Takedown Report

NCAA Division II News (2021) – # 4

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Division II teams have been completingtheir last dual meets and conference tournaments to determine national qualifiers. These tournaments will be held this weekend and the Nationals two weeks later in St. Louis. Several Wrestler of the Week articles are also included. The latest poll has a new #1 team in University of Nebraska-Keearney and the details are in the first article below. Keep on wrestling! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – NWCA Division II Regular Season Poll #3
Manheim, PA – There is a new #1 in the NCAA Division II wrestling world heading into Super Regionals, with Nebraska-Kearney jumping from #3 to the #1 spot in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II Rankings, released Friday morning by the Association.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
The Lopers moved to the top spot with 92 total points behind nine ranked wrestlers, with the only weight class not featuring a Nebraska-Kearney wrestler being heavyweight. Matt Malcom leads the ranked Lopers, sitting atop the 165 weight class. The nine ranked UNK wrestlers are also most by any team in the poll, with #4 Gannon also putting nine wrestlers in the individual rankings. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-division-ii-regular-season-poll-3/?mc_cid=a32eea18bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – Eagles’ wrestling season both longest, shortest on record
CHADRON, Neb. — February 16, 2021 — This has been both the longest and the shortest season for the Chadron State College wrestling team since the Eagles began competing in the sport in the late 1950s.  Coach Brett Hunter said the Eagles have had more practices, nearly 100, including the first one on October 10, compared to about 76 most seasons. But the team has competed only seven times, all in duals, compared to 18 of them in 2019-20.  And, the Eagles have not entered any open tournaments because nationwide they were a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected every sport and every other segment of society the past year. “It’s been a really challenging year,” Hunter said. “Much different than usual, but we’ve kept on track and are happy we’ve been able to compete as much as we have. Now we’re getting ready for the Super Regional and hopefully will have some national qualifiers.” … rest of story at _{^{https://chadroneagles.com/news/2021/2/16/eagles-wrestling-season-both-longest-shortest-on-record.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND Eagles wrestling defeats Western Colorado 27-13
CHADRON, Neb. — February 5, 2021 — The Chadron State College wrestling team defeated Western Colorado 27-13 in the final home dual for the Eagles, Friday evening in the Chicoine Center. “We did a good job finding a way to get the job done tonight,” said CSC Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Brett Hunter, “and it’s exciting to see our youth develop and continue to grow every time we compete.”  The Eagles, who are now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference competition, went ahead 5-0 on a technical fall win by Tate Stoddard at 125 pounds. The Mountaineers got on the board at 10-5 with two decisions and a major at weight classes 133 through 149. However the Eagles answered … rest of story at _{^{https://chadroneagles.com/news/2021/2/5/eagles-wrestling-defeats-western-colorado-27-13.aspx?mc_cid=7fbcdf9574&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – Shane Gantz Named NSIC Wrestler of the Week
KENOSHA, Wis. – Redshirt-junior Shane Gantz of the Parkside Wrestling team has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Wrestler of the Week after his stellar performance last week.  
REWATCH THE DUAL AGAINST ST. CLOUD STATE
Gantz, the Waukesha, Wis., native, beat No. 1 ranked Devin Fitzpatrick of St. Cloud State 3-1 in Thursday night’s dual in De Simone Gymnasium. He improved to 5-0 and avenged a 10-4 defeat to Fitzpatrick in last season’s NCAA Super Region V Championship match. This is Parkside’s second straight NSIC Wrestler of the Week award, as freshman Reece Worachek won the award last week. … rest of story at _{^{https://parksiderangers.com/news/2021/2/8/wrestling-shane-gantz-named-nsic-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=82bfd879a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – Peter Kuster named GLVC Wrestler of the Week
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Drury University’s Peter Kuster was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Wrestler of Week in a vote of league coaches. Kuster finished the regular season undefeated at 141 pounds as he won his match in Drury’s lone competition last week. The junior from Jefferson City, Missouri, Joey Semerad 10-5, in the Panthers dual at McKendree. Kuster improved to 5-0 on the season, and he is currently ranked fifth at the NCAA-II in his weight class.
The honor marks the first time in Kuster’s career he has won the GLVC Wrestler of the Week award.
