Takedown Report

NCAA Division II Programs & News – # 2

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Had the opportunity and pleasure to attend the Division II Nationals in Cleveland in 2019. It was a wonderful event and a chance to see some of the best college wrestlers in action. It has been encouraging to see the growth in the number of Division II schools as they have more than tripled in recent years.
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1 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: Maryville
The Maryville wrestling program was established in 2011, as a rebirth of the former Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, led by the legendary Micheal Denney. Following seven national titles, the UNO program was discontinued, with Denney making the move to the St. Louis area  to start a program at Maryville. In nine years, the Saints have sent 45 to the NCAA Division II National Championships, with 26 earning All-American honors, two as National Champions. Maryville has also placed twice as a team, taking third in both 2014 and 2015.
“We help teach and build within our program,” Denney said. “We work together and inspire through a shared vision. We are trying to master the art of encouragement, and we always want to be a positive force on our campus and in our athletic department, in our community and within Division II.” The first Maryville National Champion was Matt Baker in 2012, … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-maryville/78267?mc_cid=46983272fd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: SW Minnesota State
The Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State just finished their 25th season in NCAA Division II, with the program putting 12 wrestlers on the podium in that time. One National Champion, Link Steffon at 190 in 1998, has represented the Mustangs in Division II, with SMSU competing as a program since 1967. Jesse Nelson is currently at the helm of the Southwest Minnesota State program, and will enter his 14th season with the Mustangs in 2020-21. “We have a strong passion to be successful in three areas within our program: Academics, Wrestling, and Life,” Nelson said. “We work hard as a staff to provide guidance to our student-athletes in all three areas, which we believe aligns with the NCAA Division II mission of Life in the Balance.” … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-sw-minnesota-state/78280?mc_cid=73ac0bc782&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: Adams State
ByJackie PaquettePosted on 06/22/2020

