Saint Cloud State went 2-1 this past week at the Rangers Duals.
Here are the latest power rankings for Division II wrestling, with St. Cloud State holding down the fort at No. 1 for yet another week:
1 – St. Cloud State: It’s big news when the Huskies lose a dual meet. Entering the 2016-17 campaign, head coach Steve Costanzo’s group was 73-4 in duals since the start of the 2012-13 season. Entering last weekend’s Ranger Duals in Kenosha, Wisc., SCSU had won 18 straight dating back to Jan. 9 of last season when Notre Dame College bested the Huskies in the finals of the NWCA National Duals. After beating McKendree (Ill.) last Saturday, SCSU fell to Indianapolis, 22-17. With all the carnage the last three weeks in Division II, SCSU remains in the top spot entering Thursday’s dual against Minnesota State-Moorhead.
2 – Wisconsin-Parkside: A pin at 149 pounds was the difference in a 19-19 tiebreaker loss to Indianapolis at the Rangers Duals. The Rangers (6-2) picked up a victory over Findlay earlier in the day and host a big dual with Maryville (Mo.) this Saturday. Gregg Lewis’ team continues to be led by unbeaten Nick Becker (174) and Montrail Johnson (184).
3 – Nebraska-Kearney: UNK went 4-0 at the Midwest Duals in Kearney last Saturday, beating Adams State (Colo.), New Mexico Highlands, Colorado-Mesa and California Baptist by a combined 135-34. Dalton Jensen’s group is 12-4 and wrestles at Newman (Kan.) on Thursday and at undefeated Central Oklahoma on Friday.
UNK'S OCHS NAMED MIAA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK #miaawr https://t.co/BLWGUA22cN
— MIAA (@TheMIAA) January 16, 2017
4 – McKendree (Ill.): The Bearcats (9-3) dropped a dual to St. Cloud State (30-6) and edged Findlay 18-17 at the Ranger Duals. Findlay was deducted a team point and MU heavyweight Coltyn Pease’s 1-0 decision was the difference. The Bearcats face Maryville on Wednesday and UW-P on Jan. 24.
5 – Upper Iowa: UIU beat Minnesota State-Moorhead, 19-13, last Friday to improve to 7-2. The Peacocks, who wrestle at Southwest Minnesota State on Friday and at home against Northern State (S.D.) on Sunday, got overtime victories from Maleek Williams (125) and Nick Georgean (165) to edge Moorhead.
6 – Maryville: The Saints return to the mat for the first time since a 1-2 showing at the NWCA National Duals with a match against McKendree (Ill.) The dual will be the inaugural Great Lakes Valley Conference wrestling match. MU wrestles at UW-P on Saturday.
This Week in #GLVCwrestle - Jan. 16-22; First-ever GLVC action opens WED with @McKBearcats vs. @MaryvilleSaints. https://t.co/ZpCyEfNpll
— GLVC (@GLVCsports) January 16, 2017
7 – Notre Dame College: Like Maryville, NDC did not have a good showing at the National Duals. They rebounded with a 22-15 win over Ashland (Ohio) last Friday and square off with Lake Erie College (Ohio) this Friday.
T8 – Wheeling Jesuit: The karma is good at Wheeling Jesuit (W.V.) after a runner-up showing at the National Duals two weekends ago. Last Friday the Cardinals, trailing 19-15 to Lake Erie, got a first-period pin by heavyweight Maxwell Lacey to win 21-19. WJU (9-3) stumbled against Gannon (Pa.) the night before and face Mercyhurst (Pa.) this Friday.
T8 – Indianapolis: The Greyhounds have been up-and-down all season, maintaining an 8-5 dual mark. But UIndy knocked off Nos. 1 and 2 last weekend at the Ranger Duals, shocking St. Cloud State, then showing it was no fluke by taking down Wisconsin-Parkside. Three of the five losses are to Division I foes with the other two coming to Notre Dame College and Mercyhurst at the National Duals. The Greyhounds are at Findlay on Wednesday and at Truman State (Mo.) on Saturday.
Big day yesterday for UIndy wrestling, dealing No. 1 St. Cloud State its first loss in over a year: https://t.co/X7gGvK6fOQ. #MakeItYours pic.twitter.com/rDpYQNxeJd
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) January 15, 2017
Knocking on the door
Ashland, CSU-Pueblo, Northern State, California Baptist, Mercyhurst, Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Central Oklahoma
