Seven Individuals Ranked in Top Eight With Rhoten Rated #1 at 157
Mankato, Minn. -- Coming off its championship effort at the 2008 Cliff Keen/NWCA Division II National Duals, Minnesota State is ranked #1 in this week’s NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association poll.
The Mavericks won the 16-team dual tournament Jan. 13 in Cedar Falls,
Iowa with a 19-17 victory in the championship match vs. long-time rival
Nebraska-Omaha and were a near-unanimous pick after receiving seven of
the eight first-place votes cast in finishing with 159 points.
The week’s ranking gives MSU’s its first-ever top billing in the poll.
The Mavericks were rated second last year on Feb. 9 and were rated
second on Dec. 6 of this season.
Seven Maverick individuals also received attention in today’s
announcement. Senior Jason Rhoten (Mantorville, Minn.) is rated #1 at
157. Sophomore heavyweight Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) is #2, as is
senior Nick Smith (Yankton, S.D.) at 125. Senior Andy Pickar (Brainerd,
Minn.) is fourth at 165. Freshman Tommy Abbott (Wilmington, Del.) is
fifth at 149 and sophomore Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) is fifth
at 141. Junior Tim Matheson (Circle Pines, Minn.) is rated eighth at
174.
Next action for the Mavericks is Jan. 26 at the Central Missouri Duals in Warrensburg, Mo.
2007-08 NWCA NCAA Division II Poll
Jan. 23, 2008 Rank Schoo,l Points, Pv Rk 1. Minnesota State (7) 159 4
2. Nebraska-Omaha (1) 153 2
3. Central Oklahoma 144 3
4. Nebraska-Kearney 136 1
5. Adams State (Colo.) 123 5
6. Western State (Colo.) 118 9 7. MSU-Moorhead 110 17
8. Pitt-Johnstown (Pa.) 109 6
9. Upper Iowa 96 7
10. Newberry (S.C.) 84 10
11. Ashland (Ohio) 66 8
12. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 65 16
13. Gannon (Pa.) 63 13
14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 59 11
15. Findlay (Ohio) 41 14 16. St. Cloud State 38 18
17. Chadron State (Neb.) 37 12
18. Limestone (S.C.) 31 19
19. Wisconsin-Parkside 24 15
20. Central Missouri 14 NR
Others receiving votes: Augustana (S.D.), Fort Hays State (Kan.).