Preview of 2014 NWCA Division I National Duals

The following is a breakdown of the teams which have entered the 2014 NWCA Nationals Duals, which will take place Sunday and Monday (Feb. 16-17) in Columbus, Ohio. The team ratings are WIN’s Feb. 10 Team Dual Rankings.

First-Round Matchups — Feb. 16 (1 and 3 p.m.)

No. 1 Minnesota (10-1) has a first-round bye


The Gophers are coming off their biggest victory of the season; beating previously top-ranked Penn State, 18-17, last Sunday in Minneapolis. Coach J Robinson’s program, which has won the previous two NWCA National Duals, also defeated No. 3 Iowa, 19-15, on Jan. 25. The Gophers’ only team loss came Jan. 19 at Michigan, 19-14.

Nine Ranked Wrestlers: 133 — No. 8 David Thorn; 141 — No. 4 Chris Dardanes; 149 — No. 4 Nick Dardanes; 157 — No. 9 Dylan Ness; 165 — No. 16 Dan Zilverberg; 174 — No. 4 Logan Storley; 184 — No. 5 Kevin Steinhaus; 197 — No. 1 Scott Schiller; Hwt — No. 7 Anthony Nelson

Chattanooga (15-5) vs. No. 20 North Dakota State
 (8-4)

The unranked Mocs are undefeated (6-0) in the Southern Conference and also finished fifth at the Virginia Duals, Jan. 10-11, in Hampton, Va., where coach Heath Eslinger’s team won four of five matches.

Two ranked Chattanooga wrestlers: 125 — No. 13 Nick Soto; 165 — No. 8 Corey Mock

The Bison under coach Roger Kish have won seven of their last eight duals, including 3-0 against Western Wrestling Conference foes and 4-0 against Pac-12 teams, including a 19-17 win at Oregon State.

Two ranked North Dakota State wrestlers: 165 — No. 4 Steven Monk; 174 — No. 13 Hayden Zillmer

No. 19 Iowa State (7-4) vs. Kent State
 (10-9)

The Cyclones under Kevin Jackson won their first five duals, including a 20-15 victory at Old Dominion. Since then, the wins have come against Rutgers and Arizona State, while the losses came against Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Northern Iowa.

Three ranked Iowa State wrestlers: 165 — No. 13 Mike Moreno; 174 — No. 8 Tanner Weatherman; 197 — No. 2 Kyven Gadson

The Golden Flashes of coach Jim Andrassy nearly handed No. 4-ranked Northern Iowa its first loss of the season, but the Panthers ended up winning 19-18 based on one of the last criteria markers (59-58 total individual points scored). KSU got off to a slow start in dual competition, especially Nov. 10, when the Flashes lost three duals to Virginia Tech, Rider and Virginia. Among their wins was a 27-12 verdict over Bloomsburg at the Virginia Duals, where KSU went 2-2. Also, Sam Wheeler, who is ranked No. 10 at 184 pounds, was suspended by the school.

Four ranked Kent State wrestlers: 133 — No. 19 Mack McGuire; 141 — No. 11 Tyler Small; 149 — No. 19 Michael DePalma; 157 — No. 11 Ian Miller

No. 13 Ohio State (9-4) vs. Hofstra
 (6-7)

The Buckeyes of coach Tom Ryan — who coached at Hofstra (1995-2006) before taking the OSU job — are 4-4 in the Big Ten with wins over Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue and Michigan State. The losses were to Penn State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan. Earlier in the year, Ohio State finished third at the Las Vegas Invitational.

Seven ranked Ohio State wrestlers: 125 — No. 20 Nick Roberts; 133 — No. 10 Johnni DiJulius; 141 — No. 1 Logan Stieber; 149 — No. 15 Ian Paddock; 174 — No. 16 Mark Martin; 184 — No. 14 Kenny Courts; 197 — No. 6 Nick Heflin.

For the Pride of Long Island, N.Y., coach Rob Anspach is in his third year leading his alma mater, while the team is also competing in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) after leaving the now-defunct Colonial Athletic Association. On the season, the Pride opened with three straight losses, including setbacks to fellow National Duals teams, Bloomsburg, Chattanooga and Oklahoma.

Three ranked Hofstra wrestlers: 125 — No. 17 Jamie Franco; 141 — No. 10 Luke Vaith; 165 — No. 14 Joe Booth.

