EDMOND, Okla. -- Notre Dame (Ohio) maintained its hold on the top spot in the Division II poll that was released Friday by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.
The Falcons earned six first-place votes and finished with 158 points in balloting of head coaches from around the country to keep the No. 1 spot it earned in the pre-season rankings and the first regular season poll. Two-time defending national champion Nebraska-Kearney came in second with the two remaining first-place votes and 150 points, while Central Oklahoma is third with 146 points.
Newberry stayed fourth and St. Cloud State fifth, with Adams State, Kutztown, Indianapolis, Western State and Upper Iowa rounding out the top 10.
Notre Dame, Nebraska-Kearney and Central Oklahoma each have two top-ranked individuals -- 165-pounder Eric Burgey and 174-pounder Joey Davis for the Falcons, 133-pounder Daniel DeShazer and 197-pounder Romero Cotton for the Lopers and 149-pounder Jordan Basks and 157-pounder Cory Dauphin for the Bronchos.
Ten of the top-20 teams will compete in the 16-team NWCA Division II National Duals Jan. 11-12 in Des Moines, Iowa, including seven top-10 squads -- Notre Dame, Central Oklahoma, Newberry, St. Cloud State, Kutztown, Indianapolis and Upper Iowa.
