Takedown Report

Lander Tops Preseason Edition of NWCA Division II Men’s Coaches Poll

MANHEIM, Pa.- A first-time #1, the Lander Bearcats, will open the 2023-24 season atop the preseason edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Oct. 30 by the Association.
The Bearcats, who finished runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, top the poll with 82 total points and a poll-high eight ranked wrestlers. West Liberty sits at #2 in the preseason poll, with 69 points behind five ranked wrestlers. Defending National Champion Central Oklahoma is in the three-spot with 63 points, with St. Cloud State (56 points) in fourth with its six ranked wrestlers and McKendree and Upper Iowa tied for the five-spot with 48 points each.

Six of the preseason top-ranked individuals are returning National Champions from a season ago, highlighted by two-time National Champion Dalton Abney of Central Oklahoma at 197. At 133, Gavin Quiocho of Glenville State is back after his title a season ago, as is Tiffin’s Zack Donathan at 141. Nick Novak of St. Cloud State is back and sits at #1 at 157, Chase Luensman of Upper Iowa tops the ranking at 165 and West Liberty’s Ty McGeary comes back to defend his title at 184. Another of the top-ranked wrestlers, Jaxson Rohman of Augustana, comes sits atop the 125 ranking after finishing as National Runner-up at the weight a season ago.
At 149, Wyatt Tunrquist of Northern State is a first-time #1, finishing third last season. Turnquist was ranked as high as seventh last year. James Penfold of Lake Erie tops the 174 ranking for the first time ever after taking fourth a season ago, while Indianapolis’ Cale Gray is #1 at 285 for the first time in his career after taking fourth last season. Penfold topped out at #4 in the rankings a season ago, while Gray was as high as seventh in the rankings last season.
Two weight classes feature nine returning All-Americans among their ranked wrestlers, with 149 and 165 both having nine guys who have been on the podium. Both 141 and 197 feature eight returning All-Americans, while 133 and 184 have seven returning AAs in their top 12 ranked individuals.
Super Region 5 leads the way with 31 ranked wrestlers and seven teams ranked in the Top 25. Super Region 3 has the most #1s, with four among its 23 ranked wrestlers and five Top 25 teams. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) leads all conferences with 26 ranked wrestlers and six ranked teams.  The season kicks off officially Wednesday, Nov. 1, … rest of story at … NWCAonline.com/news/2023/10/30/ncaa-division-2-men-lander-tops-preseason-edition-of-nwca-division-ii-coaches-poll

also note,
Lander Picked as Conference Carolinas Men’s Wrestling Champions
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Lander, who has won the past two South Atlantic Conference Carolinas regular season titles, has been picked to win the title in the 2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Wrestling Preseason Poll, the conference unveiled on Oct. 26, 2023. Conference Carolinas is the sole sponsor of the sport for the first time.
The Bearcats received 13-of-14 first-place votes (teams can’t vote for themselves) and 169 total points to claim the top spot while Newberry was a close second with 151 points and the remaining first-place vote. UNC Pembroke was picked third with 145 points while Mount Olive (136) and King (119) rounded out the top five.
Belmont Abbey (101) was sixth in the preseason poll followed by Emmanuel (96), Limestone (88), Coker (75), Allen (55), Lincoln Memorial (41), Montevallo (39), Bluefield State (32) and Emory & Henry (27).
The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches. 
2023-24 Conference Carolinas
Men’s Wrestling Preseason Poll

November 1, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized