Each week, NCAA.com presents the Division II Wrestling Power Rankings. Here are the top eight teams for Week 11:
1 ― Notre Dame College (Ohio): The Falcons stayed in state and hammered Ashland and Lake Erie College by a combined 69-11 to stay unbeaten this season. Four NDC starters are legitimate title contenders and at least four others are certainly top eight candidates for Frank Romano and Co. The 2014 national champions have West Liberty this Friday.
2 ― St. Cloud State: 88-7 was the combined score in wins over Northern State and Minnesota-Moorhead last week. There will most likely be two lopsided duals this weekend in North Dakota for SCSU (10-1).
3 ― Pittsburgh-Johnstown: Continuing a trend for the frontrunners, UPJ outscored Gannon and Seton Hill 78-8 last week. The Mountain Cats (11-1) host Wheeling Jesuit this Friday.
4 ― Wisconsin-Parkside: All that remains on the Rangers’ regular season schedule is two tournaments and a dual with DIII Wisconsin-Whitewater, meaning UWP will be fresh and ready to go for the postseason. Under the radar when the season started, there is a good chance head coach Gregg Lewis and the Rangers will play a role this March.
5 ― Maryville (Mo.): Getting healthy is priority one for head coach Mike Denney. Fourth at the National Duals and a loss to unranked Central Oklahoma last Friday has the Saints going in the wrong direction. MU will try and get by Fort Hays State (Kan.) this weekend.
6 ― Nebraska-Kearney: UNK (12-2) won its fifth straight dual last Saturday, beating Central Missouri two days after edging Fort Hays State. The Lopers host Newman (Kan.) this weekend and will see No. 10 Lindenwood (Mo.) Feb. 6 in Kearney.
7 ― Mercyhurst (Pa.): The Lakers outscored East Stroudsburg and Kutztown 69-19 in two duals last week. MU finishes with Gannon, Findlay, and Pittsburgh-Johnstown, a nice stretch before hosting the Super Region I Championships.
8 ― California Baptist: CBU whipped San Francisco State 35-3 and competes in the RMAC Championships in Colorado Springs this weekend. A good Colorado-Mesa squad visits Riverside on Feb. 5.
Knocking on the door
Augustana (S.D.), Upper Iowa, Minnesota State-Mankato, Lake Erie, Lindenwood (Mo.)
NOTEBOOK: Depleted Saints fall at UCO while most of DII elite roll
