NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships

The NCAADivision IIWrestling Championships for individuals and teams were first officially sponsored in 1963 and have since been held annually.[1]

The NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships is a double-elimination tournament for individuals competing in ten weight classes. Sixteen wrestlers in each class[2] qualify through four "Super Regional" tournaments.[3] During the championships, individual match winners earn points based on the level and quality of the victory, which are totaled to determine the team championship standings.

In addition to determining the national championship, the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships also determine the Division II All-America team. The top eight finishers in each weight class qualify for Division II All-American status.

On March 13, 2020, the NCAA cancelled all of its 2020 wrestling championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Team champions

YearHost city(Host institution)Team championshipMost Outstanding Wrestler(Team) (Weight)
WinnerPointsRunner-upPoints
1963Cedar Falls, IA(State College of Iowa)Western State (CO)(1)62Southern Illinois57Not awarded
1964Cedar Falls, IA(State College of Iowa)Western State (CO)(2)51Colorado School of Mines49Not awarded
1965Golden, CO(Colorado School of Mines)Mankato State(1)57Cal Poly54Not awarded
1966Mankato, MN(Mankato State College)Cal Poly(1)55Wilkes51Warren Crow (Albany) (123)
1967Wilkes-Barre, PA(Wilkes College)Portland State(1)86Mankato State57Rich Sanders (Portland State) (115)
1968Mankato, MN(Mankato State College)Cal Poly(2)91Portland State62Rich Sanders (Portland State) (123)
1969San Luis Obispo, CA(California State Polytechnic College)Cal Poly(3)127Colorado State College81Carl Ragland (Old Dominion) (152)
1970Ashland, OH(Ashland College)Cal Poly(4)82Northern Iowa58Terry Hall(Cal Poly) (118)
1971Fargo, ND(North Dakota State University)Cal Poly(5)118Slippery Rock State58Stan Dziedzic(Slippery Rock State) (150)
1972Oswego, NY(State University of New York at Oswego)Cal Poly(6)94North Dakota StateNorthern Iowa6512Wade Schalles(Clarion State) (150)
1973Brookings, SD(South Dakota State University)Cal Poly(7)108Clarion State80Larry Morgan (Cal Poly) (134)
1974Fullerton, CA(California State University, Fullerton)Cal Poly(8)112Northern Iowa9512Floyd Hitchcock(Bloomsburg State) (177)
1975East Stroudsburg, PA(East Stroudsburg State College)Northern Iowa(1)124SIU Edwardsville7112Randy Batten(Chattanooga) (118)
1976Fargo, ND(North Dakota State University)Cal State Bakersfield(1)9212Chattanooga8814Rick Jensen(South Dakota State) (126)
1977Cedar Falls, IA(University of Northern Iowa)Cal State Bakersfield(2)10714Augustana (SD)78Franc Affentranger(Cal State Bakersfield) (134)
1978Cedar Falls, IA(University of Northern Iowa)Northern Iowa(2)124Cal State Bakersfield10012John Azevedo (Cal State Bakersfield) {118)
1979Brookings, SD(South Dakota State University)Cal State Bakersfield(3)11234Eastern Illinois11212Joe Gonzales(Cal State Bakersfield) {118)
1980Omaha, NE(University of Nebraska Omaha)Cal State Bakersfield(4)11012Northern Iowa89Brian Parlet(Augustana (SD)) (177)
1981Davis, CA(University of California, Davis)Cal State Bakersfield(5)14412Eastern Illinois98Dan Cuestas(Cal State Bakersfield) (126)
1982Kenosha, WI(University of Wisconsin–Parkside)Cal State Bakersfield(6)16612North Dakota State7834Mike Langlais(North Dakota State) (142)
1983Fargo, ND(North Dakota State University)Cal State Bakersfield(7)10712North Dakota State10334Jessie Reyes(Cal State Bakersfield) (142)
1984Baltimore, MD(Morgan State University)SIU Edwardsville(1)14112Cal State Bakersfield93John Davis(Morgan State) (158)
1985Fairborn, OH(Wright State University)SIU Edwardsville(2)13234Nebraska–Omaha8414Koln Knight(Augustana College (SD)) (190)
1986Edwardsville, IL(Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)SIU Edwardsville(3)119Edinboro10612Koln Knight(Augustana (SD)) (190)
1987Edwardsville, IL(Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville)Cal State Bakersfield(8)9012SIU Edwardsville6912Daryl Pope(Cal State Bakersfield) (184)
1988Omaha, NE(University of Nebraska Omaha)North Dakota State(1)88Nebraska–Omaha8134Carlton Haselrig(Pittsburgh–Johnstown) (Hwt.)
1989California, PA(California University of Pennsylvania)Portland State(2)1021 2Ferris State56 14Dan Russell(Portland State) (150)
