What: Division II National Championships Where: Chaifetz Arena – St Louis, Missouri When: March 13-14 Follow on Twitter: @iawrestle Follow on Trackwrestling: http://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=169695009 Championship Website: http://stlsports.org/special-event/dii-wrestling/ 133 – Dakota Bauer (Maryville University) Redshirt Sophomore – Ballard of Huxley/Iowa City West 2014 All Americans 1st – Casey Rowell (Central Oklahoma) Sr 2nd – Daniel DeShazer (Nebraska-Kearney) So 3rd – Michael Labry (Ashland University) So 4th – Dustin Stodola (Chadron State) Sr 5th – Brenden Murphy (McKendree University) Sr 6th – Evan Yenolevich (Kutztown) Sr 7th – Nathan Rodriguez (Ouachita Baptist) Fr 8th – Isaiah Hurtado (San Francisco State) Jr 2015 – http://www.Intermatwrestle.com/rankings/d2 #1 – Daniel DeShazer (Nebraska-Kearney) Jr #2 – Michael Labry (Ashland University) Jr #3 – Nathan Rodriguez (Ouachita Baptist) So #4 – Nick Crume (University of Indianapolis) So #5 – Sam White (Notre Dame, OH) Jr #6 – Jordan Gurrola (San Francisco State) So #7 – Eric Hughes (Colorado State-Pueblo) Sr #8 – Dakota Bauer (Maryville University) So Bauer’s Outlook/side of bracket – Dakota (11-10) comes into the championships fresh off a runner-up finsh at the regional qualifier; where he lost in the finals to 2014 All American #3 Rodriguez (Ouachita Baptist). He will have to come out ready to go as he drew #7 Hughes (Colorado State-Pueblo) in the first round. If Dakota was able to make it past him #5 White (Notre Dame, OH) would likely be waiting in the quarters. It looks as though #2 Labry (Ashland University) will come out of the bottom quarter of this half of the bracket. I think Bauer has a great opportunity to become an All American the first year in his new division, how high he climbs up the stand will ultimately be up to him. Other side – Returning finalist and 2013 National Champion DeShazer is looking to make a return trip to the top of the podium. He comes in on a 17 match winning streak and will likely face #4 Crume (U of Indianapolis) in the quarters. #3 Rodriguez looks like he will make it out of his quarterfinal match-up and face the winner in the semis. Finals Prediction – #2 Labry vs #1 DeShazer 174 – Zeb Wahle (Maryville University) Redshirt Sophomore – Lewis Central 2014 All Americans – 1st – Joey Davis (Notre Dame, OH) So 2nd – Adam Walters (U of Findley) Sr 3rd – Patrick Martinez (Nebraska-Kearney) Sr 4th – Elliot Copeland (Western State Colorado) Jr 5th – Chester Granard (Colorado Mesa) Sr 6th – Zeb Wahle (Maryville University) Fr* 7th – Trevor Grant (CSU-Pueblo) Sr 8th – Blaze Shade (UNC-Pembroke) So *2014 NCAA Results – Zeb Wahle Lost to Trevor Grant (Colorado State-Pueblo) 6-1 Beat Conner Monk (Minnesota State-Moorhead) 12-6 Beat August Mizia (Mercyhurst) 7-6 Beat Blaze Shade (UNC-Pembroke) 3-1 SV Lost to Pat Martinez (Nebraska-Kearney) 3-2 Lost to Chester Granard (Colorado Mesa) 5-2 2015 – http://www.Intermatwrestle.com/rankings/d2 #1 – Joey Davis (Notre Dame, OH) Jr #2 – Elliot Copeland (Western State Colorado) Sr #3 – Zeb Wahle (Maryville University) So #4 – Terrance Zaleski (UNC-Pembroke) Sr #5 – August Mizia (Mercyhurst) Jr #6 – Jacob Begin (Southwest Minnesota State) Sr #7 – Payne Hatter (Ouachita Baptist) Jr #8 – Joe Pittman (Newberry) Jr Wahle’s Outlook/side of bracket – Wahle (24-6) comes in having only lost to #1 Davis (Notre Dame, OH) within the division both of those close decisions (6-5 and 3-1 SV). Zeb won his regional and put himself in a great spot in the bracket he will have unranked opponents in the first 2 rounds. #8 Pittman (Newberry) and #5 Mizia (Mercyhurst) meet in the other quarter winner will likely see Wahle in the semis. I look for Wahle to take care of business on his side and setup another rematch with Davis in the finals, hope the third time is a charm for the Sophomore from western Iowa. Other side – Defending champ and #1 ranked Davis (Notre Dame, OH) comes in with a perfect 28-0 and record. He will see #4 Zaleski (UNC-Pembroke) in the quarters and looks like #2 Copeland (Western State Colorado) in the semis. Finals Prediction – #3 Wahle vs #1 Davis Hwt – Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa University) Redshirt Sophomore – New Hampton 2014 All Americans 1st – Ziad Haddad (Kutztown) Jr 2nd – Jacob Mitchell (Cal Baptist) Jr 3rd – Steve Butler (Lindenwood) Jr 4th – Donnell Walker (Maryville) Fr 5th – Evan Wooding (U of Indianapolis) Sr 6th – Austin Goergen (St Cloud State) Fr 7th – Josh Duplin (Pitt-Johnstown) So 8th – Matt Wade (Newberry) Sr 2014 NCAA Results – Logan Hopp Lost to Donnell Walker (Maryville) 3-2 Beat Lorenzo Serna (Newman) 5-3 Lost to Evan Wooding (U of Indianapolis) Fall 7:45 2015 – http://www.Intermatwrestle.com/rankings/d2 #1 – Ziad Haddad (Kutztown) Sr #2 – Garrett Grey (Tiffin) So #3 – Austin Goergen (St Cloud State) So #4 – Jack Page (Fort Hays State) Sr #5 – Jordan Passehl (Colorado Mesa) Sr #6 – Andrew Ewers (Shorter) Sr #7 – Cole Wilson (Southwest Minnesota State) Jr #8 – Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa University) So Hopp’s Outlook/side of bracket – Logan (31-6) enters the tournament with a 3rd place finish at the regional qualifier losing his first match before rattling off 5 straight wins to finish the weekend 5-1. He will open this year’s tournament with #6 Ewers (Shorter) if he can make it past him defending champion and #1 ranked Haddad (Kutztown) should be waiting in the quarters. #4 Page (Fort Hays State) and #7 Wilson (Southwest Minnesota State) are also on this half of the bracket. I think a top six finish is very possible for Hopp. Other side – This side features #2 Grey (Tiffin) who coming in with his only 2 losses both coming to Division I wrestlers in Walz (Va Tech) and Coon (Michigan). He has what looks to be a clear path to the semis. Look for returning All American #3 Goergen (St Cloud State) and #5 Passehl (Colorado Mesa) to meet in the bottom quarter. Finals Prediction – #1 Haddad vs #3 Goergen
