Notre Dame College Remains at No. 1 in NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll

Notre Dame College Remains at No. 1 in NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll

Dec. 22, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Notre Dame College (Ohio) remained at No. 1 in the third edition of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll, the NAIA announced Tuesday. The Falcons earned 108 points with 10 wrestlers listed among the top-12 individuals in their respective weight class. California Baptist is ranked second with 91 points and also has 10 ranked grapplers. The top five is rounded out by No. 3 Great Falls (Mont.) with 87 points, No. 4 McKendree (Ill.) with 80.5 points and No. 5 Southern Oregon with 75 points.

Notre Dame boasts two top-ranked wrestlers to California Baptist's one for the edge in the team ranking. Topping the 141-pounders is Notre Dame's Adam Koballa and Thomas Straughn is No. 1 at 157 pounds. Enock Francois of California Baptist is No. 1 at 174 pounds.

Two weight classes feature a pair of ranked Falcons. At 125 pounds, it's Tyler Savage and Dante Rini at second and third, respectively, and 174-pounders Jon Bittenger and Kurt Wolff rank seventh and 10th, respectively. Jeffrey Pelton is listed second at 149 pounds. There are only three weight classes in which a Falcon is not rated: 133, 165 and heavyweight.

California Baptist also has a pair of ranked individuals at two weight classes. No. 5 Samuel Fragoza and No. 7 Chauncey Philipps are listed at 125, while Francois is joined by No. 11 Christopher Knowland at 174 pounds. Joshua Marquez is ranked second for the Lancers at heavyweight. Like Notre Dame, California Baptist is only absent from three weights: 157, 184 and 197.

McKendree, who moved up two spots in the team poll to No. 4, sports two No. 1s with 165-pounder Aaron Winning and Andrew Sanchez at 197 pounds.

Other schools with top-ranked grapplers include No. 5 Southern Oregon's Mitchell Lofstedt (125), Tommy Pretty of No. 11 Campbellsville (Ky.) (133), No. 6 Grand View's (Iowa) Matt Burns (149), Michael French of No. 3 Great Falls (184) and No. 12 Cumberland's (Tenn.) Byron Stewart (HWT).

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the groupings. The next poll will be announced on Jan. 19.

RankSchoolTotal Team Points
1Notre Dame (Ohio)108
2California Baptist (Calif.)91
3Great Falls (Mont.)87
4McKendree (Ill.)80.5
5Southern Oregon (Ore.)75
6Grand View (Iowa)72.5
7Missouri Valley (Mo.)65
8Oklahoma City (Okla.)48.5
9Lindenwood (Mo.)45.5
10Dickinson State (N.D.)44
11Campbellsville (Ky.)40
12Cumberland (Tenn.)39
13Dana (Neb.)33.5
13Missouri Baptist (Mo.)33.5
15Northwestern (Iowa)24.5
15Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)24.5
17Montana State-Northern (Mont.)20.5
18Morningside (Iowa)17
19Jamestown (N.D.)15.5
20Simon Fraser (B.C.)12.5

Others receiving votes: Waldorf (Iowa) 9; Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 9; Hastings College (Neb.) 5.5; Menlo (Calif.) 3; William Penn (Iowa) 2.5; Baker (Kan.) 1.

Individual Ratings
WtRankTotal PointsFirst NameLast NameSchoolGroup
125180MitchellLofstedtSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
125264TylerSavageNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
125354DanteRiniNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
125446.5AngelOleaDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
125540SamuelFragozaCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
125634.5ZachMueryMissouri Baptist (Mo.)East Group
125730ChaunceyPhilippsCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
125819.5AaronWilcoxDana (Neb.)North Group
125910AkmalAdilovGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
125106.5ClaydenMcKimDana (Neb.)North Group
125114.5PaulHansenMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
125123.5IsaacRomeroDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
 
133180TommyPrettyCampbellsville (Ky.)East Group
133259CameronReamOklahoma City (Okla.)Central Group
133354.5WadeLoweMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
133452RyanLuuEmbry-Riddle (Ariz.)West Group
133542.5EliZunigaDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
133630AntonPraterMissouri Baptist (Mo.)East Group
133630JosephMichelJamestown (N.D.)North Group
133819RobertCostaDana (Neb.)North Group
133911GaryBrooksMissouri Baptist (Mo.)East Group
133108TravisEvansGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
133108JohnRojasCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
133124.5JoshuaChangEmbry-Riddle (Ariz.)West Group
 
141180AdamKoballaNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
141261.5JonHensleeGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
141355.5MichaelDavisCumberland (Tenn.)East Group
141445DrewSmithMorningside (Iowa)North Group
141541.5BarryJohnsonSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
141638JordanHarerDakota Wesleyan (S.D.)North Group
141725IanMillanCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
141819EricGrahamMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
141916MitchellNewcomerEmbry-Riddle (Ariz.)West Group
141107.5ChristianMartinezMenlo (Calif.)West Group
141116.5AdamManzDana (Neb.)North Group
141123.5NickCoffmanGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
 
149180MattBurnsGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
149264JeffreyPeltonNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
149350BenjaminGarciaCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
149449.5SamuelSchmitzLindenwood (Mo.)East Group
149535.5RyanJahnMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
149632.5BrianGrahamMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
149731LeviPriceNorthwestern (Iowa)North Group
149820.5AshtinPrimusNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
149914.5AndrewCarrilloDana (Neb.)North Group
149109.5TraceBilletEmbry-Riddle (Ariz.)West Group
149114.5JarellPriceCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
149124NickwaldropCampbellsville (Ky.)East Group
 
157180ThomasStraughnNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
157264NikolasTurnerOklahoma City (Okla.)Central Group
157353TommieNorton/HooperSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
157451JosephCornejoMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
157538RyanTuzonDana (Neb.)North Group
157538RossMosherGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
157726TylerChangEmbry-Riddle (Ariz.)West Group
157818.5JamesCasadabanCumberland (Tenn.)East Group
157911JoshSwansonWilliam Penn (Iowa)Central Group
157107JoseSerratoDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
157116.5JakeJohnsonLindenwood (Mo.)East Group
157124JoshEmmettMenlo (Calif.)West Group
 
165180AaronWinningMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
165264BradLowerGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
165351LamarReedCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
165450.5JohnMurrayLindenwood (Mo.)East Group
165539ChrisChionumaLindenwood (Mo.)East Group
165632NoahHattonGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
165724.5MarkMeyerOklahoma City (Okla.)Central Group
165813JamesLinkerCampbellsville (Ky.)East Group
165813LukeEvjenNorthwestern (Iowa)North Group
1651012.5TyKnowlerGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
165117DavidDwyerMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
165124JoeSievertMorningside (Iowa)North Group
 
174176EnockFrancoisCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
174261.5BrendonDeCockGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
174356JoshBryantMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
174452PrestonMcKinneyMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
174541.5GlennRheesGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
174633.5AustinVanderfordSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
174719.5JonBittengerNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
174816JameonRushHastings College (Neb.)North Group
174915.5AustinOuelletteMontana State-Northern (Mont.)West Group
174109.5KurtWolffNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
174119ChristopherKnowlandCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
174125ClarenceJordanBaker (Kan.)Central Group
 
184180MichaelFrenchGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
184264EvanHinebaughMontana State-Northern (Mont.)West Group
184353SpencerAdamsCampbellsville (Ky.)East Group
184445CleteHansonSimon Fraser (B.C.)West Group
184541.5JesseAlterMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
184633.5ChrisPlattSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
184723.5MarkPeifferDana (Neb.)North Group
184822ChadWilliamsMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
184914.5BrettOwenDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
1841012AlexDenmanNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
184116.5JacobOberfoellMissouri Baptist (Mo.)East Group
184122.5BrianBlockMorningside (Iowa)North Group
 
197180AndrewSanchezMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
197261.5AlexCalviGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
197356.5JakeKallestadDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
197444NicholasLeitherNorthwestern (Iowa)North Group
197541.5IkeOkenwaMissouri Baptist (Mo.)East Group
197630JeffRomanWaldorf (Iowa)Central Group
197727DerekFooreNotre Dame (Ohio)East Group
197820.5JustinRauGrand View (Iowa)Central Group
197914JosephLockettMorningside (Iowa)North Group
1971011EvanMattinglyMontana State-Northern (Mont.)West Group
197114.5CharlieGibbsMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
197124RonaldLeeSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
 
285180ByronStewartCumberland (Tenn.)East Group
285261.5JoshuaMarquezCalifornia Baptist (Calif.)West Group
285350.5EricHinebauchGreat Falls (Mont.)West Group
285446.5JohnBatesSouthern Oregon (Ore.)West Group
285542.5CoreyJohnsonOklahoma City (Okla.)Central Group
285634WillieWigginsLindenwood (Mo.)East Group
285727.5WillieHernandezJamestown (N.D.)North Group
285826.5TravisEwartMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group
285910FrankLopezDickinson State (N.D.)North Group
285109.5CedricPowellMcKendree (Ill.)East Group
285114MichaelWakimMissouri Baptist (Mo.)East Group
285114MichaelJohnsonMissouri Valley (Mo.)Central Group