St. Cloud State tops 24-25 DII Men's Coaches Poll; Lander #14, UNC Pembroke #22
MANHEIM, Pa.- After finishing fifth at the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships a season ago, the Huskies of St. Cloud State sit atop the preseason edition of the 2024-25 NWCA Division II Men's Coaches Rankings, released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Monday afternoon.
St. Cloud amassed 90 total points behind a poll-high nine ranked individuals. The 2024 NCAA DII National Champions, Central Oklahoma, sit in second to start the season with 71 total points. McKendree (70 points), UW-Parkside (63 points), and Indianapolis (55 points) round out the top five ranked teams.
Half of the wrestlers ranked atop their respective weight classes come into the season with 2024 National Championships to defend: Gabe Johnson (157) of Central Oklahoma, David Hunsberger (165) of Lander, Josh Kenny (174) of Grand Valley State, Ty McGeary (184) of West Liberty, and Derek Blubaugh (197) of Indianapolis all stood in the top spot on the podium in Wichita and return to defend those titles this season. Gavin Quiocho, the 2023 National Champion, is back at the top of the 133 ranking, while a pair of runners-up from a season ago sit at #1 to start the year in Jaxson Rohman (125) of Augustana and Cody Thompson (149) of Colorado Mines. Ronan Schuelke (141) of McKendree and Crew Howard (285) of Nebraska-Kearney, who both finished third in their respective weight classes a season ago, both emerge as the preseason #1s looking to the start of the season.
Super Region 5 features the most ranked wrestlers with 27 total, including one #1 in Rohman. Super Region 4 had 24 ranked wrestlers, including three #1s and six teams ranked in the Top 25. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has the most ranked wrestlers with 25, and is in three-way tie for the most ranked teams (4) with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
The 2024-25 season kicks off this weekend across the country, with teams looking towards the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championships in Indianapolis, March 14-15, 2025.
Returning Champ David Hunsberger of Lander tops the list of individuals that come in ranked in the top 12 of their weight. Below are a few others that either 1) wrestled in high in the SE, or 2) are wrestling in college in the SE. We are simply going by name recognition - so it is possible we missed someone along the way. If you noticed anyone we missed - please let us know.
Kaden Kuenzi (Lander) - #12 at 133
Christian Small (Lake Erie) - #3 at 141
Dylan Lucas (Central Oklahoma) - #4 at 141
Isham Peace (Lander) - #6 at 141
Jake Piccirilli (UNC-Pembroke) - #9 at 149
John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey) - #11 at 149
Keegan Roberson (UNC-Pembroke) - #2 at 157
David Hunsberger (Lander) - #1 at 165
Scott Joll (UNC-Pembroke) - #1 at 174
Max Kiel (Belmont Abbey) - #11 at 174
Dayton Fields (Newberry) - #12 at 174
Anthony Giampeitro (Lander) - #12 at 184
John Parker (Newberry) - #10 at 197