With the humbling experiment that was my Division II picks, why not subject myself to even more punishment by going round-by-round and picking things for the NCAA Division I championships. I mean, really, everyone has just as much of a chance to get more picks right based on their own favorite teams and personal associations than any of the “experts,” but we do it because it’s fun.

 

I spent time Monday night at my less than stellar digs at the Carol Hotel in Omaha filling out Division I brackets. I looked at the possibility of an upset, because they happen, and how things might shake out. Do I have reasons for things? I’d like to think so, but here’s my full view of how I think things could end up when we kick off the tournament.

 

 

Am I crazy? Have I lost it with some of these? Log-in and leave your opinions below.

 

 

 

125

1. Angel Escobedo (Indiana)

2. Troy Nickerson (Cornell)

3. Anthony Robles (Arizona State)

4. Matt McDonough (Iowa)

5. Zach Sanders (Minnesota)

6. Brad Pataky (Penn State)

7. James Nicholson (Old Dominion)

8. Andrew Long (Iowa State)

 

Quarters

Escobedo over Pataky

Robles over Long

McDonough over Sanders

Nickerson over Nicholson

 

Semis

Escobedo over Robles

Nickerson over McDonough

 

Round of 12

Sanders over Kjar

Nicholson over Garnett

Pataky over Notte

Long over Martinez

 

133 pounds

1. Jayson Ness (Minnesota)

2. Franklin Gomez (Michigan State)

3. Daniel Dennis (Iowa)

4. Mike Grey (Cornell)

5. Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State)

6. Tyler Graff (Wisconsin)

7. Steve Mytych (Drexel)

8. Boris Novachkov (Cal Poly)

 

Quarters

Ness over Graff

Oliver over Mytych

Gomez over Fisk

Grey over Dennis

 

Semis

Ness over Oliver

Gomez over Grey

 

Round of 12

Novachkov over Fisk

Dennis over Bell

Graff over Sentes

Mytych over Mitcheff

 

141 pounds

1. Reece Humphrey (Ohio State)

2. Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State)

3. Alex Krom (Maryland)

4. Montell Marion (Iowa)

5. Chris Diaz (Virginia Tech)

6. Tyler Nauman (Pittsburgh)

7. Mike Thorn (Minnesota)

8. Elijah Nacita (Cal State-Bakersfield)

 

Quarters

Krom over Nacita

Humphrey over Bailey

Diaz over Thorn

Parks over Nauman

 

Semis

Humphrey over Krom

Parks over Diaz

 

Round of 12

Thorn over Mangrum

Nauman over Lipp

Nacita over Novachkov

Marion over Bailey

 

149 pounds

1. Brent Metcalf (Iowa)

2. Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin)

3. Lance Palmer (Ohio State)

4. Frank Molinaro (Penn State)

5. Matt Kyler (Army)

6. Kyle Terry (Oklahoma)

7. Kyle Borshoff (American)

8. Kevin LeValley (Bucknell)

 

Quarters

Palmer over Stephens

Ruschell over Molinaro

Kyler over Terry

Metcalf over D’Alie

 

Semis

Ruschell over Palmer

Metcalf over Kyler

 

Round of 12

Terry over Fleming

LeValley over D’Alie

Borshoff over Stephens

Molinaro over Chamberlain

 

157 pounds

1. J.P. O’Connor (Harvard)

2. Jesse Dong (Virginia Tech)

3. Cyler Sanderson (Penn State)

4. Adam Hall (Boise State)

5. Steve Fittery (American)

6. Chase Pami (Cal Poly)

7. Bryce Saddoris (Navy)

8. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota)

 

Quarters

O’Connor over Saddoris

Sanderson over Fittery

Dong over Schlatter

Hall over Pami

 

Semis

O’Connor over Sanderson

Dong over Hall

 

Round of 12

Schlatter over Brown

Pami over Moley

Saddoris over Vernon

Fittery over Erisman

 

165 pounds

1. Andrew Howe (Wisconsin)

2. Dan Vallimont (Penn State)

3. Jonathan Reader (Iowa State)

4. Colt Sponseller (Ohio State)

5. Jarrod King (Edinboro)

6. Nick Marable (Missouri)

7. Andy Rendos (Bucknell)

8. Alex Meade (Oklahoma State)

 

Quarters

Howe over Rendos

Sponseller over Reader

Vallimont over Marable

King over Meade

 

Semis

Howe over Sponseller

Vallimont over King

 

Round of 12

Marable over Young

Meade over Grayson

Rendos over Morningstar

Reader over Schmelyun

 

174 pounds

1. Mack Lewnes (Cornell)

2. Jay Borschel (Iowa)

3. Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska)

4. Chris Henrich (Virginia)

5. Josh Patterson (Binghamton)

6. Ben Bennett (Central Michigan)

7. Colby Covington (Oregon State)

8. Mike Benefiel (Oklahoma State)

 

Quarters

Lewnes over Covington

Dwyer over Glasser

Henrich over Benefiel

Borschel over Bennett

 

Semis

Lewnes over Dwyer

Borschel over Henrich

 

Round of 12

Benefiel over Henderson

Bennett over Manuel

Covington over Blanton

Patterson over Glasser

 

184 pounds

1. Dustin Kilgore (Kent State)

2. Kirk Smith (Boise State)

3. John Dergo (Illinois)

4. Max Askren (Missouri)

5. Mike Cannon (American)

6. David Erwin (Penn State)

7. Louis Caputo (Harvard)

8. Phil Keddy (Iowa)

 

Quarters

Smith over Caputo

Cannon over Foster

Kilgore over Askren

Dergo over LeBlanc

 

Semis

Smith over Cannon

Kilgore over Dergo

 

Round of 12

Askren over Craig

Keddy over LeBlanc

Caputo over Pucillo

Erwin over Foster

 

197 pounds

1. Jake Varner (Iowa State)

2. Hudson Taylor (Maryland)

3. Craig Brester (Nebraska)

4. Jesse Strawn (Old Dominion)

5. Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin)

6. Brent Jones (Virginia)

7. Cam Simaz (Cornell)

8. Eric Lapotsky (Oklahoma)

 

Quarters

Varner over Beatty

Jones over C. Simaz

Taylor over Lapotsky

Brester over Strawn

 

Semis

Varner over Jones

Taylor over Brester

 

Round of 12

Lapotsky over Haynes

Strawn over Orozco

Brandvold over Beatty

C. Simaz over Gelogaev

 

285 pounds

1. Dan Erekson (Iowa)

2. Mitch Montiero (Cal State-Bakersfield)

3. David Zabriskie (Iowa State)

4. Mark Ellis (Missouri)

5. Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State)

6. Zach Rey (Lehigh)

7. Nathan Everhart (Indiana)

8. Jarod Trice (Central Michigan)

 

Quarters

Zabriskie over Ellis

Erekson over Dudziak

Montiero over Rey

Rosholt over Trice

 

Semis

Erekson over Zabriskie

Montiero over Rosholt

 

Round of 12

Rey over Steele

Trice over Berhow

Ellis over Brantley

Everhart over Dudziak

As the Division II tournament came to a close on Saturday night, I looked down at the clock on my computer and it read 11:38 p.m. I’d finished up with interviews of all the champions and was rushing back up to the second level press area to edit and upload. I was worn out.

 

The finals started at 8 p.m., which I believe was just a bit late to start. As Craig Sesker and I finished our work, surrounded by hard-working SID’s from Upper Iowa, Minnesota State and the Northern Sun Conference, Nebraska-Omaha head coach Mike Denney grabbed the microphone.

 

This shouldn’t be much of a surprise for folks familiar with UNO and its wrestling program. Denney is the father figure. He instructs things, without a commanding demeanor, but one you respect. The UNO staff had ordered Chipotle and had a spread ready to serve for the parents, alumni and wrestlers … and they did it on the raised stage.