… rest of story at _{^{https://drurypanthers.com/news/2021/2/9/wrestling-peter-kuster-named-glvc-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=a084ab7fd9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – FitzPatrick, Brinkman earn NSIC Athlete of the Week honors
BURNSVILLE, MINN. – The St. Cloud State University athletics department saw two student-athletes earn Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) weekly awards this past week. On Monday, senior wrestler Devin FitzPatrick (Mahtomedi, Minn. / Mahtomedi) was named the NSIC Wrestler of the Week, while Madison Brinkman (Grey Eagle, Minn. / Melrose) was named the NSIC Diver of the Week Tuesday afternoon.  FitzPatrick earned his first NSIC Wrestler of the Week award this season after leading the Huskies to a resounding 31-3 dual match victory over the University of Mary last Thursday night. The redshirt senior, who currently ranks No. 2 in the nation at 165-pounds, posted a 6-3 victory over No. 4 ranked Braydon Huber in the second match of the evening. A two-time All-American and current team captain, FitzPatrick is a member of two national championship squads and helped St. Cloud State to the No. 1 ranking in the nation. … rest of story at _{^{https://scsuhuskies.com/news/2021/1/12/womens-swim-dive-fitzpatrick-brinkman-earn-nsic-athlete-of-the-week-honors.aspx?mc_cid=7d0bae3ce9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND No. 1 wrestling dominates en route to 10th NSIC Title
ST. CLOUD, MINN. – Domination: the exercise of control or influence over someone or something; the state of being so controlled. Aka: the St. Cloud State University wrestling team.  The Huskies exercised control in almost every way possible Thursday evening, as they dominated the No. 19 Upper Iowa University Peacocks in their 33-6 win. The victory secured yet another perfect regular season for No. 1 ranked St. Cloud State (5-0, 5-0 NSIC) and clinched the team’s tenth consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Regular Season Title, an accolade the Huskies shared with Northern State University this season. Things were rolling for the Huskies Thursday evening, as they won nine of 10 bouts. The highlights included a major decision win at 285, a tech fall at 125 and a pin at 165, … rest of story at _{^{https://scsuhuskies.com/news/2021/2/11/no-1-wrestling-dominates-en-route-to-10th-nsic-title.aspx?mc_cid=b6bf9ab19d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – James Burks Earns NSIC Wrestler of the Week Nod
Burnsville, Minn. – For the second time in his Northern State career, Wolves wrestling sophomore James Burks is the NSIC Wrestler of the Week. Burks is the first NSU student-athlete to be honored by the league this season.  
NSIC Wrestler of the Week – James Burks (165 lbs., So., Omaha, Neb. / Harry A. Burke HS)
– Scored an upset victory over No. 9 Braydon Huber of UMary in a 26-6 dual win
– Pinned the redshirt sophomore at 4:29 in the match
– Led 5-4 in the match prior to the pin … rest of story at _{^{https://nsuwolves.com/news/2021/2/15/wrestling-james-burks-earns-nsic-wrestler-of-the-week-nod.aspx?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – Logan Kemp Named MEC Wrestler of the Week
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – After going 3-0 in Saturday’s West Liberty Open at the ASRC, Hilltopper veteran Logan Kemp was honored on Monday as the Mountain East Conference Wrestler of the Week. Kemp, a two-time NCAA Division II national qualifier from Centerville, Ohio, is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation at 197 pounds and put that nationally-ranked form on full display in the open format event featuring wrestlers from West Liberty, Davis & Elkins and Fairmont State. The WLU standout barely had time to work up a sweat on Saturday, wrapping up all three of his matches with bonus point wins long before the final whistle. Kemp notched a pair of first-period falls – stopping Fairmont’s Riley Gallagher at the 1:24 mark and pinning Davis & Elkins’ Josh Sanders in just 1:57 … rest of story at _{^{https://hilltoppersports.com/news/2021/2/15/wrestling-logan-kemp-named-mec-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND WLU Wrestlers Run Away with MEC Championship!
6 Hilltoppers win individual titles; 9 earn All-MEC laurels
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Call it Mission Accomplished!
    Coach Danny Irwin‘s No. 6-ranked West Liberty University wrestling team looked like a team on a mission on Saturday as the Hilltoppers dominated the second annual Mountain East Conference Championships from start to finish. Six West Liberty wrestlers won individual championships and nine of the 10 WLU starters earned All-Conference recognition as the Hilltoppers ran away to a convincing victory inside the ASRC. The Black and Gold racked up 152 team points to easily outdistance defending MEC champion UNC Pembroke (119.5) for the championship hardware. Notre Dame (Ohio) was third at 99.5 with Davis & Elkins (86) and Alderson Broaddus (82.5) rounding out the top five in the eight-team field. “I’m very proud of my guys,” Irwin said. “I thought we were really aggressive today bordering on being violent but staying within the rules. That’s what it takes to be successful when you’re up against quality competition like we were today and I thought we rose to the challenge.”
    With eight wrestlers fighting their way into the championship finals, … rest of story at _{^{https://hilltoppersports.com/news/2021/2/6/wrestling-wlu-wrestlers-run-away-with-mec-championship.aspx?mc_cid=18c25877f2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – Turner Named MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State sophomore wrestler Mason Turner has been named the MIAA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, announced Tuesday (Feb. 16) by the league office. Turner, ranked No. 2 in the country at 125 pounds, pinned the top-ranked wrestler in his only action last week. The Kansas City, Kan. native won the marquee matchup of last week’s dual at Nebraska-Kearney (Feb. 11) with a pin 49 seconds into the third period. The returning All-American is now 9-1 on the season, including five wins via pin and three tech fall victories. He leads the Tigers in both categories and is tied for fifth in both categories in Division II. … rest of story at _{^{https://fhsuathletics.com/news/2021/2/16/turner-named-miaa-wrestling-athlete-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – No. 16 Upper Iowa Peacocks Sink Vikings in Sioux Falls
The No. 16 Peacock wrestling team escaped Sioux Falls, S.D. with a victory to improve to 3-2 on the season thanks to five wins that included a fall at 165 pounds. Upper Iowa’s 18-16 decision on Thursday night was highlighted by Scott Kellenberger’s win by fall. After the teams split the 10 bouts of the official dual, the Peacocks got the upper hand on the night with three wins in the five extra matches.
