3/3/2010 4:51:17 PM
EDMOND, Okla. - Coming off its second straight RMAC and NCAA Division II Super Region Four championship last weekend, Western State improved five places to No. 6 in the final Division II Wrestling Coaches Association national poll released today. All three Mountaineer individual champions stayed in the same position from the previous poll Feb. 17.
Charlie Pipher remained at No. 1 in 184 pounds after winning the conference and regional title with two pins in the tournament. Pipher was sidelined for three weeks before the tournament and was one of seven wrestlers with multiple falls last weekend. Pipher is 22-3 heading into the national tournament and leads the RMAC in win percentage for his weight class.
Donovan McMahill remained at No. 4 after claiming his second straight conference and regional title at 197 pounds. McMahill finished with a perfect dual record since the last poll and posted a fall and three major decisions in the tournament last weekend. He will be looking for his third All-America title next weekend with a 31-4 record.
Charlie Alexander stayed at No. 4 as well at 285 pounds after repeating as the RMAC and regional champion. He improved to 26-5 after the tournament and is going for his second straight All-America title.
The Mountaineers will be taking seven wrestlers to the national championships next weekend in Omaha, Neb. Action from Sapp Fieldhouse on the Nebraska-Omaha campus begins at 10 a.m. MST, March 12.
NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association National Poll (March 3)
1. Nebraska-Omaha
2. Newberry
3. Augustana
4. Wisconsin-Parkside
5. St. Cloud State
6. Western State
7. Pittsburgh-Johnstown
8. Gannon
9. Nebraska-Kearney
10. Upper Iowa
11. Central Oklahoma
12. Minnesota State
13. Fort Hays State
14. Findlay
15. Adams State
16. San Francisco State
17. North Carolina-Pembroke
18. Grand Canyon
19. Minnesota State-Moorhead
20. Kutztown
Others receiving votes: Ashland, Central Missouri, Chadron State, West Liberty
184 Pounds
1. Charlie Pipher, Western State
2. Derek Skala, St. Cloud State
3. Lucas Haag, Wisconsin-Parkside
4. Tim Darling, Kutztown
5. Pat Walsh, Pittsburgh-Johnstown
6. Jeff Havelka, Findlay
7. Bryant Blanton, Newberry
8. Austin Boehm, Nebraska-Omaha
197 Pounds
1. Keeno Griffin, Newberry
2. Ty Copsey, Augustana
3. Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Donovan McMahill, Western State
5. Lucas Munkelwitz, St. Cloud State
6. Jarrett Edison, Central Oklahoma
7. Vince Bordi, San Francisco State
8. Shane Nolan, North Carolina -Pembroke
285 Pounds
1. Brady Wilson, Minnesota State
2. Elijah Madison, Nebraska-Omaha
3. Dustin Finn, Central Oklahoma
4. Charlie Alexander, Western State
5. Jacob Kahnke, St. Cloud State
6. Chris Dempsey, Pittsburgh-Johnstown
7. Frank McGrath, Gannon
8. Lynn Panko, Indianapolis