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March 4, 2002
St. Cloud, Minn. -- A trio of St. Cloud State University wrestlers will be working out this week in preparation for the upcoming 2002 NCAA Division II championships, which will be held on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 10 at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis.
The group of national-bound athletes from SCSU includes senior 184-pounder Nate Whiting (Alexandria), junior heavyweight Dustin Darveaux (Pipestone) and freshman 174-pounder Jon Duncombe (St. Michael-Albertville). The team is led this season once more by veteran coach Steve Grimit.
Whiting owns a 17-14 record this season and most recently qualified for nationals by placing fourth at the 2002 North Central Conference championships on Feb. 24. Whiting is making his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II championships.
Darveaux is a returning Division II All-American after finishing in seventh place at last year's national meet. He is currently ranked sixth in the latest NCAA polls, and also placed fourth at the NCC championships. He is 32-8 this season, and needs just one more match to join the Huskies' 100-Win Club. Of note, he has qualified for the NCAA meet for last two seasons.
The group is completed by first-year grappler Duncombe, who has posted an impressive 20-14 record this winter. He also placed fourth at this year's NCC championships to gain a bid to the NCAA meet. At present, Duncombe is ranked eighth in the NCAA polls.
The Huskies have gained All-America status 47 times at the NCAA Division II meet, including 30 All-America efforts since 1980.
In 2001, SCSU saw its wrestlers gain three All-America berths including a pair of fifth place finishes by Paul Arens at 174 and Luke Wren at 197.
As a team, SCSU placed 14th at the 2001 meet behind NCAA champions North Dakota State.
The NCC has fared well at the national level with league squads placing first (NDSU), second (SDSU), third (UNO), sixth (Mankato), 13th (Augustana), 14th (SCSU) and 17th (Northern Colorado) last year.;