Super Regional V champion Darrell Mason of Minnesota State(photos courtesy of MSU athletics)Super Regional Saturday
A lot happened on Saturday and maybe you missed some #D2Wrestle results. Not to worry, here is a quick rundown for all of you fans out there. Who is in, the ranked wrestlers who missed out, and who I think is the favorite to win the tournament right now. The worst part is the waiting for brackets, but until then, enjoy the first of a few expected articles leading up to the national tournament preview.
125
Who's In
Jacob Dunlop (Gannon)
Tyshawn White (Shippensburg)
Matt Siszka (Pitt-Johnstown)
Nick Daggett (UNC Pembroke)
Evan Carrigan (Newberry)
Kevin Radcliff (Limestone)
Cole Laya (West Liberty)
Manuel Leija (Davenport)
Branden Mendoza (Tiffin)
Paxton Rosen (Central Oklahoma)
Christian Mejia (McKendree)
Isaac Jacquez (Lindenwood)
Paxton Creese (St. Cloud State)
Joe Arroyo (UW Parkside)
Jaxson Rohman (Augustana)
Josh Portillo (Nebraska Kearney)
Cody Fatzinger (Western Colorado)
Dawson Collins (Colorado Mesa)
Who's Out
Matt Wilde (Kutztown)
Melvin Rubio (Queens)
Jackson Stauffacher (SMSU)
Isaiah DeLaCerda (Adams State)
Biggest Story
It would make sense to pick the injury to All-American candidate Isaiah DeLaCerda (Adams State) that essentially eliminated him in the first match of the Super Regional, but I am going with a feel-good story instead. Manuel Leija, a freshman from Eastern High School in Lansing, Michigan, became the first NCAA Division II national qualifier in program history when he advanced to Super Regional III finals. With a record of just 4-8 last season, he grew by leaps under new head coach Bebeto Yewah. Yewah was a two-time NCAA Division III national champion for Wisconsin-La Crosse and his work with Leija is evident. His 2020 record of 12-5 shows just how much he has improved and his finish should not have been as surprising given his 3-1 record at the Midwest Classic. A great story for a program that has been struggling to find its feet in what should be a target-rich environment. A national qualifier in his first season at the helm will pay dividends on the recruiting trail.
Best Tournament
If you are looking for a wrestler riding a wave of momentum, look no further than Jacob Dunlop (Gannon). With wins over two wrestlers who had already exceeded the 20 win plateau this season on his way to the finals, he was matched against Tyshawn White of Shippensburg. Dunlop avenged his loss to White in the Super Regional I finals 6-2. It was his second win on the day over a higher-ranked wrestler who he previously lost to. He defeated Matt Wilde (Kutztown) in the semifinals. Dunlop is now a four-time national qualifier and the #SuperSenior is after his second All-American finish. I would not be betting against the Knight to finish on the podium after the run he is on.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
I am sure that I will receive some angry Tweets and possibly strongly-worded emails for this pick, but I am going to go with the wrestler who won it all last season. Cole Laya (West Liberty) has only lost to his nemesis Nick Daggett (UNC Pembroke) this year and owns a win over Paxton Creese. I am riding with head coach Danny Irwin and his Hilltopper.
133
Who's In
Collin Wickramaratna (Kutztown)
Eric Bartos (Mercyhurst)
Devin Flannery (Millersville)
Majid Corbit (Limestone)
Elijah Lusk (Lander)
Timothy Luker (Newberry)
Corey Gamet (Lake Erie)
Bryce Allison (Tiffin)
Vincent Scollo (Davis & Elkins)
Tanner Cole (Central Oklahoma)
Tanner Hitchcock (Lindenwood)
Breyden Bailey (Indianapolis)
Jack Huffman (Augustana)
Reece Barnhardt (Mary)
Garrett Vos (St. Cloud State)
Wesley Dawkins (Nebraska Kearney)
Jon Andreatta (Adams State)
Collin Metzgar (Colorado Mesa)
Who's Out
Brandon Borlinghaus (Drury)
Kaden Anderlik (Upper Iowa)
Patrick Allis (Western Colorado)
Biggest Story
I hate the MFF and I especially hate it in a Super Regional finals match. The rivalry between Jon Andreatta (Adams State) and Wesley Dawkins (Nebraska Kearney) is the stuff of legends. Two seasons ago, Dawkins pinned Andreatta in the Super Regional finals in :31. Last season, in the dual matchup, Andreatta was victorious 5-3. We were poised to see the rubber match on Saturday, until we didn't. I, for one, am disappointed and I am expecting the seeding committee to treat it the same as a loss. Maybe Andreatta was banged up from the tournament and was protecting an injury, but even if that is the case, it should still reflect as a loss. Hopefully, we see them seeded second and third in St Louis and get the match we missed.
Best Tournament
Jack Huffman (Augustana) rolled through the Super Regional V tournament with four straight wins. He picked up two ranked wins, including one over #6 Reece Barnhardt (Mary). Huffman also avenged his only loss on the season, defeating Kaden Anderlik (Upper Iowa) 6-2. In his four wins, he only allowed four escape points. He will have a very good argument for a top-four or five seed in St Louis. Overall, I feel like Augustana had one of the best team performances at any Super Regional and head coach Jason Reitmeier made a very good case to be the Super Regional coach of the year.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
Right now, I am not willing to bet against Tanner Cole (Central Oklahoma). We already know he is one of the best lightweight rooms in the country, but I'm also pretty sure he is one of the best lightweights. His win over Tanner Hitchcock (Lindenwood) shows he can switch negative results from his past. He also has a win over Andreatta this season and Collin Metzgar (Colorado Mesa). Until the brackets come out, the Broncho Junior is my pick to win it all.
141
Who's In
Caleb Morris (Pitt-Johnstown)
Joel Cawoski (Seton Hill)
Alexis Soriano (Mercyhurst)
Zeth Brower (Lander)
Christian Small (King)
John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey)
Branson Proudlock (Findlay)
Tyler Warner (West Liberty)
Matthew Zuckerman (Tiffin)
Colby Smith (Lindenwood)
Peter Kuster (Drury)
Brody Norman (McKendree)
Joey Bianchini (St. Cloud State)
Keaton Schorr (Augustana)
Tate Murty (Upper Iowa)
Nick James (Nebraska Kearney)
Ethan Leake (Chadron State)
Grayston DiBlasi (Colorado Mines)
Who's Out
Sean Johnson (American International)
Luke Wymer (Ashland)
Joshua Fuentes-Norikoyo (San Francisco State)
Dean Noble (Western Colorado)
Angel Flores (Adams State)
Biggest Story
Did you know that Chadron State has a Northern Colorado transfer as their starter at 141lbs this season? If you didn't before, you do now. Ethan Leake was 0-3 as a backup for Troy Nickerson's Bears in 2021 and started his #D2Wrestle season off just 5-4. In the Super Regional VI tournament, the Eagle defeated #13 Dean Noble (Western Colorado) and #7 Joshua Fuentes-Norikoyo (San Francisco State). He can make an argument for the best tournament, but since he fell in the finals to Nick James (Nebraska Kearney) by fall, I cannot give him that nod. Still, going from a winless Covid season to making the national tournament is dang impressive to me.
Best Tournament
Branson Proudlock (Findlay) entered the Super Regional III tournament as the third-ranked wrestler in the country, so his winning the tournament should have seemed a foregone conclusion. Not so fast, at his weight was two-time returning national champion and three-time All-American Tyler Warner (West Liberty). Winners win and that is who and what Warner has been throughout his career. To win a finals match against Warner after having his first two matches cut incredibly short by injury defaults was even more impressive. He essentially never had a chance to warm up for his finals battle.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
I am not sure who can beat Joey Bianchini (St. Cloud State) at this weight, with the returning national champion Isiah Royal (Newberry) moving up to 149. Bianchini has steamrolled through his season, including a Super Regional V crown where he scored bonus points in each match. The sophomore has only lost two matches over the last three seasons as the starter for the Huskies; neither of those wrestlers is at this weight in 2022.
149
Who's In
Jacob Ealy (Pitt-Johnstown)
Josh Laubach (Alderson Broaddus)
Dom Means (Gannon)
Isiah Royal (Newberry)
Demetrie Teddlie (King)
Jake Piccirrilli (UNC Pembroke)
Craig Cook (Davis & Elkins)
Jordan Watters (West Liberty)
Carson Speelman (Ashland)
Brik Filippo (Central Oklahoma)
Logan Bailey (Indianapolis)
Darick Lapaglia (Central Missouri)
Nick Novak (St. Cloud State)
Hunter Burnett (Augustana)
Wyatt Turnquist (Northern State)
Noah Hermosillo (Adams State)
Sam Turner (Nebraska Kearney)
Jason Hanenberg (Western Colorado)
Who's Out
Eric Faught (Upper Iowa)
Kyle Rathman (MSU Mankato)
Biggest Story
This is easy; the biggest story at this weight class all year to me has been the return of Darick Lapaglia (Central Missouri). It has been eight years since the sophomore was an All-American as a freshman for Maryville University. Eight years is forever for a college athlete. To put it into perspective, Michael Kemerer (Iowa) has been a Hawkeye since the 2015-2016 season. Lapaglia was a highly ranked recruit out of the state of Missouri and now he is part of a Central Missouri program that just had one of their most successful seasons in the last decade. I do not know if he will finish as an All-Amerian again this season, but how do you bet against a young man like this?
Best Tournament
True freshman Nick Novak (St. Cloud State) took over the starting job for the Huskies just over three weeks ago. Heading into the Super Regional V tournament, he was just 3-2 as the starter with losses to Wyatt Turnquist (Northern State) and Hunter Burnett (Augustana). On his way to winning the tournament, he defeated #14 Eric Faught 8-0 and then Wyatt Turnquist 7-1 and in the finals he took down Hunter Burnett 4-1. Three ranked wins over athletes ahead of him and two of those revenge wins? How do you beat that type of tournament?
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
Isiah Royal (Newberry) is a five-time national qualifier, a two-time finalist, and a returning national champion. Do you really need me to give you more reasons than those?
157
Who's In
JoJo Gonzalez (American International)
Nick Young (Gannon)
Nate Smith (Pitt-Johnstown)
Dallas Boone (King)
Jake Nicolosi (Mount Union)
Patrick Wunderlich (Coker)
Chance Esmont (Ashland)
Noah Tarr (Davis & Elkins)
Tyler Swiderski (Lake Erie)
John Ridle (Central Missouri)
Ty Lucas (Central Oklahoma)
Dawson Combest (Indianapolis)
Anthony Herrera (St. Cloud State)
Tyler Wagener (Augustana)
Braydon Huber (Mary)
Ryan Wheeler (Colorado Mesa)
Josiah Rider (Adams State)
Mason Boutain (San Francisco State)
Who's Out
James Wimer (Findlay)
Jace Fisher (Newman)
James Burks (Northern State)
Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa)
Biggest Story
I really hate to make this about a wrestler not making the NCAA tournament, but when that wrestler is the defending national champion, it is hard to ignore. James Wimer (Findlay) was a perfect 12-0 during his 2021 championship run. Going into the Super Regional tournament, he was a perfect 13-0 against Division II foes in 2022. To say his loss to Chance Esmont (Ashland) was surprising is an understatement. His second loss of the tournament that eliminated him from a postseason berth to Tyler Swiderski (Lake Erie) was, to my mind, unthinkable. You hate to see a young man end his career like this, but he leaves Findlay as a national champion and two-time All-American.
Best Tournament
John Ridle (Central Missouri) followed up an 11-2 sophomore season with another sophomore season that saw him become the first Mule to win a Regional title since 2015. His second win over #3 Tyler Lucas (Central Oklahoma) brought home the 157 championship and sent him to the national tournament with teammate Darick Lapaglia. He enters the national tournament with an 11-match win streak.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
With James Wimer not making the tournament and Josiah Rider (Adams State) losing to Ryan Wheeler (Colorado Mesa), all Tyler Lucas needed to do to earn the top seed in St. Louis was to win his Super Regional. Instead, Anthony Herrera (St. Cloud State) and JoJo Gonzalez (American International) will be the highest-ranked athletes entering the national tournament, having won their Super Regionals. That should earn them the top seeds in my mind. Give me Baltazar Gonzalez right now. When his offense is firing, he is one of the most explosive wrestlers at any weight. Right now, it appears that the engine is running hot.
165
Who's In
Dillon Keane (Pitt-Johnstown)
Brandon Conner (Millersville)
Evan Fisler (Gannon)
John Dean (Belmont Abbey)
Rashaan Vereen (UNC Pembroke)
Talon Seitz (Newberry)
Drew Weichers (Ashland)
James Penfold (Lake Erie)
Bryan LaVearn (Tiffin)
Jack Eiteljorge (Indianapolis)
Nate Trepanier (Lindenwood)
Corey Peterson (McKendree)
Shane Gantz (UW Parkside)
Miles Fitzgerald (Augustana)
Leo Mushinksy (Mary)
Matt Malcom (Nebraska Kearney)
Hunter Mullin (Western Colorado)
Ruben Garcia (Colorado Pueblo)
Who's Out
Gage Bernall (Lander)
Corey Christie (Coker)
Kameron Frame (Newman)
Will Kuster (Drury)
Hunter Jump (Central Oklahoma)
Devin Donovan (St Cloud State)
Biggest Story
Six of my top-16 wrestlers will not be making the trip to St Louis. In what may be the biggest benefit to Nebraska Kearney, neither St. Cloud State nor Central Oklahoma will have a point scorer at this weight. The Lopers will have five-time national qualifier, three-time All-American and 2019 national champion Matt Malcom. This is a huge point swing and could be a difference-maker at the national tournament.
Best Tournament
Brandon Conner (Millersville) entered the Super Regional I tournament 1-3 against Division II competition. The sophomore has a below .500 career record against his fellow DII athletes, but he is now an NCAA national qualifier. His win over Evan Fisler (Gannon) is by far and away his best career win and exactly what he needed to punch his ticket. Millersville missed out on competing in 2021, but they will send multiple athletes to St Louis this season.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today, tomorrow, and next week)
Matt Malcom.
174
Who's In
Joe Petrella (Gannon)
Dillon Walker (Mercyhurst)
Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnstown)
Caleb Spears (Newberry)
Connor Weeks (Belmont Abbey)
Stephon Haliburton (Queens)
Ty McGeary (West Liberty)
Dan Beemer (Ashland)
Hunter DeLong (Glenville State)
Andrew Sams (Indianapolis)
Josh Jones (McKendree)
Alex Kauffman (Central Oklahoma)
Cade Mueller (Augustana)
Trevor Turiff (MSU Mankato)
Job Ayala (UW Wisconsin)
Austin Eldredge (Nebraska Kearney)
Allan Michel (New Mexico Highlands)
Seth Latham (Colorado Mesa)
Who's Out
Anthony Yacovetti (Millersville)
Ethan Baney (Kutztown)
Dom Murphy (St Cloud State)
Max Bruss (Mary)
Biggest Story
Allan Michel (New Mexico Highland) was not even an afterthought as I looked through the Super Regional VI preview I was working on. He was just 5-7 against Division II headed into the postseason, but none of that mattered once he stepped on the mat Saturday. Three straight wins earned him a trip to nationals and evened his season record in Division II to 8-8. He will have a shot at finishing about .500 with a good national tournament. New Mexico Highlands took a couple of months into the season to update their roster, but I bet they update Michel's with this result sooner rather than later.
Best Tournament
Ty McGeary (West Liberty) won the Super Regional III crown after Andrew Sams (Ashland) was forced to withdraw from the finals with an injury in the second period of their match. Depending on the health of Sams, how the seeding committee weighs the victory, and what they decide to do with Cade Mueller and Trevor Turiff, McGeary may have earned himself the second-seed at the national tournament.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
Give me the Viking Cade Mueller (Augustana) to win it all. He has six wins against ranked wrestlers this season and that is good enough for me. This could change when the brackets come out, but for now I am going with the wrestler from east river.
184
Who's In
Matt Weinberg (Kutztown)
Anthony Giampietro (Millersville)
Cam Page (Gannon)
JaQuez Bostic (Limestone)
Noah Curreri (Queens)
Jovaun Johnston (UNC Pembroke)
Connor Craig (West Liberty)
Cole House (Glenville State)
Logan Hall (Notre Dame)
Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma)
Dan Filipek (McKendree)
Joey Williams (Maryville)
Caden Steffen (SMSU)
Reece Worachek (UW Parkside)
Treyton Cacek (Northern State)
Billy Higgins (Nebraska Kearney)
Martin Verhaeghe (Fort Hays State)
Anderson Salisbury (Colorado Mines)
Who's Out
Luke McGonigal (Mercyhurst)
Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland)
William Pitzner (St Cloud State)
Kolby Kost (Augustana)
Biggest Story
Davenport University earned their first national qualifier in program history at 125lbs; Glenville State earned their first at 184. Cole Houser's win in the semifinals propelled him into the finals and into the history books. His tournament may have ended with a loss to Connor Craig (West Liberty), but he is headed to St Louis. Dylan Cottrell has done big things at Glenville State in a very short time and in the program's second season in Division II, will send two wrestlers to the national tournament.
Best Tournament
Freshman Matt Weinberg (Kutztown) has jumped right into the lineup after a solid career for Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia. The Bears have a strong lineup and could duplicate their top-10 finish from 2019, the last time they were able to compete at the national tournament. Weinberg has won six straight matches now and, for the season, owns a 50% bonus rate. Good luck meat.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
Connor Craig (West Liberty) and Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma) are each one-time national champions. One of them will end this season as a two-timer. I am going to pick Connor Craig this go-around.
197
Who's In
Brian Kennerly (Kutztown)
Joel Leise (Gannon)
Gino Sita (Alderson Broaddus)
Darius Parker (Lander)
Bryce Walker (UNC Pembroke)
Austin Watkins (Queens)
Nicholas Mason (Tiffin)
Walker Uhl (Ashland)
Logan Kemp (West Liberty)
Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma)
Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis)
Chase Stegall (Maryville)
Noah Ryan (St. Cloud State)
Cole Huss (Northern State)
Matt Kaylor (Mary)
Hayden Prince (Nebraska Kearney)
Donald Negus (Colorado Mesa)
Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State)
Who's Out
Chris Droege (Lake Erie)
Jordan Williams (Glenville State)
Rodsean Graham (UW Parkside)
Hunter Tobiasson (Adams State)
Biggest Story
They are putting something in the water at Kutztown University and the Bears big men are drinking lots of it. Brian Kennerly joined Matt Weinberg and Andrew Dunn as Super Regional I champions. The University of Virginia transfer defeated three-time national qualifier Joel Leise (Gannon) by major decision in the finals and has to be taken seriously as a high All-American threat.
Best Tournament
Nicholas "Curly" Mason (Tiffin) had his 2020 and 2021 seasons end badly. The cancellation and then a disappointing 0-2 tournament means the 2019 national champion has not won a match at the national tournament in three years. Fourteen straight times he has walked out on a Super Regional mat and had his hand raised. That is good enough for four-straight Super Regional III titles. An MFF by Walker Uhl (Ashland) gave him his fourth and final title. Now can he follow that up with another podium finish?
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma) should win the national title. He would have been the victor last season if Ryan Vasbinder had decided to leave McKendree earlier and make the jump to Division I. Vasbinder is gone. Abney is about as close of a thing to a lock there is this season.
Hwt
Who's In
Andrew Dunn (Kutztown)
Jacob Robb (Mercyhurst)
Freddie Nixon (Gannon)
Zach Shaffer (UNC Pembroke)
Juan Holmes (Limestone)
Cam Coffman (Lander)
Francesco Borsellino (West Liberty)
David Henson (Tiffin)
La'Ron Parks (Notre Dame)
Shawn Streck (Central Oklahoma)
Cale Gray (Indianapolis)
Ian Kuehl (McKendree)
Darrell Mason (MSU Mankato)
Kam Teacher (St. Cloud State)
Steven Hajas (Augustana)
Lee Herrington (Nebraska Kearney)
AJ Cooper (Fort Hays State)
Weston Hunt (Colorado Mines)
Who's Out
Gavin Nye (Colorado Pueblo)
Mason Watt (Chadron State)
Tanielo Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser)
Biggest Story
The biggest story is that the biggest threats to win a team title all managed to qualify their heavyweights. Nebraska Kearney and Central Oklahoma each had their heavyweights win a title, while St. Cloud State saw their returning national champion fall in the Super Regional V finals. Last season the tournament came down to the last match; if it happens again in 2022, all three contenders have a shot to bring home the team trophy.
Best Tournament
It is hard to think that anyone could have had a better tournament than Darrell Mason (MSU Mankato). The Maverick's big man navigated a tough regular-season schedule with a perfect record and then won four more matches on Saturday to be crowned the best big man in Super Regional V. The feat is all the more impressive because his finals victory was over four-time national qualifier, three-time All-American, and returning national champion Kam Teacher (St Cloud State). It came down to an escape point in tiebreaker one, but however it happened, Mason handed Teacher his first loss in Division II since the 2019 national tournament. Bravo big man.
My Pick To Win It All (as of today)
There are some very good big men at the tournament, but I will not bet against the 2019 national champion who has never lost in Division II, Andrew Dunn. "Dunnyboi" will have a heck of a path to walk, but I expect him to be up to the task.
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