1990Kenosha, WI(University of Wisconsin–Parkside)Portland State(3)10034Central State (OK)96Dan Russell(Portland State) (158)
1991Fargo, ND(North Dakota State University)Nebraska–Omaha(1)7912Central State (OK)64Dan Russell{Portland State) (167)
1992Greeley, CO(University of Northern Colorado)Central Oklahoma(1)9112North Dakota StatePortland State7812Mike Leberknight(Northern Colorado) (177)
1993Brookings, SD(South Dakota State University)Central Oklahoma(2)10812Nebraska–Omaha68Glen Frank(Colorado School of Mines) (134)
1994Pueblo, CO(University of Southern Colorado)Central Oklahoma(3)12714Mankato State6712Brian Melchiori(Central Oklahoma) (126)
1995Kearney, NE(University of Nebraska at Kearney)Central Oklahoma(4)148Nebraska–Omaha103Brian Kapusta(North Dakota State) (118)
1996Greeley, CO(University of Northern Colorado)Pittsburgh–Johnstown(1)8612Central Oklahoma8112Chad Lamer(South Dakota State) (190)
1997Fargo, ND(North Dakota State University)San Francisco State(1)95Nebraska–Omaha81Nate Hendrickson(Moorhead State) (167)
1998Pueblo, CO(University of Southern Colorado)North Dakota State(2)112South Dakota State78Travis King(South Dakota State) (150)
1999Omaha, NE(University of Nebraska Omaha)Pittsburgh–Johnstown(2)110Nebraska–Omaha10512Jody Strittmatter(Pittsburgh–Johnstown) (125)
2000Brookings, SD(South Dakota State University)North Dakota State(3)9112Central Oklahoma75Kris Nelson(North Dakota State) (133)
2001Greeley, CO(University of Northern Colorado)North Dakota State(4)9812South Dakota State91Steve Saxlund(North Dakota State) (184)
2002Kenosha, WI(University of Wisconsin–Parkside)Central Oklahoma(5)128North Dakota State11612Todd Fuller(North Dakota State) (174)
2003Wheeling, WV(West Liberty State College)Central Oklahoma(6)8712Nebraska–Kearney7312Cole Province(Central Oklahoma) (133)
2004Mankato, MN(Minnesota State University, Mankato)Nebraska–Omaha(2)9712North Dakota State95Waylon Lowe(Findlay) (165)
2005Omaha, NE(University of Nebraska Omaha)Nebraska–Omaha(3)10912Augustana (SD)101Tom Meester(Augustana (SD)) (184)
2006Findlay, OH(University of Findlay)Nebraska–Omaha(4)117Nebraska–Kearney9812Les Sigman(Nebraska–Omaha) (Hwt.)
2007Kearney, NE(University of Nebraska at Kearney)Central Oklahoma(7)12412Nebraska–Kearney10812J.D. Naig(Nebraska–Omaha) (174)
2008Cedar Rapids, IA(Upper Iowa University)Nebraska–Kearney(1)10812Minnesota State108Cody Garcia(Nebraska–Omaha) (125)
2009Houston, TX(NCAA Division II)Nebraska–Omaha(5)14612Newberry8012Joe Kemmerer(Kutztown) (133)
2010Omaha, NE(University of Nebraska Omaha)Nebraska–Omaha(6)131Augustana (SD)72Shane Valko(Pittsburgh–Johnstown) (133)
2011Kearney, NE(University of Nebraska at Kearney)Nebraska–Omaha(7)10212St. Cloud State9012Donovan McMahill(Western State (CO)) (197)
2012Pueblo, CO(Colorado State University Pueblo)Nebraska–Kearney(2)107St. Cloud State95Luke McPeek(Adams State) (197)
2013Birmingham, AL(NCAA Division II)Nebraska–Kearney(3)108St. Cloud State105Shamus O’Grady(St. Cloud State) (184)
2014Cleveland, OH(NCAA Division II)Notre Dame (OH)(1)9912Nebraska–Kearney6412Casy Rowell(Central Oklahoma) (133)
2015St. Louis, MO(Maryville University)St. Cloud State(1)8412Nebraska–Kearney7612Chris Watson(Central Oklahoma) (165)
2016Sioux Falls, SD(Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference & Sioux Falls Sports Authority)St. Cloud State(2)90Notre Dame (OH)82Joey Davis(Notre Dame (OH)) (184)
2017Birmingham, AL(University of Alabama in Huntsville)Notre Dame (OH)(2)103.5St. Cloud State67DeAndre’ Johnson (Limestone) (157),
2018Cedar Rapids, IA(Upper Iowa University)St. Cloud State(3)92.5Notre Dame (OH)84Nick Becker(Wisconsin–Parkside) (174)
2019Cleveland, OH(NCAA Division II)St. Cloud State(4)95.5Wheeling Jesuit87.5Shane Ruhnke(Millersville) (165)
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021St. Louis, MO(NCAA Division II)St. Cloud State(5)107Nebraska–Kearney105.5Lukas Martin(Fairmont State) (149)
2022St. Louis, MO(NCAA Division II)Nebraska–Kearney(4)127Central Oklahoma86Darrell Mason(Minnesota State) (285)
2023Cedar Rapids, IA(NCAA Division II)Central Oklahoma(8)121Lander78Josiah Rider(Adams State) (149)
2024Wichita, KS(NCAA Division II)Central Oklahoma(9)110Lander86.5Derek Blubaugh(Indianapolis) (197)
2025Indianapolis, IN(University of Indianapolis & Indiana Sports Corp)Nebraska–Kearney(5)115Augustana (SD)63
2026Sioux Falls, SDNebraska–Kearney(6)83Parkside78
Reference:[6][1][7]