No. 11 Oklahoma (9-3) vs. Bloomsburg
 (8-6)

After opening the season with seven straight dual wins, including a victory over Bedlam-rival Oklahoma State on Dec. 1, the Sooners under coach Mark Cody have struggled the past five bouts: losing to Northern Iowa and Missouri (both at home) and at Oklahoma State last weekend.

Seven ranked Oklahoma wrestlers: 125 — No. 6 Jarrod Patterson; 133 — No. 7 Cody Brewer; 149 — No. 2 Kendric Maple; 157 — No. 20 Justin DeAngelis; 174 — No. 1 Andrew Howe; 197 — No. 5 Travis Rutt; Hwt — No. 20 Ross Larson.

Jason Mester, a former Central Michigan wrestler, is in his first year as Bloomsburg’s head coach and has led the Huskies to victories in four of their last five duals. That includes a 24-21 victory over Hofstra.

Four ranked Bloomsburg wrestlers: 149 — No. 18 Bryce Busler; 165 — No. 15 Josh Veltre; 197 — No. 7 Richard Perry; Hwt — No. 14 Justin Grant.

No. 17 Illinois (9-6) vs. Central Michigan
 (8-7)

The Illini of coach Jim Heffernan are 3-5 in the Big Ten with victories over Michigan State, Purdue and Northwestern. Against other teams in the National Duals, Illinois defeated Bloomsburg, 29-18, but lost to Cornell, 18-15.

Seven ranked Illinois wrestlers: 125 — No. 3 Jesse Delgado; 133 — No. 11 Zane Richards; 141 — No. 12 Steven Rodrigues; 149 — No. 17 Caleb Ervin; 157 — No. 15 Zac Brunson; 165 — No. 10 Jackson Morse; 197 — No. 10 Mario Gonzales

The Chippewas of coach Tom Borrelli are coming off a loss to Old Dominion, CMU’s third loss in the MAC this winter. But Central Michigan also recently defeated MAC-rival Kent State, 21-12, on Jan. 26.

Four ranked Central Michigan wrestlers: 133 — No. 12 Joe Roth; 141 — No. 8 Zach Horan; 157 — No. 19 Lucas Smith; 174 — No. 9 Mike Ottinger

No. 15 Virginia Tech (15-3) vs. Oregon State
 (9-6)

The Hokies of coach Kevin Dresser opened the season with seven straight wins, including over Kent State, Chattanooga and Edinboro. Against ACC teams, Tech is 4-2 with the losses coming against Virginia and Pittsburgh.

Three ranked Virginia Tech wrestlers: 149 — No. 16 Zach Neibert; 165 — No. 19 Chris Moon; 184 — No. 19 Nick Vetterlein

After opening the season with three dual victories, including 22-15 over Central Michigan, the Beavers of Jim Zalesky have struggled a bit; losing four matches by less than three points (against Boise State, 19-18, North Dakota State, 19-17, Oklahoma, 20-18, and Arizona State, 17-16).

Five ranked Oregon State wrestlers: 149 — No. 9 Scott Sakaguchi; 157 — No. 10 Roger Pena; 174 — No. 20 Joe Latham; 197 — No. 9 Taylor Meeks; Hwt — No. 15 Amarveer Dhesi

#4 Cornell (10-0) first-round bye

As one of two undefeated teams remaining in Division I, the Big Red under coach Rob Koll have been a bit of a surprise considering he lost two senior All-Americans from last year’s team: Kyle Dake and Steve Bosak. But with sophomore Nahshon Garrett taking over the top spot at 125 pounds, the Big Red recently won a 12^th straight Ivy League championship and also have dual wins over Maryland, Illinois and EIWA-rival Lehigh.

Seven ranked Cornell wrestlers: 125 — No. 1 Nahshon Garrett; 133 — No. 15 Mark Grey; 141 — No. 7 Mike Nevinger; 149 — No. 8 Chris Villalonga; 157 — No. 6 Brian Realbuto; 165 — No. 17 Dylan Palacio; 184 — No. 3 Gabe Dean

Consolations – 5 p.m.

• First-round losers meet.

Quarterfinals – 7 p.m.

• Minnesota vs. Chattanooga or North Dakota State

• Iowa State or Kent State vs. Ohio State or Hofstra

• Oklahoma or Bloomsburg vs. Illinois or Central Michigan

• Cornell vs. Virginia Tech or Oregon State

Monday, February 17


Semifinals & Consolations – 1 p.m.

Finals & Third Place – 4 p.m.