Penn (Iowa) | 11.5 | Central | |
| 15th | Olson | Delisca | Southeastern | 8 | East | |
| T16th | Robert | Ozuna | York (Neb.) | 6 | South | |
| T16th | Mason | Naifeh | Oklahoma City | 6 | South | |
| 133 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Hunter | Genco | Grand View (Iowa) | 108 | Central | |
| 2nd | Brian | Ha | Menlo (Calif.) | 106 | West | |
| 3rd | Vincente | Hernandez | Simpson (Calif.) | 80 | West | |
| 4th | Sammy | Rosario | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 79 | East | |
| 5th | David | Berg | Midland (Neb.) | 70 | North | |
| 6th | Tyler | Dickman | Baker (Kan.) | 63.5 | Central | |
| 7th | Jake | Sinkovics | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 58 | East | |
| 8th | Michael | Andreano | Briar Cliff (Iowa) | 46.5 | North | |
| 9th | Erique | Early | Indiana Tech | 31 | Midwest | |
| 10th | Kodie | Cole | Concordia (Neb.) | 27.5 | North | |
| 11th | DeMarco | Speller | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 23 | South | |
| 12th | Ty | Kolterman | Bethany (Kan.) | 13 | South | |
| 13th | Devonte | Upshaw | Truett-McConnell (Ga.) | 12 | East | |
| 14th | Tanner | Irwin | Williams Baptist | 9.5 | Midwest | |
| T15th | Trey | Trujillo | Hastings (Neb.) | 6 | North | |
| T16th | Clinton | Garvin | Great Falls (Mont.) | 6 | West | |
| 141 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Matt | Weber | Montana State-Northern | 120 | West | |
| 2nd | Tyler | Fraley | Williams Baptist | 108 | Midwest | |
| 3rd | Steele | Escobedo | Menlo (Calif.) | 90 | West | |
| 4th | Sonny | Gulesian | Briar Cliff (Iowa) | 73 | North | |
| 5th | Josh | Wenger | Grand View (Iowa) | 71 | Central | |
| 6th | Tres | Leon | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 59 | East | |
| 7th | Andres | Gonzalez | Grand View (Iowa) | 53.5 | Central | |
| 8th | Matthew | Miller | Indiana Tech | 44.5 | Midwest | |
| 9th | Garrett | Webb | Life University | 23 | East | |
| 10th | Matt | Landgraff | Oklahoma City | 21 | South | |
| 11th | Christian | Mesa | Hastings (Neb.) | 20 | North | |
| 12th | dillon | scanlon | Benedictine College | 15.5 | Central | |
| 13th | Marcelo | Sierra | Lindenwood - Belleville (Ill.) | 15 | Midwest | |
| 14th | Devin | Poppen | Southern Oregon | 13 | West | |
| T15th | Abraham | Rodriguez | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 5 | South | |
| T15th | Shea | Swafford | Graceland University | 5 | Central | |
| 149 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Victor | Hughes | Baker (Kan.) | 120 | Central | |
| 2nd | Tyler | Cowger | Southern Oregon | 108 | West | |
| 3rd | Steven | Garcia | Morningside (Iowa) | 93 | North | |
| 4th | Dallas | Brown | Life University | 81 | East | |
| 5th | Anton | King | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | 70 | West | |
| 6th | Walker | Marshall | Grand View (Iowa) | 62 | Central | |
| 7th | Justin | Atkinson | Indiana Tech | 44.5 | Midwest | |
| 8th | Andrew | Hyde | Lyon College | 36.5 | Midwest | |
| 9th | Daniel | Leonard | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 28.5 | East | |
| T10th | Patrick | Grigsby | Williams Baptist | 22 | Midwest | |
| T10th | Drake | Randall | Montana State-Northern | 22 | West | |
| T12th | Foster | Bunce | Concordia (Neb.) | 15 | North | |
| T12th | James | Landoll | Oklahoma City | 15 | South | |
| T14th | Chris | Vaughan | Hastings (Neb.) | 9.5 | North | |
| T14th | Dane | Edwards | Baker (Kan.) | 9.5 | Central | |
| 16th | Andrew | Overstreet | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 6 | South | |
| 157 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Cam | Tessari | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 120 | East | |
| 2nd | Nathen | Pristavec | Brewton-Parker (GA) | 108 | East | |
| 3rd | Hunter | Hodges | Southern Oregon | 85 | West | |
| 4th | Tobias | Barnes | Missouri Valley | 84 | Central | |
| T5th | Kristian | Holguin-Mendez | Oklahoma City | 63 | South | |
| T5th | Tyler | Lashbrook | Morningside (Iowa) | 63 | North | |
| 7th | Zach | Revier | Williams Baptist | 57 | Midwest | |
| 8th | Tristan | Macri | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 38 | East | |
| 9th | Martin | Phillips | Doane College | 25 | North | |
| 10th | Jacob | Gross | Indiana Tech | 23 | Midwest | |
| 11th | Chandler | Michael | Southern Oregon | 20 | West | |
| 12th | Tyler | Mann | Benedictine College | 18.5 | Central | |
| 13th | Nate | Croley | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 15.5 | East | |
| 14th | Giovanny | Bonilla | Southeastern | 12 | East | |
| 15th | Skylar | Weber | Briar Cliff (Iowa) | 7.5 | North | |
| 16th | Jonathan | "Blackwell | Baker (Kan.) | 5.5 | Central | |
| 165 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Blake | Cooper | Warner Pacific | 120 | West | |
| 2nd | Grant | Henderson | Grand View (Iowa) | 108 | Central | |
| 3rd | Ricky | McCarty | Oklahoma City | 96 | South | |
| 4th | Ryan | Niven | Grand View (Iowa) | 65 | Central | |
| 5th | John | Weldon | Indiana Tech | 64 | Midwest | |
| 6th | Tim | Dinsdale | Southeastern | 51.5 | East | |
| 7th | Khaldoon | Rashid | Great Falls (Mont.) | 44.5 | West | |
| 8th | shawn | mcghee | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 43 | East | |
| 9th | Dalton | Tipton | Missouri Valley | 40 | Central | |
| 10th | Andrew | Bartel | Montana State-Northern | 28 | West | |
| 11th | Ryan | Whittle | Williams Baptist | 24.5 | Midwest | |
| 12th | Tommy | Bailey | Concordia (Neb.) | 23 | North | |
| 13th | Brett | Johnson | Marian University (IN) | 10.5 | Midwest | |
| 14th | Peter | Donchev | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 10 | East | |
| 15th | Kirk | Kaliszewski | Concordia (Neb.) | 6 | North | |
| 16th | Joseph | McAleavey | Bacone (Okla.) | 5 | South | |
| 174 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Lawton | Benna | Grand View (Iowa) | 120 | Central | |
| 2nd | Jose | Alvarez | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 108 | South | |
| 3rd | Sadarriss | Patterson | Missouri Valley | 88 | Central | |
| T4th | Tyler | Dibert | Williams Baptist | 75 | Midwest | |
| T4th | Andras | Lukacs-Farkas | Northwestern (Iowa) | 75 | North | |
| 6th | Nicholas | Meck | York (Neb.) | 50.5 | South | |
| 7th | justin | brown | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 48.5 | East | |
| 8th | Joseph | Jauregui | Menlo (Calif.) | 46 | West | |
| 9th | Dylan | Blackford | Grand View (Iowa) | 39 | Central | |
| 10th | Antonio | Rodriguez | Indiana Tech | 24.5 | Midwest | |
| 11th | Keion | McVay | Williams Baptist | 19.5 | Midwest | |
| 12th | Orlando | Nawade | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 16 | East | |
| 13th | Brenn | Schiess | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | 12 | West | |
| 14th | Brandon | Shuler | Northwestern (Iowa) | 9.5 | North | |
| T15th | Nick | Moore | Baker (Kan.) | 5 | Central | |
| T15th | LJ | Henderson | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 5 | East | |
| 184 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Michael | Naiper | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 112 | South | |
| 2nd | Matt | Walker | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 100 | East | |
| 3rd | Ben | Stroh | Montana State-Northern | 96.5 | West | |
| 4th | Jeffrey | Haley | Williams Baptist | 84 | Midwest | |
| 5th | Derek | Sivertsen | Oklahoma City | 72 | South | |
| 6th | charles | sharon | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 56.5 | East | |
| 7th | Kyle | Delaune | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 44.5 | East | |
| 8th | Jacob | Hill | Lyon College | 40 | Midwest | |
| 9th | Bryant | Guillen | Baker (Kan.) | 32 | Central | |
| 10th | Tyler | Noon | Menlo (Calif.) | 31.5 | West | |
| 11th | Dillon | Francisco | Indiana Tech | 23.5 | Midwest | |
| 12th | Kyle | Hoffman | Doane College | 14.5 | North | |
| 13th | Josh | Chiles | Williams Baptist | 14 | Midwest | |
| 14th | Nicholas | Whitehead | Missouri Valley | 13 | Central | |
| 15th | Max | Hane | Southern Oregon | 7 | West | |
| 16th | Logan | Moore | Morningside (Iowa) | 5 | North | |
| 197 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Dalton | Bailey | Life University | 118 | East | |
| 2nd | Ken | Burkhardt Jr | Concordia (Neb.) | 104 | North | |
| 3rd | Evan | Hansen | Grand View (Iowa) | 102 | Central | |
| 4th | Oscar | Martinez | Indiana Tech | 69 | Midwest | |
| 5th | Jack | Murphy | York (Neb.) | 60 | South | |
| 6th | Tanner | Fischer | Southern Oregon | 59 | West | |
| 7th | Johnathen | Dennis | Grand View (Iowa) | 44 | Central | |
| 8th | Ramsey | Bloy | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 40 | East | |
| 9th | John | Hensley | Great Falls (Mont.) | 28.5 | West | |
| 10th | Riley | Williams | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 23 | South | |
| 11th | Conor | Karwath | Williams Baptist | 20.5 | Midwest | |
| T12th | Chandler | Knight | Doane College | 19.5 | North | |
| T12th | Alexander | Reimers | Concordia (Neb.) | 19.5 | North | |
| 14th | Jeremiah | Gerl | Hastings (Neb.) | 10 | North | |
| T15th | Troy | Mercer | Lyon College | 9 | Midwest | |
| T15th | Luis | Rivera-Santiago | Northwestern (Iowa) | 9 | North | |
| 285 | ||||||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | School | Total Points | Group | |
| 1st | Dean | Broghammer | Grand View (Iowa) | 120 | Central | |
| 2nd | Taylor | Kornoely | Montana State-Northern | 108 | West | |
| 3rd | Korey | Walker | Oklahoma City | 93 | South | |
| 4th | Ceron | Francisco | Concordia (Neb.) | 76 | North | |
| 5th | Stephen | Wilbert | Warner Pacific | 64 | West | |
| 6th | Guy | Henson | Indiana Tech | 58 | Midwest | |
| 7th | James | Jones | Midland (Neb.) | 50.5 | North | |
| 8th | Austin | Lobsinger | Simpson (Calif.) | 42 | West | |
| 9th | Demetrius | Thomas | Williams Baptist | 36.5 | Midwest | |
| 10th | Jacob | Roza | Life University | 25 | East | |
| 11th | Justin | Smith | Missouri Valley | 21.5 | Central | |
| 12th | Bryson | McGowan | Oklahoma City | 17 | South | |
| 13th | Randall | Null | Northwestern (Iowa) | 12.5 | North | |
| 14th | Tommie | Turner | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 8.5 | East | |
| 15th | Javier | Gonzalez | Menlo (Calif.) | 7 | West | |
| 16th | Troy | Artiles | Missouri Valley | 5 | Central |
