Five Things to Watch At The NCAA Division 2 Super Regionals

NCAA Division II postseason wrestling begins Saturday with six Super Regional tournaments across the country. The top three wrestlers in each weight class move on to the D2 NCAA Championships March 15-16 in Hartman Arena in Park City Kansas. 

For the teams with national title aspirations, such as #1 Central Oklahoma, #2 Lander, #3 St. Cloud State and #4 West Liberty, this weekend is about setting up a championship chase. 

Here are five things to watch for at the Division 2 Super Regionals this Saturday. 

Home Mat Advantage? 

West Liberty University and Lander University will be wrestling on their home mats and anticipate a rowdy and raucous atmosphere. Will the home crowd advantage pay dividends on the mat?  

West Liberty comes into the weekend on a six-match dual winning streak and is anchored by returning champion and #1 Ty McGeary at 184 pounds with five other ranked wrestlers, including #4 Khyvon Grace (141), #12 Nico Taddy(149), #6 Jamar Williams(157), #10 Alec Cook(165), and #4 Francesco Borsellino (285). The Hilltoppers won the Super Regional Tournament last year and are looking to build off a sixth-place finish at the NCAA tournament. 

Lander has been on a tear over the last two seasons, finishing as the national runner-up last season and winning the Midwest Classic this season. The Bearcats have a loaded roster of wrestlers including, #1 James Joplin (125), #9 Jack Tangen (157), #1 David Hunsberger (165), and #3 Juan Edmond-Holmes (285). While these ranked wrestlers alone could make some serious noise this weekend, the Bearcats also have returning All-American Elijah Lusk (133) and two-time All-American and 2022 NCAA champion, Zeth Brower (141), in the lineup as well. 

Grand Valley’s Return to Postseason Wrestling

The Grand Valley State University Lakers will compete in postseason wrestling for the first time in more than 30 years after the university dropped wrestling in 1993. Coach Joey Simcoe’s squad has had a successful first season, a fact that Simcoe attributes to the team coming together quickly. 

“The biggest thing was creating a family atmosphere and getting the guys to believe in each other and in themselves,” Simcoe said. “To watch that throughout the year has been incredible.” 

However, the GVSU squad is not just happy to be a part of the action. The Lakers are currently ranked 14th and they are looking to make an impact in March. The Lakers have a trio of ranked wrestlers in #2 Chris Donathan (149), #3 Josh Kenny (174), and #9 Wyatt Miller (197). 

“The mindsets got to be business, it all comes down to one day,” Simcoe said. “It doesn’t matter if you are 0-22 or 22-0, the top three go on.” 

Firepower in Minot

Minot State University in North Dakota will serve as the host for Super Region Five. The region is full of firepower and boasts six teams ranked in the top 20 and 36 individuals ranked in the top 12. The next closest region has 20 wrestlers ranked in the top 12. 

Two of the most hotly contested weight classes in the region will be 133 and 184 which have six and five ranked wrestlers, respectively. The 133-pound weight class will feature #5 Reece Barnhardt (UMary), #7 Matt Chi (UW-Parkside), #8 Jason Henschel (Northern State), #9 James Davis (Upper Iowa), #10 Beau Klingensmith (Sioux Falls), and #11 Wayne Joint (Minot State). 

Another bracket to follow in Minot is at 184 pounds which includes #4 Reece Worachek (UW-Parkside), #6 Bryce Fitzpatrick (St. Cloud State), #7 Cade Mueller (Augustana), #8 Colter Bye (Upper Iowa), and #9 Wyatt Lidberg (UMary). With only three wrestlers qualifying in each weight class this region will be one to watch on Saturday.  

Potential NCAA Finals Previews 

Three weight classes at Super Regionals will feature the #1 and #2 nationally-ranked wrestlers. At 149 pounds in Region Two, #1 Christian Small (Lake Erie) could meet #2 Chris Donathan (Grand Valley State). Small was the 2023 national runner-up, losing to Chris Donathan’s brother, Zack Donathan (Tiffin) in the finals. Both Donathan and Small enter the weekend with a one-loss record, with both losses due to medical forfeits. 

For Lake Erie coach Boomer Fechko, Small’s rise to the top is no fluke. 

“He is a leader by example, you watch those guys [like Small] they train at a super-high level, they are not All-Americans by mistake,” he said. 

Another match-up of top-ranked wrestlers is in region two at 184 pounds as West Liberty’s #1 Ty McGeary will be in the bracket with #2 Daniel Beemer (Ashland). McGeary is the returning national champion at 184 pounds and he will look to continue his undefeated season. Beemer is also undefeated on the year and is a returning All-American, placing 3rd at last year’s NCAA tournament. 

The two wrestlers met in both the Super Regionals and national tournament last year with Beemer winning the regional and McGeary defeating Beemer in the semifinals at the NCAA’s. 

Perhaps the most anticipated rematch of returning finalists at 197 pounds in region four. #1 Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma) will be in the bracket with #2 Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis). These two have met several times over the last three seasons, most notably, twice in the NCAA tournament finals. So far, Abney has had the upper hand with a 5-1 record and two national titles, although last year it was by a narrow 1-0 margin. If they wrestle this weekend, it will be their first match against each other since the NCAA finals in 2023. 

Can Lander and Central Oklahoma All 10?

The top two teams in the national rankings are aiming to advance their full lineup to the NCAA Championships. 

Central Oklahoma coach Todd Steidley knows that although they have had a great season so far, the real test is yet to come. 

"We've done a lot of good things to this point, but we have to put that all behind us and focus on what's ahead,” he said. "Everything we've worked for comes down to how we do in the regional. We're in one of the toughest regions in the country and it's going to be a tremendous challenge for us. I like the way our guys have been working to get ready and I'm excited about our chances."

The Bronchos and Bearcats finished last season as #1 and #2, with Central Oklahoma pulling away at that national tournament. Lander has four wrestlers ranked in the top 12 but its region stacks up favorably for a big showing on Saturday as there is only one weight class with three ranked wrestlers in it. 

For the Bronchos, the road may be a bit more challenging, but they have the firepower with six wrestlers ranked in the top 12 including returning champions Dalton Abney (197) and Shawn Streck (285).