photo courtesy of Adams State athletics
Jason Ramstetter returned to his hometown of Alamosa, Colorado to take the reins of the Adams State wrestling program 19 seasons ago. The Grizzlies have sent 130 to the NCAA Division II National Championships in 28 years in DII, with 73 of those wrestlers earning All-American honors. Seven have earned National Championships for ASC, with all of those seven titles coming with Ramstetter at the head of the program.
“At Adams State we pride ourselves on using wrestling and academics to prepare our student-athletes for life,” Ramstetter said. “Our program is built around creating both successful wrestlers as well as successful lives. I am proud of the history we have both on the mat and off of it.” The Grizzlies sent three to the 2020 NCAA Division II National Championships, … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-adams-state/78305?mc_cid=da10187ca8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: Pitt-Johnstown
The longest tenured coach in NCAA Division II, and after this past season the winningest in all of intercollegiate wrestling, Pat Pecora just closed out his 44th year leading the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats. Pecora won his 617th dual Feb. 7 to become the winningest wrestling coach at the college level, including NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA and junior college programs. Also the UPJ director of athletics, Pecora led the Mountain Cats to the program’s 23rd Regional title in 2020, with eight UPJ wrestlers qualifying for the 2020 NCAA Division II National Championships. 
“There are two sides to our program,” Pecora said. “One is the family. We try to build our program like a family. I am most proud of how our guys go on to be good fathers and coaches. Our motto has always been ‘brothers for life.’ If our guys can feel like brothers, then I’ve done my job. Second is the program’s performance side of it. Consistency is what we work for. We have had an All-American every year since 1979. I am proud of that consistency. Anyone can be good for one day, one week, one month, one year, but our program has stood the test of time.” … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-pitt-johnstown/78361?mc_cid=7ba10e0d72&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: UNC-Pembroke
In 41 seasons in NCAA Division II, the Braves of North Carolina-Pembroke have sent 127 wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Championships, with 64 of those student-athletes earning All-American status. O.T. Johnson has led the program at his alma mater since 2011, and has mentored all three of UNCP’s National Champions. 
“The Braves are on the move, and we are ready to earn the respect of the nation during the year, not just at the national tournament,” Johnson said. Mike Williams became the first Brave to earn a National Championship in 2012, at 165. Two seasons later, Daniel Ownbey would win the first of his two back-to-back 141 titles. Ownbey was a four-time All-American for the Braves, taking third in 2012 and eighth in 2013. The 2019-20 edition of North Carolina-Pembroke wrestling saw the host Braves take the NCAA Super Region 2 title, behind three champions and another three runner-up performances. A pair of Braves earned NWCA All-American status after the cancelation of the 2020 NCAA Division II National Championships, … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-unc-pembroke/78407?mc_cid=097a633e42&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – Then & Now: Leader of the Pack, Marc Bauer forged unmatched legacy on the mat
KEARNEY — Marc Bauer is the most successful coach in University of Nebraska at Kearney history.
Current UNK Athletic Director
UNK Wrestling Coach, 1999-2016
Lopers won three national titles under Bauer
Lopers posted five runner-up finishes, 14 conference and regional titles
Lopers went 218-81 in duals, including five wins against NCAA Division I programs
Coached 89 All-American wrestlers, including 22 national champions and 15 runners-up
Match that stands out — Besides winning the program’s first national title in 2008, beating the University of Nebraska at Omaha — Bauer’s alma mater — for the 2003 National Duals championships at Ohio State. “We were ahead 22-0 before UNO even scored a point. The only three other duals going on were two D-I matches and the top two D-III teams. The place was electrifying. I don’t know what got into our kids but they came out and competed. It was personal. We had beat them once in a home dual here, but that was the second time we had ever beat them in a dual. We did it convincingly. They were favored to win. They did not win the national title that year. It was an amazing event.” … rest of story at _{https://kearneyhub.com/sports/college/unk/then-now-leader-of-the-pack-marc-bauer-forged-unmatched-legacy-on-the-mat/article_b2c87f30-c127-11ea-9793-6f36b10f8b49.html?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: West Liberty
The West Liberty Hilltoppers have sent 89 wrestlers to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, with 35 of those student-athletes earning All-American status in the program’s 25 years in NCAA Division II. Danny Irwin, the 2019 Division II Coach of the Year, will enter his second year leading the Hilltoppers in 2020-21, after leading Wheeling Jesuit to a runner-up team finish in 2019 behind a pair of National Champions in Tyler Warner (133) and Connor Craig (174). Both Warner and Craig will rejoin Irwin for the coming season at West Liberty, bolstering a lineup that also includes two-time All-American Cole Laya at 125 and two-time National Qualifier Logan Kemp at 197.
“West Liberty is on the rise again,” Irwin said. “We provide a program where student-athletes can obtain a top notch education while competing for NCAA Team Trophies! Our staff is fully committed to developing our guys on and off of the mat.” The last Hilltopper to win an NCAA Division II national championship was Doug Surra, who took the 141 title, in 2009. West Liberty has never placed as a team while a member of the NCAA, with the Hilltoppers taking a team runner-up trophy as NAIA members in 1995. Eight wrestlers with starting experience return for West Liberty for 2020-21, not including the additions of Warner and Craig. With the addition of the two 2019 champions, 10 total former Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-west-liberty/78430?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: University of Mary
The UMary Marauders first competed in NCAA Division II in 2007-08, and in their 13 years as DII members, Mary has sent a total of 13 wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Championships. Eight of those Marauders have earned All-American honors, with the highest individual finish for Mary being fifth, by four of its All-Americans. Tate Barnhardt was the latest to take fifth, doing so at 133 in 2019. Adam Aho just closed out his seventh season as the head of the UMary program, during which he has mentored five of the Marauder All-Americans. Aho explained  that the Mary program is based around this statement: “We can either live our lives out of gratitude or resentment – there is no middle ground.” “We work hard, play hard,” Aho said. “We are passionate about wrestling and we are here to develop meaningful relationships on our journey to success.” Two returning All-Americans will be back for Aho’s 2020-21 team … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-university-of-mary/78458?mc_cid=c193cf2791&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – Allen University to move from NAIA to NCAA Division II effective 2020-21 academic year
Columbia, S.C.) – Allen University athletics continues growth as the newest provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II effective for the 2020-2021 academic year. Currently, a Division I member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Allen sponsors nine intercollegiate programs. Affectionately referred to as the Yellow Jackets, student-athletes compete in men’s football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track & field, and women’s volleyball and men’s wrestling. The Yellow Jackets Football team thrives with 121 student-athletes for the fall, including 87 veterans and 34 recruits. “You really can do All That Can Be Imagined at Allen University. The vision of the leadership has brought us this far, “head football coach Teddy Keaton explained while acknowledging President McNealey’s influence. “There is nothing more critical in athletics than to have an administration that supports the University mission. I am proud to be able to do my part to help this vision become a reality. … rest of story at _{https://www.hbcusports.com/2020/07/15/allen-university-to-move-from-naia-to-ncaa-division-ii-effective-2020-21-academic-year/?mc_cid=43f0dbddeb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – Getting II Know a DII Program: Nebraska-Kearney
The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling program just closed out its 60th year of competition in 2019-20, with the Lopers first taking the mat in 1960-61. UNK has been an NCAA Division II member since the 1990-91 season, and in that 30 year time, 189 Lopers have made the trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships. Sixty-seven percent of those national qualifiers have returned to Kearney as All-Americans, 127 in total.  Twenty-four Lopers have won D2 National Championships, with UNK winning three team National Championships. Two of those team titles came back-to-back in 2012 and 2013, with current Head Coach Dalton Jensen taking the 141 National Championship as a senior for the Lopers in 2012 under Jim Koch NWCA Division II Hall of Fame coach Marc Bauer, now the UINK director of athletics. “The UNK wrestling program has had a rich tradition of success for many years and hopes to not only sustain that, but build on it by recruiting talent to central Nebraska,” Jensen said. … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/getting-ii-know-a-dii-program-nebraska-kearney/78487?mc_cid=78726f35ba&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

July 28, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized