MANHEIM, Pa. - Heading into the 2024 postseason, the Central Oklahoma Bronchos are still the top team in NCAA Division II men's wrestling, according to the latest edition of the National Wrestling Coaches Association DII Men's poll, released Monday afternoon.
UCO topped the poll with 87 total points behind a poll-high eight ranked wrestlers. The Bronchos, along with #2 Lander, also feature a poll-high two top-ranked wrestlers in defending National Champions Dalton Abney at 197 and Shawn Streck at 285. Lander comes in at #2 with 80 total points and seven ranked wrestlers, highlighted by James Joplin (125) and David Hunsberger (165) at #1 in their respective weight classes.
Augustana made the jump from #14 to #3 in this edition of the poll, amassing 67 total points behind seven ranked individuals. St. Cloud State is in the four-spot with 57 points, with UW-Parkside and McKendree tied in the fifth spot with 48 team points each.
There are no new top-ranked wrestlers in this edition of the poll, with the most #1-ranked individuals coming from Super Region 2 heading into the Super Regionals. In addition to Joplin and Hunsberger from Lander, Gabe Hixenbaugh (133) of Montevallo and Scotty Joll (174) from UNC-Pembroke also head into the postseason atop their respective weights.
Super Region 5 again leads the way with the most ranked wrestlers, with 37 of the nation's ranked individuals competing in SR5. Along with Super Region 3, SR5 also has the most teams ranked in the Top 25 with six.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has 33 ranked wrestlers and a poll-high five Top 25 teams, while the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has 17 ranked wrestlers representing its institutions. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has four Top 25 teams.
The rankings for seeding of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships will be released as the final rankings of the year March 8. All six NCAA Division II Super Regionals will take place March 2, with Kutztown (SR1), Lander (SR2), West Liberty (SR3), Indianapolis (SR4), Minot State (SR5) and Colorado-Pueblo (SR6) serving as this year's hosts. The top three at each weight from each of the six regions advance to the 2024 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships March 15-16 in Park City, KS.
