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NCAA Division II Wrestling Rankings

February 18, 2009

EDMOND, Okla. -- Nebraska-Omaha kept its spot atop the NCAA Division II wrestling rankings, according to the poll that was released Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.

The Mavericks earned all eight first-place votes in balloting of coaches from around the country to finish with 160 points and remain No. 1.  UNO has been No. 1 in all six rankings this season and finished its dual season a perfect 13-0.

Newberry garnered 150 points and stayed No. 2, while Minnesota State-Mankato had 146 points to remain third.  Western State switched places with defending national champion Nebraska-Kearney and is fourth after beating the now-No. 5 Lopers in a dual last week.

Rounding out the top 10 is Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.), Central Oklahoma, Wisconsin-Parkside, Upper Iowa and St. Cloud State (Minn.)

The majority of teams have finished their dual schedules and are preparing for the four regional tournaments that will be held the weekend of May 28-March 1.  The top-four individual finishes from each weight at every regional advance to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, set for March 13-14 in Houston, Texas.

The top 20 poll, with points and the teams’ last ranking following by the top-eight rankings at each weight:

Rank  School (State) Points  Last Ranking
1. Nebraska-Omaha  160  1st
2. Newberry (S.C.) 150  2nd
3. Minnesota State-Mankato  146  3rd
4. Western State (Colo.) 133  5th
5. Nebraska-Kearney 130  4th
6. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 118  7th
7. Central Oklahoma 115  6th
8. Wisconsin-Parkside 101  8th
9. Upper Iowa  86  10th
10. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 85  12th
11. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 84  11th
12. Adams State (Colo.) 76  9th
13. Augustana (S.D.) 63  13th
14. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 37  19th
15. Chadron State (Neb.) 35  14th
16. Central Missouri 33  18th
17. Gannon (Pa.)  32  NR
18. Findlay (Ohio)  28  15th
19. Kutztown (Pa.)  24  16th
20. Ashland (Ohio)  16  17th

Others receiving votes: Anderson (S.C.), Minnesota State-Moorhead, San Francisco State (Calif.), Shippensburg (Pa.), West Liberty State. (W. Va.).

Individuals

125 Pounds
1. Curtis Schurkamp, San Francisco State
2. Arsenia Barksdale, Adams State (Colo.)
3. Matt Oliver, Newberry (S.C.)
4. Tim Elliott, Central Oklahoma
5. Eddie Lopez, Western State (Colo.)
6. Devlon Webb, Chadron State (Neb.)
7. Cody Zimmerman, Wisconsin-Parkside
8. C.J. Hamilton, Anderson (S.C.)
133 Pounds
1. Joe Kemmerer, Kutztown (Pa.)
2. Cody Garcia, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Shane Valko, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Marques Bravo, Western State (Colo.)
5. Trevor Franklin, Upper Iowa
6. Andrew Young, Newberry (S.C.)
7. Grant Baker, Central Missouri
8. Joey Morrison, Nebraska-Kearney
141 Pounds
1. Raymond Dunning, Adams State (Colo.)
2. John Putman, Minnesota State-Mankato
3. Mario Morgan, Nebraska-Omaha
4. James Annon, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
5. Colby Robinson, Central Oklahoma
6. Matt Irwin, Indianapolis (Ind.)
7. A.J. Milanak, Gannon (Pa.)
8. Jimmy Savala, Chadron State (Neb.)
149 Pounds
1. Craig Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside
2. Tommy Abbott, Minnesota State-Mankato
3. Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Ryan Etherton, Nebraska-Kearney
5. Latra Collick, Newberry (S.C.)
6. Luke Elmore, Central Oklahoma
7. Nick DiCarlo, Anderson (S.C.)
8. Mike Long, Augustana (S.D.)
157 Pounds
1. Todd Meneely, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Noomis Jones, Adams State (Colo.)
3. Chase Walker, Mesa State (Colo.)
4. Danny Grater, Fort Hay State (Kan.)
5. Mitch Smith, West Liberty State (W.Va.)
6. Travis Elg, Minnesota State-Mankato
7. John Sundgren, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Sean Byrnes, Newberry (S.C.)
165 Pounds
1. Josh Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
2. Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Taylor May, Nebraska-Kearney
4. Corey VanGroll, Wisconsin-Parkside
5, Mikey Morgan, Central Oklahoma
6. Tyler Tubbs, Minnesota State-Moorhead
7. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Andrew Hicklin, Central Missouri
174 Pounds
1. Ross Taplin, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Tommy McCarty, Central Oklahoma
3. Marty Usman, Nebraska-Kearney
4. Brett Hunter, Chadron State (Neb.)
5. Larry Wilbanks, Western State (Colo.)
6. Jesse Feinsod, New Mexico Highlands
7. Justin Ferguson, Ashland (Ohio)
8. Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa
184 Pounds
1. Brent Pankoke, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Brad Padgett, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
3. Hiram Smith, Findlay (Ohio)
4. Lucas Haag, Wisconsin-Parkside
5. Bryant Blanton, Newberry (S.C.)
6. Tyler Johnson, Southwest Minnesota
7. Nick Henning, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Tyler Gonzales, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
197 Pounds
1. Donavan McMahill, Western State (Colo.)
2. Josh Majerus, Chadron State (Neb.)
3. Josh Ohl, Ashland (Ohio)
4. Keeno Griffin, Newberry (S.C.)
5. Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
6. Pat Mahan, Minnesota State-Mankato
7. Ty Copsey, Augustana (S.D.)
8. Matt Farrell, Nebraska-Kearney
285 Pounds
1. Cy Wainwright, Newberry (S.C.)
2. Brady Wilson, Minnesota State-Mankato
3. Tony Lewis, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Dustin Finn, Central Oklahoma
5. Cody Beck, Central Missouri
6. Trey Moss, Limestone (S.C.)
7. Frank McGrath, Gannon (Pa.)
8. Charlie Alexander, Western State (Colo.)