NCAA Division II Wrestling Rankings

EDMOND (Oct. 27) – Central Oklahoma came in at No. 9 in the pre-season NCAA Division II wrestling poll released Monday by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.

The Bronchos of 33^rd-year head coach David James earned 87 points in balloting of head coaches from around the country and have two wrestlers in the individual rankings.

Chris Watson is No. 1 at 165 pounds after going 38-3 en route to a national runner-up finish last season, while Spencer Rutherford is ranked seventh at 149. Rutherford was a junior college All-American two years ago who redshirted last season.

Maryville (Mo.), which will serve as host institution for the 2014 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in St. Louis next March, earned the top ranking in the poll with five first-place votes and 151 points.

Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) is second with 142 points, while Nebraska-Kearney earned two first-place votes and came in third with 134 points. Defending national champion Notre Dame (Ohio) received the remaining first-place vote and is fourth with 122 points, one ahead of St. Cloud State (Minn.).

Rounding out the top 10 is McKendree (Ill.), Mercyhurst (Pa.), Western State (Colo.), Central Oklahoma and Lindenwood (Mo.).

Rank Team Points

1. Maryville (Mo.)                  151
2. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 142
3. Nebraska-Kearney 134
4. Notre Dame (Ohio) 122
5. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 121
6. McKendree (Ill.) 116
7. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 114
8. Western State (Colo.) 94
9. Central Oklahoma 87
10. Lindenwood (Mo.) 77
11. North Carolina-Pembroke 54
12. Central Missouri 53
13. Kutztown (Pa.) 52
14. Lake Erie (Ohio) 51
15. Augustana (S.D.) 45
16. Upper Iowa 44
17. Ashland (Ohio) 34
18. California Baptist 30
19. Newberry (S.C.) 29
20. Colorado Mesa 23

Others receiving votes: Adams State (Colo.), Findlay (Ohio), Fort Hays State (Kan.), Gannon (Pa.), Indianapolis (Ind.), Southwest Minnesota, Tiffin (Ohio), Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)

Individual Rankings

125 Pounds
1.         T.J. North, Augustana (S.D.)
2.         Matt Turek, Gannon (Pa.)
3.         Gerald Huff, Adams State (Colo.)
4.         Garrett Evans, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
5.         Josh Kieffer, Indianapolis (Ind.)
6.         Willie Bohince, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
7.         Tanner Johnshoy, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8.         Blake Bosch, Minnesota State-Moorhead

133 Pounds
1.         Daniel DeShazer, Nebraska-Kearney
2.         Michael Labry, Ashland (Ohio)
3.         Nate Rodriguez, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
4.         Zak Hale, Anderson (S.C.)
5.         Matt Paulus, Upper Iowa
6.         Zac Shank, Western State (Colo.)
7.         Ryan Bohince, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
8.         Martin Ramirez, Adams State (Colo.)

141 Pounds
1.         Daniel Ownbey, North Carolina-Pembroke
2.         Josh Myers, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
3.         Darick Lapaglia, Maryville (Mo.)
4.         Kyle Webb, Lindenwood (Mo.)
5.         Maurice Miller, Notre Dame (Ohio)
6.         Justin Keiffer, Indianapolis (Ind.)
7.         Jordan Roths, Upper Iowa
8.         Corbin Bennetts, Western State (Colo.)

149 Pounds
1.         Frank Cagnina, Central Missouri
2.         Jay Hildreth, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3.         Keenan Hagerty, Maryville (Mo.)
4.         Jeremy Landowski, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5.         Andrew Bannister, Notre Dame (Ohio)
6.         Brent Fickel, Ashland (Ohio)
7.         Spencer Rutherford, Central Oklahoma
8.         Colin Landowski, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)

157 Pounds
1.         Jonatan Rivera, Notre Dame (Ohio)
2.         Clint Poster, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3.         James Martinez, Colorado Mesa
4.         Derrick Weller, Lindenwood (Mo.)
5.         Brady Bersano, California Baptist
6.         John Crowley, Colorado School of Mines
7.         Josh Ballard, McKendree (Ill.)
8.         Chase White, Nebraska Kearney

165 Pounds
1.         Chris Watson, Central Oklahoma
2.         Nick Haferkamp, McKendree (Ill.)
3.         Dimitri Willis, Maryville (Mo.)
4.         Cody Quinn, Minnesota State-Mankato
5.         Gabe Fogarty, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6.         Ty Loethen, Central Missouri
7.         Bo Candelaria, Kutztown (Pa.)
8.         Matt Vandermeer, Lake Erie (Ohio)

174 Pounds
1.         Elliot Copeland, Western State (Colo.)
2.         Zeb Wahle, Maryville (Mo.)
3.         Jacob Begin, Southwest Minnesota
4.         August Mizia, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5.         Josh Rodriguez, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6.         Joe Pittman, Newberry (S.C.)
7.         Luis Alba, McKendree (Ill.)
8.         Clayton Jennissen, St. Cloud State (Minn.)

184 Pounds
],          Dallas Smith, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
2.         Nick Brughardt, Maryville (Mo.)
3.         Kyle Piatt, Western State (Colo.)
4.         Jared Holliday, Newberry (S.C.)
5.         Jon Inman, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
6.         Jon Vogt, McKendree (Ill.)
7.         Blake Sorenson, Upper Iowa
8.         Zack Zelcs, Gannon (Pa.)

197 Pounds
1.         Romero Cotton, Nebraska-Kearney
2.         Julian Smith, McKendree (Ill.)
3.         Evan Rosborough, Lake Erie (Ohio)
4.         Kenny Breauz, Lindenwood (Mo.)
5.         Sam Mangum, Western State (Colo.)
6.         Paco Petana, Colorado Mesa
7.         Jayd Docken, Augustana (S.D.)
8.         Andrew Reggi, San Francisco State (Calif.)

285 Pounds
1.         Ziad Haddad, Kutztown (Pa.)
2.         Donnell Walker, Maryville (Mo.)
3.         Austin Goergen, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
4.         Cole Wilson, Southwest Minnesota
5.         Logan Hopp, Upper Iowa
6.         Chris Giddens, North Carolina-Pembroke
7.         Peter Anguiano, Western State (Colo.)
8.         Andy Welton, Mercyhurst (Pa.)