BLANCHARD MOVES TO THIRD SPOT IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

ABERDEEN, SD - After receiveing the fifth spot in the NCAA national preseason rankings, Northern State senior Baron Blanchard (HWT, Kindred, N.D.) moved up to the third spot in the heavyweight division according to the rankings released by the NCAA II Wrestling Coaches Association on Dec. 10.

This season, Blanchard has posted a 13-2 record including wins in the St. Cloud Invite and the Dakota Wesleyan Open and runner-up finishes in the South Dakota State Open and the Concordia Open. Blanchard earned a win over No. 4-ranked Joe Bryce of North Dakota State en route to the championship this past weekend at the St. Cloud Invite.

Blanchard, who placed seventh in the NCAA national wrestling meet as a junior completed the 2002-03 season with a 26-9 overall record and became Northern State’s first all-American since Dale Daugherty in 1999.

Blanchard and the Wolves will be in action again on Jan. 8 when they face No. 15 South Dakota State in Brookings at 7 p.m.

NCAA II Heavyweight Rankings (Dec. 10)
1. Les Sigman, Nebraska-Omaha
2. Willie McCowan, Central Missouri State
3. Baron Blanchard, Northern State
4. Joe Bryce, North Dakota State
5. Andrew Ubben, Fr. Hays State
6. Aldo Campea, Ashland
7. Evan Love, Indianapolis
8. Chris Bulley, West Liberty State