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North Dakota State retains No. 1 Ranking in first poll; Three Bison hold top spots

12/12/03

EDMOND, OK--North Dakota State retained its No. 1 ranking in the first regular-season national poll issued by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association on Wednesday.

North Dakota State captured six of the eight first-place votes and kept the top spot by a slim four points over two-time defending NCAA champion Central Oklahoma.

The individual rankings show Bison wrestlers at eight of the 10 weight classes, including three No. 1 ratings. Paul Carlson is first at 157 pounds, Thad Pike is first at 174, and Brian Kraemer is first at 197.

North Dakota State was selected No. 1 in the preseason national poll conducted by the coaches, based on returning team points from last year's NCAA tournament. The Bison are also the preseason favorite for the North Central Conference championship.

NDSU travels Saturday to the 33rd annual St. Cloud State Invitational. The meet will begin at 9 a.m. in the South Fieldhouse at Halenback Hall.

NWCA DIVISION II POLL

(Issued December 10, 2003)

Points Preseason

1. North Dakota State (6) 158 1st

2. Central Oklahoma (2) 154 2nd

3. Nebraska-Omaha 139 4th

4. Pittsburgh-Johnstown 131 8th

5. Western State (CO) 128 7th

6. Ashland (OH) 118 T11th

7. Adams State (CO) 112 5th

T8. Nebraska-Kearney 97 10th

T8. Augustana (SD) 97 NR

10. Central Missouri State 87 13th

11. Findlay (OH) 84 3rd

12. Mercyhurst (PA) 70 T11th

13. Minnesota State-Mankato 55 NR

14. Fort Hays State (KS) 47 NR

15. South Dakota State 43 T17th

16. Gannon (PA) 36 NR

17. Wisconsin-Parkside 35 T14th

18. Chadron State (NE) 24 T19th

19. Shippensburg (PA) 19 NR

20. San Francisco State 15 T17th

 

Others receiving votes: Indianapolis, Minnesota State-Moorhead, North Carolina-Pembroke.

 

125 Pounds

1. Jared Haberman, Western State (CO)

2. Bryce Abbey, Nebraska-Kearney

3. Chris Saferite, Central Oklahoma

4. Aaron Graumann, Augustana (SD)

5. Drew Passley, Central Missouri State

6. Tony Iovine, Ashland (OH)

7. Will Craft, Indianapolis

8. Joey Bareng, San Francisco State

 

133 Pounds

1. Cole Province, Central Oklahoma

2. Thad Benton, Pittsburgh-Johnstown

3. Kortney Lake, Adams State (CO)

4. Mitch Waite, Nebraska-Omaha

5. Adam Keiswetter, Nebraska-Kearney

6. Donald Lockett, San Francisco State

7. Lucas Christianson, North Dakota State

8. Zach Meissner, Ashland (Ohio)

 

141 Pounds

1. Shane Barnes, Adams State (CO)

2. Merrick Meyer, Truman State (MO)

3. Brad Russell, Wisconsin-Parkside

4. Jason Nestor, Pittsburgh-Johnstown

5. R.C. LaHaye, Western State (CO)

6. Pacifico Garcia, San Francisco State

7. Joey Simcoe, Findlay (OH)

8. Math Bitz, North Dakota State

 

149 Pounds

1. Adrian Jiron, Western State (CO)

2. Mitch Napier, Indianapolis

3. Zach Stevens, North Dakota State

4. Luke Santos, San Francisco State

5. Jerod Goodwin, Central Oklahoma

6. Brad Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside

7. Ryan Wirtzberger, Ashland (OH)

8. Adam Morris, Findlay (OH)

 

157 Pounds

1. Paul Carlson, North Dakota State

2. Waylon Lowe, Findlay (OH)

3. Travis Koppenhafer, Adams State (CO)

4. Jack Quintana, Western State (CO)

5. Travis Peak, Chadron State (NE)

6. Dan Dempsey, Wisconsin-Parkside

7. Dugan Bentley, Ashland (OH)

8. George Lynaugh, Minnesota State-Mankato

 

165 Pounds

1. Shawn Silvis, Central Oklahoma

2. Michael Fiedler, North Dakota State

3. Tony Morgan, Carson-Newman (TN)

4. Derek Donelson, Indianapolis

5. J.D. Naig, Nebraska-Omaha

6. Aaron Dalton, Nebraska-Kearney

7. Mark Murphy, Shippensburg (PA)

8. Brock Mowry, Ashland (OH)

 

174 Pounds

1. Thad Pike, North Dakota State

2. Bob Edmonds, Nebraska-Omaha

3. Tom Bauer, Ashland (OH)

4. Jason Tapia, Central Oklahoma

5. John Burda, Pittsburgh-Johnstown

6. Aaron Meister, Fort Hays State (KS)

7. Careef Robertson, Anderson (SC)

8. Cameron Bretz, Western State (CO)

 

184 Pounds

1. Tom Meester, Augustana (SD)

2. Derek Brunson, North Carolina-Pembroke

3. Randy Pyle, Pittsburgh-Johnstown

4. Ben McAvinew, Mercyhurst (PA)

5. Jordan Nichols, Fort Hays State (KS)

6. Kris Klepacz, Findlay (OH)

7. Ben Holscher, Chadron State (NE)

8. Ryan Kopiasz, Minnesota State-Moorhead

 

197 Pounds

1. Brian Kraemer, North Dakota State

2. Jeff Rusher, Chadron State (NE)

3. Justin Mautz, Mercyhurst (PA)

4. Kevin Lochner, Central Oklahoma

5. Tim Boldt, South Dakota State

6. Jeff Sylvester, Nebraska-Kearney

7. D.C. Hazen, Central Washington

8. Howard Bell, Pittsburgh-Johnstown

 

Heavyweight

1. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha

2. Willie McCowan, Central Missouri State

3. Baron Blanchard, Northern State (SD)

4. Joe Bryce, North Dakota State

5. Andrew Ubben, Fort Hays State (KS)

6. Aldo Campea, Ashland (OH)

7. Evan Love, Indianapolis

8. Chris Bulley, West Liberty State (WV)