February 26, 2007

Mankato, UCO Have 10 Qualifiers

Ten Schools with at least Seven Qualifiers

     Kearney, Neb. –  The Minnesota State-Mankato and Central Oklahoma wrestling teams will enter the NCAA Division II Championships with 10 national qualifiers.

      The four regional meets were held this past weekend in four sites around the country. To make the NCAA's March 9-10 in Kearney, a wrestler had to finish in the top four of his region.

      Forty wrestlers from each region qualify, making it an even 160 that will be coming to Kearney.

      In the North Regional in Moorhead, Minn., the Minnesota State Mavericks had seven champions. MSU was ranked 4^th in the last national poll and has six individuals ranked four or higher nationally.

      At the Midwest Regional in Ashland, Ohio, the UCO Bronchos also saw all 10 of their wrestlers finish in the top four. The had six first place finishers.

      Below are the breakdowns of national qualifiers by region.

      The complete brackets for the championships will be released tomorrow or Wednesday. A random draw, the first round matches will pit a regional winner vs. a region fourth place finisher and a regional runner up vs. a third place regional finisher.

       For complete brackets on the four regionals, go to: www.ncaasports.com/wrestling/mens

Midwest                                                        North

Central Oklahoma                   10                     Minnesota State-Mankato       10

U. of Indianapolis                       7                    Upper Iowa                              8

Wisconsin-Parkside                   6                    Nebraska-Omaha                     8

Ashland (Ohio)                          5                    Minnesota State-Moorhead        6

Findlay (Ohio)                           4                    Augustana (S.D.)                      5

Carson-Newman (Tenn.)            3                     Northern State (S.D.)                2

Truman State (Mo.)                   2                     St. Cloud State (Minn.)             1

Central Missouri                        2

So. Illinois-Edwardsville 1

East                                                                 West

Pittsburgh-Johnstown                 8                    Nebraska-Kearney                     9

Mercyhurst (Pa.)                       6                     Adams State (Colo.)                  7

Newberry (S.C.)                        6                     Fort Hays State (Kans.)             7

West Liberty State (W.V.)         4                     Western State (Colo.)                7

North Carolina-Pembroke          4                     Chadron State (Neb.)                 6

Shippensburg (Pa.)                   4                    San Francisco State                   2

Kutztown (Pa.)                         3                     New Mexico Highlands               1

Gannon (Pa.)                           2                     Colorado School of Mines           1

Belmont Abbey (N.C.)              2

Limestone (S.C.)                      1