Takedown Report

NCAA Division II Programs

Getting II Know a DII Program: Chadron State
Another former Division II All-American and National Champion coaching at his alma mater, head coach Brett Hunter of Chadron State became the Eagles second overall and first NCAA Division II National Champion in 2007, and added another title two years later. In all, four National Championships have been won by Chadron State Eagles since the program was established in 1957, three of those since CSC moved to NCAA Division II for the 1992-93 season. “Our program prides itself on being a family and understanding the wrestlers’ why,” Hunter said of his alma mater and program. “Our program is fueled by a clear understanding and purpose, we continue to work towards our goals and will continue to focus on enjoying the process of striving to be the best.” In addition to the three D2 National Championships 31 others have earned spots as All-Americans in the Eagles D2 history, with 93 total Eagles qualifying for the NCAA meet. A trio of Eagles qualified in 2020, with Chase Clasen, Tate Allison and Wade French all earning trips. Clasen (149) and French (197) earned their second trips to Nationals, while Allison (157) qualified for the first time. Allison leads the returners for Hunter looking towards 2020-21, with seven of this year’s starters returning for the Eagles. With a handful of true-freshmen coming off of redshirts, a couple of transfers and a recruiting class featuring incoming Eagles from six states, Chadron State will fill a roster of 35 for the upcoming season. …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-chadron-state/77712?mc_cid=09298b3e7a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Getting II Know a DII Program: Lake Erie College
One of two wrestling programs in the Cleveland metropolitan area that have come into the Division II landscape in the last decade, Lake Erie dates back to the 2009-10 season. The Storm have sent 27 wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Championships over the last 10 years, with two of those qualifiers making it to the national finals. In all, Lake Erie has seven All-Americans in program history, three of those podium finishes coming from the Storm’s first All-American, Matt Vandermeer. Vandermeer finished 6th in 2012, 2nd in 2015 and 6th in 2016, all at 165. His teammate Zak Vargo was the first to make it to a national final for Lake Erie, with Vargo wrestling in the 157 final in 2013 and finishing 5th a season later. Current Head Coach Jeff Breese has led the Storm for the past two seasons, as just the second head coach in the young program’s history.   “We set out to achieve three things every season,” Breese said. “Be Top 10 at the NCAA Tournament, Be Top 10 Academically in Division II, and Win the G-MAC Tournament. We are in a great position to continue that pursuit next year with 8 returning Super Regional Placers and 8 returning Scholar All-Americans.” …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-lake-erie-college/77766?mc_cid=3a87a899d8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Getting II Know a DII Program: King University
ByJackie PaquettePosted on 04/30/2020
In 10 years in NCAA Division II, King has had 17 National Qualifiers and has seen six of those wrestlers make it to the podium. Two of those All-American honors were earned by a pair of program greats, in Dustin Kirk and Bryce Killian. Kirk and Killian were both All-Americans in 2017 and 2018, with Kirk’s third-place finish in 2017 at 133 the best-ever by a member of the Tornado. The program, currently headed by another former Division II all-American in Deral Brown, now features Killian as an assistant. The Tornado head man was a two-time National Qualifier and earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at 149 in 2013. Brown took over the program last season, after a year as an assistant at his alma mater, Newberry. “I expect our team to make significant improvements from last season,” Brown said. “The incoming class of 2020 is filled with talent, and we have an experienced group of returners coming back to lead them.” …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-king-university/77747?mc_cid=d92f731bd9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Getting II Know a DII Program: Tiffin University
The Tiffin Dragons entered the 2019-20 NCAA Division II National Championships with five national qualifiers: one a true freshman, one the top seed in his bracket, a wrestler making a return to the NCAA meet, another who led the nation in pins, and another looking to defend a national title. The program, now in its 10th year in NCAA Division II, is currently led by former Findlay All-American Joey Simcoe. “Guiding this program for the last 9 seasons has been an incredible experience,” Simcoe said. “When we first started, our practice facility was the storage area of an old Big Lots, and today we have arguably one of the nicest stand-alone facilities in the country with a 6,000 square foot wrestling room. Our success is not all our own as this campus and community are truly a welcoming, supportive and family environment.” Tiffin has produced two National Champions among 14 total All-Americans in the last decade, with Garrett Gray winning the Dragons’ first title in 2017 at 285, and Nick Mason making it to the top of the podium at 197 in 2019 as a sophomore. Mason will return for his senior season next year, along with 2020 National Qualifiers Chris Donathan and Bryan LaVearn, while the nation’s top seed at 157, Trey Grine, and the NCAA DII leader in pins, Hayden Bronne, are lost to graduation. …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-tiffin-university/77638?mc_cid=52d81661de&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Getting II Know a DII Program: Seton Hill University
The Seton Hill Griffins sent two National Qualifiers to the 2020 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in the 11th year of the program’s existence.  Frank Bonura and Billy Bowlen were the latest two in a program that has produced 26 national qualifiers since its inception in 2006. The Griffins, led by Head Coach Brian Tucker in his eighth season, posted a dual record of 8-6, running the program’s all-time dual record to 95-121. Heading into next season, Tucker’s Griffins return nine of their 10 starters, with only Bowlen lost to graduation. Along with Wheeling Jesuit transfer Bonura at 125, 2018 National Qualifier Vincent Destefanis also returns for Seton Hill at 133, with 2019 All-American Damon Greenwald also back off of a redshirt year in 2019-20. “We live a culture of Elite Effort, Competitive Behavior, and Team Unity,” Tucker said of his program. …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-seton-hill-university/77558?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Getting II Know a DII Program: Gannon University
In 38 years in NCAA Division II, the Gannon Knights have put 67 All-Americans on the podium, with a total of 93 National Qualifiers coming through the program out of Erie, Pennsylvania. The Knights had a breakout year in 2019-20, sending eight to the NCAA Division II National Championships. Head Coach Don Henry, in his 36th season at the helm of the Gannon program, is a member of the Jim Koch Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame and sees his team as poised to continue its success in the 2020-21 season. “We have been building for the past three years,” Henry said, “we should have a great 2021 season. We like hungry, humble and smart wrestlers.“ The Knights have had one National Champion in program history, with 197 Doug Joseph winning a title in 2001. With 10 starters returning from a squad that was the team runners up with four wrestlers in the finals at Super Region 1 in 2019-20, Gannon will again be a team to watch. All 10 returners …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-gannon-university/77725?mc_cid=09298b3e7a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

