2020-21 NCAA Division II Rankings

NCAA DII 165-Pound Rankings

165 has a lot of firepower returning or joining the weight from different weights. Devin Fitzpatrick returns as the highest-seeded wrestler from nationals. His only loss last season was to Foster of McKendree who has since graduated. He has not wrestled any of the other top-five guys. Fred Green was a transfer at semester last season, going undefeated with a win over Matt Malcolm who was a returning national champion from the year prior. Malcolm has the best credentials, but his loss to Green, and Green having nothing to jump Fitzpatrick, sets the top three this way to start the season. 

Alex Farenchak had a great freshman season last year, with a number of quality wins. He finished as a Super Region runner-up last year and he will be one to watch to see if he can take that next step up this season. Kameron Frame of Newman (KS) is making the jump from 157 last season. Frame went into nationals with a 21-4 record and a #4 seed. We will have to see how he handles the weight change. Another weight change to watch is Marty Verhaeghe of Fort Hays St., who is coming down from 174. He will be one to keep an eye on. He beat Jones of McKendree at Regionals last year who is starting the season off as the #1 wrestler at 174 this season. One other note, Dayton Garrett of Central Oklahoma did not qualify last season, but he did have a pin over Farenchak at the Midwest Classic.

Freshmen to Watch

Cory Peterson - McKendree - 3x Missouri state placer, 1x champ. He had many quality wins during redshirt season.

Questions or comments? Email Ryan Bauer about the Division II rankings at rbauer@lps.org.