Note: Shaded scores = Closest margin of victory, 14 point in 1979 & widest margin of victory, 8814 points in 1982.

Team titles

  • List updated through the 2026 Championships
Team#Winning years
Central Oklahoma91992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2023, 2024
Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo81966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
Cal State Bakersfield81976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987
Omaha(Nebraska–Omaha)71991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
Nebraska–Kearney62008, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2025, 2026
St. Cloud State52015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
North Dakota State41988, 1998, 2000, 2001
Portland State31967, 1989, 1990
SIU Edwardsville31984, 1985, 1986
Northern Iowa21975, 1978
Notre Dame (OH)22014, 2017
Pitt–Johnstown21996, 1999
Western Colorado(Western State)21963, 1964
Minnesota State(Mankato State)11965
San Francisco State11997

Winning streaks

Source[1]

SchoolTeam titlesYears
Cal Poly71968–1974
Cal State Bakersfield51979–1983
Central Oklahoma41992–1995
SIU Edwardsville31984–1986
Nebraska–Omaha32004–2006
Nebraska–Omaha32009–2011

Division II wrestlers to Division I championships

Sources[8][9]

Through 1989, the Division II finalists advanced to the Division I championships, held the following week, where many athletes earned All-American recognition in two divisions during the same season. This practice was discontinued after Carlton Haselrig of the Pittsburgh–Johnstown Mountain Cats won the Division II heavyweight title and advanced to Division I, where he also won the heavyweight title three years in a row, 1987–89.

Former Division II team champions now in Division I

Source[10]

SchoolChampionshipsYear movedCurrent wrestling conference(as of 2026–27)Note
Cal Poly8–1966, 1968–741975Pac-12 Conference[f 1]
Portland State3–1969, 1989–901996Dropped wrestling in 2009 for economic reasons
Cal State Bakersfield8–1976–77, 1979–83, 19871988Pac-12 Conference[f 1]
UNI2–1975, 19781982Big 12 Conference[f 2]Won single division (now DI) title in 1950
SIUE3–1984–862009Southern Conference[f 3]
North Dakota State4–1988, 1998, 2000–012004Pac-12 Conference[f 4]
Omaha7–1991, 2004–06, 2009–112012School dropped wrestling at start of its transition to Division I[f 5]
Notes
  1. 12Primary conference: Big West
  2. Primary conference: Missouri Valley
  3. Primary conference: Ohio Valley
  4. Primary conference: Summit League
  5. Omaha coach Mike Denny and several wrestlers moved to Maryville University to begin a "new" program.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1234"Division II Wrestling Championships Records Book"(PDF). NCAA. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  2. "2015 NCAA Division II Championships (Brackets)"(PDF). NCAA. March 2, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  3. "Breakdown, 2015 Super Regions"(PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  4. "2020 NCAA Tournament canceled due to growing threat of coronavirus pandemic".
  5. "First time for everything". NCAA. March 15, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  6. "Division II Wrestling Championships Records Book"(PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. "History confirmed". NCAA. March 25, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  8. "Wrestling Division II Highlights and History, 2014-15"(PDF). NCAA. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  9. "Wrestling Division I Highlights and History, 2014-15"(PDF). NCAA. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  10. "NCAA Sports Sponsorship". NCAA. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  11. "Wrestling coach rebounds at Maryville after setback". St.Louis Post-Dispatch/St.Louis Today. March 13, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2015.