The dual opened at 125 pounds and No. 11 Kaden Anderlik posted a 9-3 win over Ethan Cota behind a takedown and reversal in the opening frame, an escape and takedown in the second period and then a stalling and ride time point in the third to secure the six-point decision. … rest of story at _{^{https://uiupeacocks.com/news/2021/2/4/wrestling-no-16-peacocks-sink-vikings-in-sioux-falls.aspx?mc_cid=fca48e06b8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – UNK’s Dominance Continues After Shut Out in Wichita
Kearney, Neb. – The second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team used four majors,, two forfeits and a tech fall to blank 24th-ranked Newman, 42-0, Thursday night in Wichita. The Lopers improve to 9-3 while the Jets fall 2-7. UNK’s annual showdown with Central Oklahoma on Saturday has been canceled due to COVID protocols. UNK, after tonight’s results, has outscored its competition 255-24 over the last six duals. Second-ranked Matt Malcom (Glenwood, Ia.) had the key win tonight as he shut out third-ranked Kameron Frame, 5-0. Malcom, now 9-0 on the year, used a takedown and two near fall points in the second period to record the win. Next, Kearney redshirt sophomore heavyweight … rest of story at _{^{https://lopers.com/news/2021/2/5/wrestling-unks-dominance-continues-after-shut-out-in-wichita.aspx?mc_cid=7fbcdf9574&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND No. 2 UNK Rolls Past No. 17 Hays, 35-12
Kearney, Neb. – The second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team used four bonus points wins and an overtime decision to tame No. 17-ranked Fort Hays State, 35-12, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center. The Lopers finish up the regular season 10-3 and outscored the competition 290-36 over the last eight duals. The Tigers, meanwhile, drop to 3-7. “Even in the matches won, and in the ones we lost, there was just a couple of choices that could have been the difference between getting bonus points or winning the match. The guys just need to trust where they are at,” UNK head coach Dalton Jensen said. “It was good to dominate a rival opponent and this gives us confidence heading into regionals.”
Senior Wesley Dawkins (133 lbs.) recorded a fall at 2:17 to get UNK on the board. … rest of story at _{^{https://lopers.com/news/2021/2/11/wrestling-no-2-unk-rolls-past-no-17-hays-35-12.aspx?mc_cid=b6bf9ab19d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – No. 24 Central Missouri Jets conquer the Mules at Home
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2021) – Central Missouri hosted Newman in the Mules first home dual of the season. John Ridle was the only victorious Mule at the MIAA showdown as the No. 24 Jets downed the Mules 44-4.  John Ridle earned his ninth straight win of the season with a 13-0 major decision over Kendall Frame at 157 pounds. The sophomore is now 9-0 on the season with a 4-0 record in the MIAA.  Zachery Hazen and Trevor Hankins held the Jets to just three-point victories at 197 and 285 pounds. Hazen battled Ivan Balavage through all three periods before losing a 8-5 decision at 197 pounds. Hankins held Newman’s Jacob Stoneberger to a 6-0 decision win in the heavyweight battle. … rest of story at _{^{https://ucmathletics.com/news/2021/2/6/wrestling-no-24-jets-conquer-the-mules-at-home.aspx?mc_cid=18c25877f2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – #13 University of Findlay Roughnecks Go 2-0
The 13th-ranked University of Findlay wrestling team scored a pair of victories at home on Feb. 6 after defeating 8th-ranked Ashland University 30-18 and 17th-ranked Tiffin University 30-15. Senior James Wimer picked up a pair of pins as he defeated Ashland’s Nick Carbone in 2:21 and Tiffin’s Hunter Langeloh in 4:13. Sophomore Branson Proudlock also picked up a pair of victories as he pinned Ashland’s Jesse Bowers in 4:10 and had a 4-3 win over Tiffin’s Matthew Zuckerman.
No. 8 Ashland def. No. 17 Tiffin, 28-18
125: Christian Wellman (ASH) over Branden Mendoza (TU) (MD 12-4)
133: Bryce Allison (TU) over Cael Woods (ASH) (Dec 6-3)
141: Matthew Zuckerman (TU) over (ASH) (For.)
149: Collin Adkins (TU) over Jesse Bowers (ASH) (Fall 2:24) … rest of story at _{^{https://findlay.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20210206niy5zk?mc_cid=18c25877f2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

February 24, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized