Wrestling

Wolves Picked Third In Pre-Season Wrestling Poll

October 17, 2007
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Northern State wrestling team was picked to finish third in the 2007-08 NSIC Wrestling Pre-Season Coaches Poll, released today by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate office. Defending NSIC Champion Upper Iowa was predicted to repeat in 2007-08 and MSU Moorhead narrowly edged out NSU for second place in the poll. The Wolves had three grapplers picked to finish at the top of their weight classes.

Northern State received 58 points in the pre-season poll, just shy of the 60 points received by MSU Moorhead. MSUM finished at second place in the 2006-07 regular season while the Wolves finished in third place. The poll predicted all NSIC teams to finish the same in 2007-08 as they did last season.

Three Northern State wrestlers were picked to finish in first place in their respective weight classes. Senior Andy Sinclair (Gregory, S.D.) returns from injury at the 174-lb class. He was a 2005 National qualifier and went 5-0 in action last season. Cale Cornemann (Yankton, S.D.) will compete his sophomore season at the 184-lb class, where he placed third at the 2006-07 Regionals and made a National Tournament appearance. Finally, Todd Naasz (Mobridge, S.D.) will compete for his final season with the Wolves. At the 197-lb class, Naasz finished fifth at last year's Regionals and was a National qualifier in 2005.

The Wolves kick off their season on November 3 at the South Dakota State Open.

2007-08 NSIC Wrestling Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1 Upper Iowa University        74
2 MSU Moorhead                 60
3 Northern State University    58
4 Southwest Minnesota State 25
5 University of Mary              13

2007-08 NSIC Wrestling Pre-Season Individual Rankings
125lbs
1. Tyler Mumbulo, Jr, UIU (All American, 2x Regional Runner Up)
2. Chas Welch, Sr, NSU (National Qualifier, 3rd at Regionals)
3. Kurt Smith, Sr, SMSU (5th at Regionals)
4. Joe Werner, Jr, MSUM (6th at Regionals)
5. Cody Schmidt, So, Mary

133lbs
1. Jacob Pedersen, Jr, UIU (defeated McFarland in feb. dual)
2. Troy McFarland, Sr, MSUM (2x National Qualifier)
3. Ryan Reed, Sr, SMSU
4. Rick Schiley, Fr, NSU (4x hs state place winner)
5. Dustin Kleppe, So, Mary

141lbs
1. Kelly Janke, Jr, MSUM (National Qualifier)
2. Dave Schiley, So, NSU (6th at Regionals)
3. Layne Greedy, Sr, UIU
4. Tanner Skillings, Fr, SMSU
5. Joey Irmen, Sr, Mary

149lbs
1. Tee Adams, Sr, UIU (National Qualifier, 3rd at Regionals)
2. Luke Geise, So, SMSU (5th at Regionals)
3. Dustin Bonn, So, NSU
4. Derek Bomsted, Fr, MSUM
5. Shawn Sneva, So, Mary

157lbs
1. Travis Eggers, So, UIU (National Qualifier 1-2, Regional Runner Up)
2. Shane Walton, Sr, MSUM (2x National Qualifier @ 149lbs)
3. Phillip Downs, So, NSU
4. Devin Nagel, Sr, Mary
5. Logan McAlpine, Fr, SMSU

165lbs
1. Rockie Stavn, So, MSUM (05 All American)
2. Mitch Norton, So, UIU (National Qualifier 1-2, 3rd at Regionals)
3. CD Johnson, So, SMSU
4. Donnie Bowden, Fr, NSU (3x high school place winner)
5. Lance Piatz, Fr, Mary

174lbs
1. Andy Sinclair, Sr, NSU (05 National Qualifier, 5-0 last season before inj)
2. Jarrett Hall, Jr, MSUM (2x Juco All American)
3. Brady Hakeman, Sr, UIU (2x 5th at Regionals, beat multiple AA’s last season)
4. David Oliver, Jr, Mary
5. Greg Frank, Sr, SMSU

184lbs
1. Cale Corneman, So, NSU (National Qualifier, 3rd at Regionals)
2. Tyler Tubbs, Jr, MSUM (National Qualifier @ 174, 3rd at Regionals)
3. Tyler Johnson, Jr, SMSU (23-13 @ 174)
4. Tony Gehling, Jr, UIU
5. Kurt Wiedrich, So, Mary

197lbs
1. Todd Naasz, Sr, NSU (05 National Qualifier, 5th at Regionals)
2. Matt Norton, Jr, UIU
3. Matt Nelson, Jr, MSUM
4. Kevin McCleary, So, Mary
5. Cody Chamblin, Sr, SMSU

285lbs
1. Dan Goodson, Sr, UIU (All American, Regional Runner Up)
2. Jesse Laber, Sr, Mary (05 NAIA National Champ @ 197)
3. Tim Johnson, Jr, MSUM (Juco All American)
4. Jared Little, So, NSU (6th at Regionals)
5. OPEN, SMSU