2008-09 Wrestling Coaches Association Pre-Season Rankings

NCAA DivisionII Wrestling Rankings

Contact: Mike Kirk Office Phone: (405) 974-2142 E-mail: mkirk@uco.edu
Monday, Oct. 27 (For Immediate Release)

EDMOND, Okla. -- Nebraska-Omaha has been tabbed the favorite to win the 2009 NCAA Division II national wrestling championship, according to the preseason poll released Monday by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.

The Mavericks of long-time head coach Mike Denney, who won three straight titles from 2004-06 and were third last year, earned six first-place votes in finishing with 158 points to top the poll.

Minnesota State-Mankato received the other two first-place votes in balloting of coaches from around the country and is second with 149 points as the Mavericks look to improve on last year's runner-up finish.

Defending champion Nebraska-Kearney, which edged Mankato by a mere half-point for last year's title, is third in the rankings with 144 points, followed by Adams State (136 points) and Western State (126).

Rounding out the top 10 is six-time Division II champion Central Oklahoma, Newberry, Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Chadron State and Upper Iowa.

The 2009 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships are set for March 13-14 in Houston, Texas.

The top 20 poll, with points and last year's national tournament finish:

Rank School (State) Points Last Year's Finish

1. Nebraska-Omaha (6) 158 3rd
2. Minnesota State-Mankato (2) 149 2nd
3. Nebraska-Kearney 144 1st
4. Adams State (Colo.) 136 5th
5. Western State (Colo.) 126 7th
6. Central Oklahoma 121 6th
7. Newberry (S.C.) 106 8th
8. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 93 4th
9. Chadron State (Neb.) 91 T-9th
10. Upper Iowa 86 14th
11. Ashland (Ohio) 71 11th
12. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 70 12th
13. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 68 T-9th
14. Augustana (S.D.) 46 T17th
15. Limestone (S.C.) 40 15th
16. Findlay (Ohio) 22 13th
T17. Gannon (Pa.) 18 26th
T17. Minnesota State-Moorhead 18 27th
T17. Truman State (Mo.) 18 T20th
20. Shippensburg (Pa.) 15 16th

Others receiving votes: Central Missouri, Fort Hays State (Kan.), Indianapolis (Ind.), Kutztown (Pa.), North Carolina-Pembroke, San Francisco State (Calif.), West Liberty State (W.Va.), Wisconsin-Parkside.

NCAA DivisionII Individual Rankings

125 Pounds
1. Curtis Schurkamp, San Francisco State
2. Arsenia Barksdale, Adams State (Colo.)
3. Devlon Webb, Chadron State (Neb.)
4. Tyler Mumbalo, Upper Iowa
5. Eddie Lopez, Western State (Colo.)
6. Cody Zimmerman, Wisconsin-Parkside
7. Matt Oliver, Newberry (S.C.)
8. Isaac Wall, Newman (Kan.)

133 Pounds
1. Joe Kemmerer, Kutztown (Pa.)
2. Cody Garcia, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Raymond Dunning, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Tim Elliott, Central Oklahoma
5. John Putnam, Minnesota State-Mankato
6. Shane Valko, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Andrew Young, Newberry (S.C.)
8. Jesse Cruz, Western State (Colo.)

141 Pounds
1. Steven Fittery, Shippensburg (Pa.)
2. James Annon, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
3. Travis Elg, Minnesota State-Mankato
4. Doug Surra, West Liberty State (W. Va.)
5. Tony Washington, Newberry (S.C.)
6. Josh Hensley, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Josh Falk, Findlay (Ohio)
8. Mario Morgan, Nebraska-Omaha

149 Pounds
1. Mike Rogers, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
2. Ryan Etherton, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Joey Deaguero, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Tommy Abbott, Minnesota State-Mankato
5. Colby Robinson, Central Oklahoma
6. Mike Long, Augustana (S.D.)
7. Brian Pogel, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha

157 Pounds
1. Travis Eggers, Upper Iowa
2. Noomis Jones, Adams State (Colo.)
3. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Andy Lamancusa, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Keenan McCurdy, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Kyle Francis, Western State (Colo.)
7. Danny Grater, Fort Hay State (Kan.)
8. David Zeek, Kutztown (Pa.)

165 Pounds
1. Blake Peterson, Truman State (Mo.)
2. Kyle Keane, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
3. Josh Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
4. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
5. Taylor May, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa
7. Corey VanGroll, Wisconsin-Parkside
8. Justin Shannon, Findlay (Ohio)

174 Pounds
1. Ross Taplin, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Marty Usman, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Tyler Tubbs, Minnesota State-Moorhead
4. Jesse Feinsod, New Mexico Highlands
5. Brett Hunter, Chadron State (Neb.)
6. Larry Wilbanks, Western State (Colo.)
7. Tim Matheson, Minnesota State-Mankato
8. Bryant Blanton, Newberry (S.C.)

184 Pounds
1. Dan Scanlan, Limestone (S.C.)
2. Austin Boehm, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Brad Padgett, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4. Hiram Smith, Findlay (Ohio)
5. Justin Ferguson, Ashland (Ohio)
6. Keeno Griffin, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Tyler Gonzales, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
8. Paul Sutton, Nebraska-Kearney

197 Pounds
1. Josh Majerus, Chadron State (Neb.)
2. Donavan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
3. Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
5. Josh Ohl, Ashland (Ohio)
6. Derek Ross, Nebraska-Kearney
7. Trevor Gallo, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8. Josh Fansler, Newman (Kan.)

285 Pounds
1. Dustin Finn, Central Oklahoma
2. Cy Wainwright, Newberry (S.C.)
3. Brady Wilson, Minnesota State-Mankato
4. Travis Clark, Findlay (Ohio)
5. Tony Lewis, Nebraska-Omaha
6. Trey Moss, Limestone (S.C.)
7. Lynn Panko, Indianapolis (Ind.)
8. Cody Beck, Central Missouri