Can Notre Dame College win Div. II National Duals?

2014 NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals

Division II Preview

Last year’s Placement Duals:

Championship: St. Cloud State 17, Notre Dame 15

Third Place: Central Oklahoma 26, Wisconsin-Parkside 12

Fifth Place: Newberry 24, Upper Iowa 12

Seventh Place: Kutztown 19, Findlay 12

2014 Ranked Teams (Location/Record) – Including individual ranked wrestlers (As of Jan. 3)

1. Notre Dame (Solon, Ohio/4-1) — 133 Marty Carlson (6^th); 141 Maurice Miller, 4^th; 165 Eric Burgey, 1^st; 174 Joey Davis, 1^st; 197 Brandon Johnson, 3^rd; Hwt Orlando Scales, 2^nd.

Notes: This is the second year Notre Dame has competed on the Division II level since the program was created, with coach Frank Romano leading the program since its inception in 2006-2007. The Falcons spent the first four years competing in the NAIA. Once it decided it would move to Division II in 2011, it spent one year competing in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association before becoming eligible to compete in the NCAA Division II tournament last season. The Falcons’ only loss this season came against Division I Ohio State, 29-11 on Nov. 15.

3. Central Oklahoma (Edmond, Okla./2-0) — 133 Casy Rowell, 5^th; 149 Jordan Basks, 1^st; 157 Cory Dauphin, 1^st; 165 Chris Watson, 3^rd; Hwt Cody Dauphin, 3^rd.

Notes: Coach David James is in his 32^nd year at his alma mater of UCO — where he was once a two-time national champ and four-time All-American. After moving from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1989, the Bronchos have won the NCAA team title six times: 1992, ’93, ’94, ‘95, 2002, ’03. Jordan Basks, a former JUCO All-American from Labette, finished fifth in last year’s NCAAs. The Dauphin brothers (Cody is older) come from El Reno, Okla.

4. Newberry (S.C./7-0) — 125 Jeff Vesta, 3^rd; 141 B.J. Young, 5^th; 165 Blake Ridenour, 7^th; 197 Joe Grisko, 8^th; Hwt Matt Wade, 5^th.

Notes: Coach Jason Valek started the program seven years ago and has coached three individual national champions. The Wolves finished sixth as a team in the 2013 NCAAs, where Jeff Vesta claimed fourth and Blake Ridenour earned a sixth-place finish. B.J. Young was a national runner-up in 2011 and 2012.

5. St. Cloud State (Minn./5-0) — 133 Andy Pokorny, 2^nd; 141 Matt Nelson, 2^nd; 157 Clint Poster, 4^th; 165 Gabe Fogarty, 4^th.

Notes: Coach Jason Costanzo is in his eighth year as the Huskies’ coach — after spending five seasons at Dana College in the NAIA — and his current team will enter the National Duals with an NCAA record 52-dual winning streak. Andy Pokorny, a senior from Bennington, Neb., is a two-time national runner-up. Nelson, a sophomore, claimed fifth in his first nationals in 2013. Last year, the team finished second in the NCAAs.

7. Kutztown (Pa./3-1) — 133 Evan Yenolevich, 7^th; Hwt Ziad Haddad, 1^st.

Notes: The Golden Bears’ only loss this season came against Division I Maryland, 35-0, but also earned a 19-13 victory at then No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown. Coach Robert Fisher, who also serves as the women’s golf coach for this school, has led the wrestling team for 14 years. Last year, he sent four wrestlers to the nationals, including Haddad, who finished fourth.

8. Indianapolis (3-3) — 125 Alex Johns, 2^nd; 149 Cameryn Brady, 4^th.

Notes: Jason Warthan became the head coach of his alma mater five years ago and saw two of his wrestlers claim AA honors in 2013: Alex Johns was fifth while Cameryn Brady took home seventh.

12. Ouachita Baptist (Ark./3-4) — 125 Garrett Evans, 8^th; 184 Dallas Smith, 1^st.

Notes: Three of the Tigers duals this season were against NCAA Division I programs, including a season-opening victory against SIU-Edwardsville. This program started in 2010 under current coach Kevin Ward, a former Oklahoma State wrestler. National runner-up Dallas Smith became the school’s first NCAA finalist in 2013 as a sophomore.

15. Maryville (Mo./0-0) — No Ranked Wrestlers

Notes: This is Mike Denney’s third year at Maryville, which started its program in 2011, since he once led Nebraska-Omaha to seven NCAA team championships in 32 years before the program was dropped wrestling in 2011. Freshman Donnell Walker has enjoyed the most success for the Saints this winter by claiming titles in the Central Missouri and William Penn Open. The National Duals will be the Saints’ first dual competition of the season.

19. Lake Erie College (Painesville, Ohio/7-2) — 157 Zak Vargo, 2^nd; 165 Tyler Tesney, 6^th.

Notes: Coach Kevin Hoogenboom is in his third year with the Storm. Zak Vargo finished second to Central Oklahoma’s Cory Dauphin in last year’s NCAA final.

Non-Ranked Teams

• Colorado State Pueblo (1-0) — Hwt Niko Bogojevic, 7^th.

Notes: Coach Dax Charles is in his sixth year at the Thunderwolves’ helm. Bogojevic competed in last year’s nationals, but failed to place.

• Findlay (Ohio/0-0) — 174 Adam Walters, 2^nd.

Notes: Adam Walters finished fourth for the Oilers in last year’s NCAAs. Coach Shawn Nelson is in his 17^th year at the helm.

• Fort Hays State (Kansas/0-0) — 125 Adam Ludwin, 6^th; Hwt Trey Page, 4^th.

Notes: Chas Thompson became the school’s 13^th head coach five years ago and has seen six wrestlers earn AA honors.

• Minnesota State Mankato (2-0) — 165 Cody Quinn, 2^nd.

Notes: Cody Quinn (third place) earned All-American honors last March for coach Jim Makovsky — now in his 21st year at the helm — and earned the Gorriaran Award at the championship for recording the most falls in the shortest cumulative time.

• Wisconsin-Parkside (2-1) — 197 Davion Willis, 4^th.

Notes: The Rangers’ lone loss this winter came against NCAA Division I Wisconsin, 31-7. Coach Gregg Lewis is in his third year at the helm.