MANHEIM, Pa. – With the NCAA Division II National Championships coming for 51 of NCAA DII's 67 teams, the top two ranked teams in the NWCA Division II Coaches Rankings stayed the same. Central Oklahoma held the top spot heading into the season's final event, in the rankings compiled from the DII ranking committee's seeding released Friday afternoon.
The Bronchos, fresh off of a team win at the Super Region 4 Championships, have 8 National Qualifiers, with 5 seeded in the top 5 and two at #6 with a total of 99 points. Lander (83 points), who won the Super Region 2 championship last week, holds at #2 after qualifying 9 wrestlers, six of which are seeded in the top 8 for next weekend's National Championships. St. Cloud State had a total of 66 points for the third-place spot, with Nebraska-Kearney and West Liberty with a total of 50 points to tie for the fourth-place spot, with McKendree rounding out the top 5 with 49 points.
RC LaHaye's Lander Bearcats head into the National Championships with the most qualifiers, heading to Wichita with nine wrestlers. Five teams have eight qualifiers, led by all eight of UCO's qualifiers finding themselves in the top 10 rankings. Also sending eight to the NCAA meet are Gannon, McKendree, Nebraska-Kearney and St. Cloud State. Nine of those ranked atop their respective weight class found themselves as a #1 seed heading into Nationals, with Francesco Borsellino of West Liberty taking the one seed at 285 after last being ranked #1 in December. Both Lander and West Liberty feature multiple one-seeds, with the Bearcats holding the top spot in James Joplin at 125 and David Hunsberger at 165. The Hilltoppers have the top spot at 184 in defending National Champion Ty McGeary, who joins Borsellino. In addition to McGeary, two other top-seeded individuals are defending National Champions from a season ago: Tiffin's Zack Donathan (141) and UCO's Dalton Abney (197).
The most ranked wrestlers come from Super Region 5, with 25. Super Region 3 and 4 were tied with 17 ranked wrestlers. The most #1's come from Super Region 2 and 3. From Super Region 2, Gabe Hixenbaugh at 133 from Montevallo, Lander's Joplin at 125, Hunsberger at 165, and UNC-Pembroke's Scotty Joll at 174. From Super Region 3, Christian Small at 125 from Lake Erie, 141 Donathan from Tiffin, McGeary at 184 and Borsellino at 285 from West Liberty.
The 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships will be held at Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kansas, March 15-16.
