Bears Move Up To 13th in Latest National Wrestling Rankings
Feb. 6, 2003
EDMOND, Okla.- Nebraska-Kearney is the unanimous pick as No. 1 team in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association rankings for the second straight time, according to the top-20 poll that was released Wednesday. The UNC Bears climbed three spots in the poll and are now the 13th ranked team in the country after a pair of dual victories.
The Antelopes, 10-1 on the year, received all eight first-place votes and had 160 points to stay atop the rankings. UNK took over the No. 1 spot from Central Oklahoma two weeks ago following their championship in the NWCA Division II National Duals.
UCO is second in the poll with 151 points and the Bronchos (14-1) go to Kearney, Neb. Thursday for a showdown with the top-rated Antelopes. North Dakota State is third in the rankings, followed by Nebraska-Omaha and Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
Rounding out the top 10 is Augustana (S.D.), San Francisco State (Calif.), South Dakota State, Ashland (Ohio) and Indianapolis (Ind.).
UNK has six ranked individuals, topped by No. 1 Brandon Pfizenmaier (157). UCO has three top-ranked individuals -- Mark Dodgen (125), Cole Province (133) and Matt Dodgen (141).
The 2003 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships are March 14-15 in Wheeling, W. Va.
The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association Top 20 poll with points and their last ranking (first-place votes in parenthesis):
Rank School (State) Pts Last Ranking 1. Nebraska-Kearney (8) 160 1st 2. Central Oklahoma 152 2nd 3. North Dakota State 142 7th 4. Nebraska-Omaha 134 3rd 5. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 130 6th 6. Augustana (S.D.) 119 4th 7. San Francisco State (Calif.) 115 5th 8. South Dakota State 103 8th 9. Ashland (Ohio) 89 9th 10. Indianapolis (Ind.) 88 12th 11. Minnesota State-Mankato 71 12th 12. Central Missouri State 68 13th 13. Northern Colorado 59 16th 14. Adams State (Colo.) 56 10th 15 Findlay (Ohio) 53 14th 16. Minnesota State-Moorhead 45 NR 17. Gannon (Pa.) 33 17th 18. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 17 15th 19. Northern State (S.D.) 16 NR 20. West Liberty State (W. Va.) 10 T-19thOthers Receiving Votes: Central Washington, Chadron State (Neb.), Colorado School of Mines, North Carolina-Pembroke, Wisconsin-Parkside.
125 Pounds
1. Mark Dodgen, Central Oklahoma
2. Jared Haberman, Western State (Colo.)
3. Joey Bareng, San Francisco State (Calif.)
4. Matt Strawser, North Dakota State
5. Drew Passley, Central Missouri State
6. Bryce Abbey, Nebraska-Kearney
7. Dan Hilario, Nebraska-Omaha
8. Aaron Graumann, Augustana (S.D.)
133 Pounds
1. Cole Province, Central Oklahoma
2. Tony Fratzke, Minnesota State-Mankato
3. Joey Simcoe, Findlay (Ohio)
4. Curry Pickard, North Carolina-Pembroke
5. Thad Benton, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
6. Adam Mars, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Adam Keiswetter, Nebraska-Kearney
8. Mitch Waite, Nebraska-Omaha
141 Pounds
1. Matt Dodgen, Central Oklahoma
2. R.C. LaHaye, Western State (Colo.)
3. Shane Barnes, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Gabe Re, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Roderick Ratcliff, Nebraska-Omaha
6. Ryan King, Augustana (S.D.)
7. Brad Russell, Wisconsin-Parkside
8. Jeremy Roe, South Dakota State
149 Pounds
1. Brandon Pfizenmaier, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Waylon Lowe, Findlay (Ohio)
3. Nate Peterson, Colorado Mines
4. Andy Messersmith, Adams State (Colo.)
5. Mitchell Napier, Indianapolis (Ind.)
6. Eric Pizzi, Central Missouri State
7. Jared Spry, Northern Colorado
8. Hannon Hisek, Minnesota State-Mankato
157 Pounds
1. Paul Carlson, North Dakota State
2. Travis Koppenhafer, Adams State (Colo.)
3. Cory Beckman, Minnesota State-Mankato
4. Brody Olson, Northern Colorado
5. Luke Main, West Liberty State (W. Va.)
6. Gary Skoch, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Dan Dempsey, Wisconsin-Parkside
8. Jared Cooley, Southwest State (Minn.)
165 Pounds
1. Matt Neumueller, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
2. Lucas Mackesy, Findlay (Ohio)
3. Shawn Silvis, Central Oklahoma
4. Tyler Bryant, South Dakota State
5. Josh McDonald, San Francisco State (Calif.)
6. Michael Fielder, North Dakota State
7. Jake Emerick, Minnesota State-Mankato
8. Greg Chiereileson, Colorado School of Mines
174 Pounds
1. Tom Meester, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Frank Kuchera, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Zach Stephens, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
4. Jason Tapia, Central Oklahoma
5. Bryan Cowdin, South Dakota State
6. Tom Bauer, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Randy Pyle, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
8. Jon Duncombe, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
184 Pounds
1. Tyler Jones, South Dakota State
2. Jeff Henning, Central Oklahoma
3. Mauricio Wright, San Francisco State (Calif.)
4. Zach Stalder, Nebraska-Omaha
5. Sam Kenton, Augustana (S.D.)
6. Franco Santiago, Central Washington
7. Greg Nurrenbern, Truman State (Mo.)
8. Jordan Nichols, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
197 Pounds
1. Chad Wallace, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Drew Dunbar, San Francisco State
3. Jason McMillan, Northern Colorado
4. Jeff Rusher, Chadron State (Neb.)
5. Tim Boldt, South Dakota State
6. Ryan Kirst, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Seth Shippy, Central Missouri State
8. Justin Mautz, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
Heavyweight
1. Lyneil Mitchell, Gannon (Pa.)
2. Tom Poe, West Liberty State (W. Va.)
3. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Dustin Darveaux, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
5. Barron Blanchard, Northern State (S.D.)
6. Evan Love, Indianapolis (Ind.)
7. Andrew Ubben, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
8. Bob Murphy, Nebraska-Kearney