TOM’s Quarant-Interview with West Liberty Head Coach Danny Irwin
TOM recently got to speak with Danny Irwin head coach of the emerging DII power West Liberty. In his first year with the Hilltoppers, Irwin’s team qualified two wrestlers for the 2020 NCAA Championships, which ended up being canceled only 16 hours before the start time. Irwin tells the story how one of his wrestlers, Cole Laya, ended up squaring off against one of his potential rivals, anyways. The future is bright for West Liberty as Irwin has the All-American Laya, and an impressive recruiting class that includes some high-profile transfer possibilities. Before coming to West Liberty, Irwin developed Wheeling Jesuit into a national power, even taking second at the 2019 NCAA Championships and producing individual champions in back-to-back years. …. rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/toms-quarant-interview-with-west-liberty-head-coach-danny-irwin/77655?mc_cid=9dee3504ef&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Getting II Know a DII Program: UW-Parkside
In 43 years in NCAA Division II, UW-Parkside has seen seven Rangers take D2 National Championships, and another 70 earn All-American status. The program was first established in 1969, and has had just three head coaches in its history, with former Ranger All-American Corey VanGroll now at the helm and former Ranger National Champion Craig Becker as an assistant in the program. “United with the University’s mission, vision, and values, the Ranger Wrestling program provides student-athletes with opportunities to excel, and advance their athletic, academic, and social development,” VanGroll said of his program. “Our wrestling program will strive to be nationally recognized as a top performing program whose careers after graduation are a tribute to them, UW-Parkside, and society.” Of the seven NCAA Division II National Championships won by Rangers, five of those have been won by a wrestler with the last name of Becker. Kyle Becker was the first of the brothers to take a title, winning in 2006 at 157, with Craig following with a championship at 149 in 2010. The youngest Becker, however, would outdo the rest, with Nick winning three-straight 174 pound National Championships from 2016-18.
This season three Rangers …. rest of story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-uw-parkside/77677?mc_cid=9dee3504ef&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

May 13, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized