EDMOND, Okla. -- Defending champion Nebraska-Omaha is the pick to win
the 2005 NCAA Division II wrestling title, according to the preseason poll
released Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association.
The Mavericks have six All-Americans back from last year's squad that
edged North Dakota State and Central Oklahoma for the national title and is
the overwhelming favorite on the basis of returning national tournament
points.

UNO returns 64 points as the No. 1 pick, 29 ahead of second-place
Augustana (S.D.) and 31 in front of third-place Nebraska-Kearney. The
Vikings have five All-Americans back from 2004, while the Antelopes return
three national tournament placers.

Rounding out the preseason top 10 is Shippensburg (Pa.), Fort Hays State
(Kan.), Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Truman State (Mo.), Central Oklahoma,
Minnesota State-Mankato and San Francisco State (Calif.). UCO's No. 8
ranking is its lowest since joining Division II in 1990, with the Bronchos
having won six national titles and finished at least fourth every year as
members.

Nebraska-Omaha, which will host the 2005 national tournament on March
11-12, 2005, is led by four top-ranked individuals -- 125 Dustin Tovar, 149
Patrick Allibone, 165 J.D. Naig and heavyweight Les Sigman.

The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association Top 20 preseason
poll with returning national tournament points and the teams' 2004 national
finish:


Rank School (State) Returning Points 2004 National Finish

1. Nebraska-Omaha 64 1st
2. Augustana (S.D.) 35 6th
3. Nebraska-Kearney 33 8th
4. Shippensburg (Pa.) 25 11th
T5. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 21 10th
T5. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 21 5th
7. Truman State (Mo.) 20 16th
8. Central Oklahoma 17 3rd
9. Minnesota State-Mankato 16 17th
10. San Francisco State (Calif.) 12 T13th
T11. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 11 21st
T11. Ashland (Ohio) 11 19th
13. Findlay (Ohio) 10 7th
T14. West Liberty State (W.Va.) 9 25th
T14. North Carolina-Pembroke 9 12th
T16. Adams State (Colo.) 6 9th
T16. Western State (Colo.) 6 4th
18. Wisconsin-Parkside 4 20th
T19. Colorado School of Mines 3 22nd
T19. Minnesota State-Moorhead 3 24th
T19. Northern State (S.D.) 3 15th

125 Pounds
1. Dustin Tovar, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Bryce Abbey, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Jamie Thomas, Shippensburg (Pa.)
4. Ricky Randazzo, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Aaron Graumann, Augustana (S.D.)
6. James Phillips, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Chonci Houston, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
8. Ryon Mazzocco, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)

133 Pounds
1. Donald Lockett, San Francisco State (Calif.)
2. Adam Keiswetter, Nebraska-Kearney
3. Mitch Waite, Nebraska-Omaha
4. Andy Uhl, Findlay (Ohio)
5. Curry Pickard, North Carolina-Pembroke
6. Zach Meissner, Ashland (Ohio)
7. Derek Miller, St. Cloud State (Minn.)
8. Chris Saferite, Central Oklahoma

141 Pounds
1. Merrick Meyer, Truman State (Mo.)
2. Eli Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha
3. R.C. LaHaye, Western State (Colo.)
4. Wade Bramlitt, Central Oklahoma
5. Kortney Lake, Adams State (Colo.)
6. Jamie Andersh, Northern State (S.D.)
7. Thad Benton, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
8. Brendon Bosko, Gannon (Pa.)

149 Pounds
1. Patrick Allibone, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Ryan King, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Ryan Ickes, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Jason Rhoten, Minnesota State-Mankato
5. Zack Leathers, Shippensburg (Pa.)
6. Angelo Vettese, Findlay (Ohio)
7. David Nordhues, Fort Hays State
8. R.J. Paterniti, Gannon (Pa.)

157 Pounds
1. Luke Main, West Liberty State (W.Va.)
2. Josh Jansen, Minnesota State-Moorhead
3. Adam Morris, Findlay (Ohio)
4. Gary Skoch, Ashland (Ohio)
5. Mitch Napier, Indianapolis (Ind.)
6. Matt Roncolato, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Chas DeVetter, Nebraska-Omaha
8. Will Tedder, Mercyhurst (Pa.)

165 Pounds
1. J.D. Naig, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Dwayne Coward, North Carolina-Pembroke
3. Mark Glova, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Zachary Schafer, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Aaron Dalton, Nebraska-Kearney
6. Mark Murphy, Shippensburg (Pa.)
7. Nathan Jones, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
8. Cody Henriksen, Augustana (S.D.)

174 Pounds
1. Aaron Meister, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
2. Dusty Wilking, Augustana (S.D.)
3. Tom Bauer, Ashland (Ohio)
4. Travis Krinke, Minnesota State-Mankato
5. Jason Radtke, Gannon (Pa.)
6. Careef Robertson, Anderson (S.C.)
7. Andy Sinclair, Northern State (S.D.)
8. Paul Bergman, Mercyhurst (Pa.)

184 Pounds
1. Tom Meester, Augustana (S.D.)
2. Corey Jacoby, Shippensburg (Pa.)
3. Greg Nurrenbern, Truman State (Mo.)
4. Bryan Tapley, Central Oklahoma
5. Kris Klepacz, Findlay (Ohio)
6. Ben McAvinew, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
7. Kevin Grece, Central Missouri State
8. Brett Wade, Kutztown (Pa.)

197 Pounds
1. Jeff Sylvester, Nebraska-Kearney
2. Kevin Lochner, Central Oklahoma
3. Howard Bell, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
4. Justin Mautz, Mercyhurst (Pa.)
5. Josh Janousek, Minnesota State-Mankato
6. Corey Winston, North Carolina-Pembroke
7. Plamen Paskalev, Central Missouri State
8. Tim Boldt, Augustana (S.D.)

285 Pounds
1. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Andrew Ubben, Fort Hays State (Kan.)
3. Aldo Campea, Ashland (Ohio)
4. Matt Meyer, Wisconsin-Parkside
5. Derek Thompson, Colorado School of Mines
6. Zach Majocha, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)
7. Daren Murphy, San Francisco State
8. Mike Engelmann, Minnesota State-Mankato


Yours in wrestling,

The Swayz
swayz.wrestling@gmail.com recruiting help, promoting the sport& more!