NCAA DIVISION II
WRESTLING RANKINGS
Wednesday, Jan. 12 (For Immediate Release)


EDMOND, Okla. -- Defending champion Nebraska-Omaha retained its unanimous
position atop the NCAA Division II wrestling rankings and will be the
favorite in the NWCA Division II National Duals set for next week, according
to the poll released Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’
Association.

The Mavericks received all eight first-place votes and finished with 160
points to stay in front of second-place Augustana (S.D.), which garnered 148
points. Ashland (Ohio) moved from fifth to third in the rankings, followed
by Nebraska-Kearney and Mercyhurst (Pa.).

Rounding out the top 10 was Central Oklahoma, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.),
Minnesota State-Mankato, San Francisco State (Calif.) and Findlay (Ohio).

Nebraska-Omaha, which will host the 2005 national tournament on March 11-12,
2005, has three top-ranked individuals in Dustin Tovar (125), J.D. Naig
(165) and Les Sigman (285).

Fourteen of the top 20 teams will compete in the NWCA Division II National
Duals, set for Jan. 21-22 in Cleveland, Ohio. The 16-team field is made up
of the entire top 10 in addition to No. 12 Shippensburg (Pa.), No. 13
Wisconsin-Parkside, No. 15 North Carolina-Pembroke, No. 17 Central Missouri
State and unranked Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and Gannon (Pa.).

The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association Top 20 poll with points
and their previous rank:

Rank School (State) Points Last Ranking
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. Augustana (S.D.) 148 2nd
3. Ashland (Ohio) 141 5th
4. Nebraska-Kearney 140 3rd
5. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 122 8th
6. Central Oklahoma 115 6th
7. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 110 5th
8. Minnesota State-Mankato 106 7th
9. San Francisco State (Calif.) 97 9th
10. Findlay (Ohio) 89 12th
11. Adams State (Colo. 78 13th
12. Shippensburg (Pa.) 63 10th
13. Wisconsin-Parkside 54 15th
14. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 49 11th
15. North Carolina-Pembrok 45 16th
16. Western State (Colo.) 44 14th
17. Central Missouri State 30 17th
18. West Liberty State (W.Va.) 29 20th
19. Minnesota State-Moorhead 18 19th
20. Truman State (Mo.) 13 18th

Others receiving votes: Carson-Newman (Tenn.), Colorado School of Mines,
Kutztown (Pa.), Minnesota State-Moorhead, Northern State (S.D.).

NCAA DIVISION II
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
125 Pounds
1. Dustin Tovar, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Bryce Abbey, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Jamie Thomas, Shippensburg (Pa.)
4. Aaron Graumann, Augustana (S.D.)
5. James Phillips, Ashland (Ohio)
6. Ricky Randazzo, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
7. Chonci Houston, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
8. Ryon Mazzocco, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)

133 Pounds
1. Adam Keiswetter, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Mitch Waite, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Curry Pickard, North Carolina-Pembroke
4. Shane Perkey, Indianapolis (Ind.)
5. Andy Uhl, Findlay (Ohio)
6. Zach Meissner, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Jared Henning, Central Oklahoma
8. Joe Makara, Pittsburgh-Johnstown

141 Pounds
1. Merrick Meyer, Truman State (Mo.)
2. Donald Lockett, San Francisco State (Calif.)
3. Kortney Lake, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Eli Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
5. Matt True, Nebraska-Kearney
6. R.C. LaHaye, Western State (Colo.)
7. Wade Bramlitt, Central Oklahoma
8. Thad Benton, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)

149 Pounds
1. Ryan King, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Patrick Allibone, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Jason Rhoten, Minnesota State-Mankato
4. Zack Leathers, Shippensburg (Pa.)
5. Ryan Ickes, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
6. Pacifico Garcia, San Francisco State (Calif.)
7. Nathan Pilcher, Colorado School of Mines
8. R.J. Paterniti, Gannon (Pa.)

157 Pounds
1. Mitch Napier, Indianapolis (Ind.)
2. Luke Main, West Liberty State (W.Va.)
3. Chas DeVetter, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Angelo Vettese, Findlay (Ohio)
5. Gary Skoch, Ashland (Ohio)
6. Josh Jansen, Minnesota State-Moorhead
7. David Nordhues, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
8. Austin Scarset, Augustana (S.D.)

165 Pounds
1. J.D. Naig, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Dwayne Coward, North Carolina-Pembroke
3. Mark Glova, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Zachary Schafer, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Aaron Dalton, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Cody Henriksen, Augustana (S.D.)
7. Cort Petersen, Central Oklahoma
8. A.J. Morgan, Wisconsin-Parkside

174 Pounds
1. Tom Bauer, Ashland (Ohio)
2. Travis Krinke, Minnesota State-Mankato
3. Dusty Wilking, Augustana (S.D.)
4. Careef Robertson, Anderson (S.C.)
5. Jason Radtke, Gannon (Pa.)
6. Nathan Jones, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
7. Tommy Clark, West Liberty State (W.Va.)
8. Matt Trout, Western State (Colo.)

184 Pounds
1. Tom Meester, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Bryan Tapley, Central Oklahoma
3. Ben McAvinew, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
4. Kris Klepacz, Findlay (Ohio)
5. Brett Wade, Kutztown (Pa.)
6. Nate Oviatt, Nebraska-Omaha
7. John Koons, Minnesota State-Mankato
8. Caleb Young, Nebraska-Kearney

197 Pounds
1. Jeff Sylvester, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Kevin Lochner, Central Oklahoma
3. Howard Bell, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Tim Boldt, Augustana (S.D.)
5. Josh Janousek, Minnesota State-Mankato
6. Corey Jacoby, Shippensburg (Pa.)
7. Ryan Kirst, Ashland (Ohio)
8. Justin Mautz, Mercyhurst (Pa.)

285 Pounds
1. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Aldo Campea, Ashland (Ohio)
3. Matt Meyer, Wisconsin-Parkside
4. Josh LeadingFox, Central Oklahoma
5. Tervel Dlagnev, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Derek Thompson, Colorado School of Mines
7. Zach Majocha, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
8. Mike Engleman, Minnesota State-Mankato

ion II wrestling rankings in the first regular season poll that was released Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association.
The Mavericks were a unanimous No. 1 pick, receiving all eight first-place votes and finishing with 160 points to easily outdistance second-place Augustana (S.D.). Nebraska-Kearney was third in the voting, with Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) fourth and Ashland (Ohio) jumping from 11th to fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 was Central Oklahoma, Minnesota State-Mankato, Mercyhurst (Pa.), San Francisco State (Calif.) and Shippensburg (Pa.).
Nebraska-Omaha, which will host the 2005 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on March 11-12, 2005, has six individuals ranked in the top two -- No. 1s Dustin Tovar (125), J.D. Naig (165) and Les Sigman (285) and No. 2s Mitch Waite (133), Eli Dominguez (141) and Patrick Allibone (149).
Augustana is led by top-ranked Ryan King (149) and Tom Meester (184), while Nebraska-Kearney also has two No. 1s in Adam Keiswetter (133) and Jeff Sylvester (197).
The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association Top 20 poll with points and their preseason rank:

Rank School (State) Points Previous Rank
1. Nebraska-Omaha 160 1st
2. Augustana (S.D.) 151 2nd
3. Nebraska-Kearney 144 3rd
4. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 135 T-5th
5. Ashland (Ohio) 124 T-11th
6. Central Oklahoma 116 8th
7. Minnesota State-Mankato 103 9th
8. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 96 T-11th
9. San Francisco State (Calif.) 86 10th
10. Shippensburg (Pa.) 83 4th
11. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 76 T-5th
12. Findlay (Ohio) 74 13th
13. Adams State (Colo. 66 T-16th
14. Western State (Colo.) 57 T-16th
15. Wisconsin-Parkside 55 18th
16. North Carolina-Pembrok 45 T-14th
17. Central Missouri State 33 NR
18. Truman State (Mo.) 22 7th
19. Southwest Minnesota 20 NR
20. West Liberty State (W.Va.) 16 T-14th
Others receiving votes: Carson-Newman (Tenn.), Colorado School of Mines, Kutztown (Pa.), Minnesota State-Moorhead, Northern State (S.D.)

NCAA DIVISION II
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
125 Pounds
1. Dustin Tovar, Nebraska-Omaha (1st)
2. Bryce Abbey, Nebraska-Kearney (2nd)
3. Jamie Thomas, Shippensburg (Pa.) (3rd)
4. Aaron Graumann, Augustana (S.D.) (5th)
5. James Phillips, Ashland (Ohio) (6th)
6. Ricky Randazzo, Mercyhurst (Pa.) (4th)
7. Chonci Houston, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (7th)
8. Ryon Mazzocco, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (8th)

133 Pounds
1. Adam Keiswetter, Nebraska-Kearney (2nd)
2. Mitch Waite, Nebraska-Omaha (3rd)
3. Andy Uhl, Findlay (Ohio) (4th)
4. Curry Pickard, North Carolina-Pembroke (5th)
5. Zach Meissner, Ashland (Ohio) (6th)
6. Jared Henning, Central Oklahoma (NR)
7. Joe Makara, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (NR)
8. Justin Bohlke, Augustana (S.D.) (NR)

141 Pounds
1. Merrick Meyer, Truman State (Mo.) (1st)
2. Eli Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha (2nd)
3. Donald Lockett, San Francisco State (Calif.) (1st-133)
4. R.C. LaHaye, Western State (Colo.) (3rd)
5. Kortney Lake, Adams State (Colo.) (5th)
6. Wade Bramlitt, Central Oklahoma (4th)
7. Thad Benton, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (7th)
8. Andre Vander Velde, Augustana (S.D.) (NR)

149 Pounds
1. Ryan King, Augustana (S.D.) (2nd)
2. Patrick Allibone, Nebraska-Omaha (1st)
3. Jason Rhoten, Minnesota State-Mankato (4th)
4. Zack Leathers, Shippensburg (Pa.) (5th)
5. Ryan Ickes, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (3rd)
6. Pacifico Garcia, San Francisco State (Calif.) (NR)
7. Nathan Pilcher, Colorado School of Mines (NR)
8. R.J. Paterniti, Gannon (Pa.) (8th)

157 Pounds
1. Luke Main, West Liberty State (W.Va.) (1st)
2. Gary Skoch, Ashland (Ohio) (4th)
3. Mitch Napier, Indianapolis (Ind.) (5th)
4. Chas DeVetter, Nebraska-Omaha (7th)
5. Shawn Plumley, Southwest Minnesota (NR)
6. Matt Roncolato, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (6th)
7. Josh Jansen, Minnesota State-Moorhead (2nd)
8. Angelo Vettese, Findlay (Ohio) (6th-149)

165 Pounds
1. J.D. Naig, Nebraska-Omaha (1st)
2. Dwayne Coward, North Carolina-Pembroke (2nd)
3. Mark Glova, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (3rd)
4. Zachary Schafer, Mercyhurst (Pa.) (4th)
5. Aaron Dalton, Nebraska-Kearney (5th)
6. Cody Henriksen, Augustana (S.D.) (8th)
7. Cort Petersen, Central Oklahoma (NR)
8. Eric Lakia, Ashland (Ohio) (NR)

174 Pounds
1. Tom Bauer, Ashland (Ohio) (3rd)
2. Dusty Wilking, Augustana (S.D.) (2nd)
3. Travis Krinke, Minnesota State-Mankato (4th)
4. Careef Robertson, Anderson (S.C.) (6th)
5. Jason Radtke, Gannon (Pa.) (5th)
6. Andy Sinclair, Northern State (S.D.) (7th)
7. Nathan Jones, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (7th-165)
8. Tommy Clark, West Liberty State (W.Va.) (NR)

184 Pounds
1. Tom Meester, Augustana (S.D.) (1st)
2. Bryan Tapley, Central Oklahoma (4th)
3. Kris Klepacz, Findlay (Ohio) (5th)
4. Ben McAvinew, Mercyhurst (Pa.) (6th)
5. Kevin Grece, Central Missouri State (7th)
6. Brett Wade, Kutztown (Pa.) (8th)
7. Nate Oviatt, Nebraska-Omaha (NR)
8. John Koons, Minnesota State-Mankato (NR)

197 Pounds
1. Jeff Sylvester, Nebraska-Kearney (1st)
2. Kevin Lochner, Central Oklahoma (2nd)
3. Howard Bell, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (3rd)
4. Tim Boldt, Augustana (S.D.) (8th)
5. Josh Janousek, Minnesota State-Mankato (5th)
6. Corey Jacoby, Shippensburg (Pa.) (2nd-184)
7. Ryan Kirst, Ashland (Ohio) (NR)
8. Justin Mautz, Mercyhurst (Pa.) (4th)

Heavyweight
1. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha (1st)
2. Aldo Campea, Ashland (Ohio) (3rd)
3. Matt Meyer, Wisconsin-Parkside (4th)
4. Josh LeadingFox, Central Oklahoma (NR)
5. Tervel Dlagnev, Nebraska-Kearney (NR)
6. Derek Thompson, Colorado School of Mines (5th)
7. Zach Majocha, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) (NR)
8. Daren Murphy, San Francisco State (7th)