Bears Climb to Seventh in Latest National Wrestling Poll
Feb. 20, 2003
EDMOND, Okla. - Defending national champion Central Oklahoma regained the No. 1 ranking in the final regular season NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association poll that was released Wednesday while the University of Northern Colorado Bears vaulted six spots up the poll to claim the number seven ranking.
The Bronchos, who finished the dual season 18-1, moved past previous No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney after a 21-13 win over the Antelopes on Feb. 6. UCO received all eight first-place votes to finish with 160 points in the poll, while UNK fell to fourth after losing to UCO and Nebraska-Omaha.
North Dakota State is second in the poll with 152 points, followed by UNO, UNK and Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.).
Rounding out the top 10 is San Francisco State (Calif.), Northern Colorado, Augustana (S.D.), Indianapolis (Ind.) and Ashland (Ohio).
UCO has two top-ranked individuals -- Mark Dodgen (125) and Cole Province (133) -- and four others in the top four. NDSU is led by No. 1 Paul Carlson (157), while UNO has Chad Wallace (197) and Les Sigman (heavyweight) atop the individual rankings.
Regional qualifying tournaments for Division II will be held the weekend of March 1-2, with the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships set for 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) Points Last Ranking 1. Central Oklahoma (8) 160 2nd 2. North Dakota State 149 3rd 3. Nebraska-Omaha 141 4th 4. Nebraska-Kearney 137 1st 5. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 132 5th 6. San Francisco St. (Calif.) 116 7th 7. Northern Colorado 99 13th 8. Augustana (S.D.) 98 6th 9. Indianapolis (Ind.) 93 10th 10. Ashland (Ohio) 90 9th 11. Adams State (Colo.) 80 14th 12. Minnesota State-Mankato 70 11th 13. Central Missouri State 67 12th 14. South Dakota State 60 8th T15. Findlay (Ohio) 46 15th T15. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 46 18th 17. Minnesota State-Moorhead 37 16th 18. Gannon (Pa.) 25 17th 19. Northern State (S.D.) 14 19th 20. Chadron State (Neb.) 10 NROthers Receiving Votes: Central Washington, North Carolina-Pembroke, Wisconsin-Parkside.
NCAA DIVISION II INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
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. Curry Pickard, North Carolina-Pembroke
4. Thad Benton, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
5. Joey Simcoe, Findlay (Ohio)
6. Adam Mars, Adams State (Colo.)
7. Mitch Waite, Nebraska-Omaha
8. Adam Keiswetter, Nebraska-Kearney
141 Pounds
1. R.C. LaHaye, Western State (Colo.)
2. Shane Barnes, Adams State (Colo.)
3. Matt Dodgen, Central Oklahoma
4. Merrick Meyer, Truman State (Mo.)
5. Rodrick Ratcliff, Nebraska-Omaha
6. Gabe Re, Nebraska-Kearney
7. Ryan King, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Brad Russell, Wisconsin-Parkside
149 Pounds
1. Brandon Pfizenmaier, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Waylon Lowe, Findlay (Ohio)
3. Andy Messersmith, Adams State (Colo.)
4. Mitch Napier, Indianapolis (Ind.)
5. Loren Hutchins, Northern Colorado
6. Eric Pizzi, Central Missouri State
7. Austin Scarset, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Nate Peterson, Colorado School of Mines
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. Lucas Mackesy, Findlay (Ohio)
2. Shawn Silvis, Central Oklahoma
3. Jake Emerick, Minnesota State-Mankato
4. Tyler Bryant, South Dakota State
5. Matt Neumueller, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
6. Josh McDonald, San Francisco State (Calif.)
7. Michael Fielder, North Dakota State
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. Tom Bauer, Ashland (Ohio)
6. Randy Pyle, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Jon Duncombe, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Bryan Cowdin, South Dakota State
184 Pounds
1. Tyler Jones, South Dakota State
2. Mauricio Wright, San Francisco State (Calif.)
3. Zach Stalder, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Jeff Henning, Central Oklahoma
5. Franco Santiago, Central Washington
6. Mark Dubrovich, Colorado School of Mines
7. Sam Kenton, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Jordan Nichols, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
197 Pounds
1. Chad Wallace, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Drew Dunbar, San Francisco State
3. Jeff Rusher, Chadron State (Neb.)
4. Jason McMillan, Northern Colorado
5. Tim Boldt, South Dakota State
6. Ryan Kirst, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Seth Shippy, Central Missouri State
8. Ben Kuntz, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
Heavyweight
1. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Dustin Darveaux, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. Howard Bell, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Lyneil Mitchell, Gannon (Pa.)
5. Barron Blanchard, Northern State (S.D.)
6. Andrew Ubben, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
7. Aldo Campea, Ashland (Ohio)
8. Plamen Paskalev, Central Missouri State