 

The finals mat was on a raised platform, so after the wrestlers rolled up the mats, they grabbed some tables and a bunch of chairs and listened to Denney talk about his team and thank his parents, volunteers and alumni. I was listening to all of it, while waiting for videos to finish uploading.

 

People not from dynasty-like programs seem to not like teams that always win. But when you’re talking about UNO, despite the fact they’ve won five of the last seven Division II championships, there’s a lot of reasons to like the program. Friendly, respectful and humble. Mike Denney exemplifies all those things.

 

So as we finished up, Craig and I split a pizza and some wings with Waterloo Courier wrestling writer Jim Nelson at his hotel. We walked by the sixth floor meeting room where Minnesota State-Mankato coach Jim Makovsky was giving a speech to fans, parents and wrestlers for his team. Makvosky is another guy I would have no problems having my kids wrestle for – when/if I ever have kids. He, like Denney, serves not just as a wrestling coach, but a life coach as well. We had a chance to get to know Jim a lot last year when Kyle Klingman and I were working with Wrestling 411. It’s hard to find two better guys in this sport than Mike Denney and Jim Makovsky.

 

So as it relates to my last blog, how did I do with my Division II picks? I’d say I did ok, but nothing to write home about (yet, something to write a blog about).

 

I hit 13 of the 20 finalists correctly, but only correctly picked two champions, which would put me near the bottom of any pick’em contest in Division II. I correctly picked Craig Becker of UW-Parkside and Nebraska-Kearney’s Marty Usman as champions, but that’s all I had.

 

By the numbers, of the 80 All-Americans, I correctly pegged 17 wrestlers exactly where they placed. I picked 61 of the 80 overall All-Americans. My best weight class was 125, 141, and 285, where I had seven of the eight All-Americans correctly picked (but again, not in the right order). Admittedly, with a 16-man bracket, it’s a bit easier to do than a 33-man bracket, like we’ll see at Division I.

 

Sunday was a recovery day. I was straight up tired. I watched The Amazing Race, Undercover Boss, and the roundball selection show. My alma mater Old Dominion plays Notre Dame in the opening round. I had dinner down by the Qwest Center at a place called the Old Mattress Factory, it was good stuff.

 

Wrestling fans will be happy to know there are plenty of great spots to eat and drink within walking distance from the Qwest … and I’m sure St. Patty’s Day will be a zoo.

What do I know about Division II wrestling? For starters, it's an exciting tournament that should return to form in Omaha. Last year, I attended my first Division II championships and saw some great action, but there was just that "not so great" feeling when realizing the tournament was pushed into a rec center-type gym, with basketballs bouncing and guys doing squats in the gym overlooking the mats during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Now, I don't proclaim to be the world's foremost expert on Division II, but I like filling out brackets. So here's my Top 8 at each of the 10 weight classes in Division II. Feel free to pick them apart, because after all, if you're picking them apart, you're reading them, right?!

I don't live off the rankings when making picks. Sometimes its a gut feeling, sometimes it's just an upset stomach. I'm sure people who know Division II better than I are going to go "WHAT THE!" It's expected. I'm throwing a lot of past results out the window, because what does a previous match mean at this level? Zippo.

For the record, I have no association with any Division II wrestling program. I've covered D2 matches around the country the last 10 years, but the nearest Division II program to my hometown is ... like six hours away. I'm also not buoyed by regionalism. I've lived in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Colorado. That being said ...

And these are never personal. And I might have no idea what I'm talking about.

125 pounds
1. Arsenia Barksdale (Adams State)
2. Seth Wright (New Mexico Highlands)
3. Matt Oliver (Newberry)
4. Tyler Mumbulo (Upper Iowa)
5. Tommy Edgmon (Fort Hays State)
6. Terrell McKinney (Nebraska-Omaha)
7. Russell Weakley (UNC Pembroke)
8. Kenny Trumbetta (Seton Hill)

133 pounds
1. Cody Garcia (Nebraska-Omaha)
2. Shane Valko (Pitt-Johnstown)
3. Naveed Bagheri (San Francisco State)
4. Laramie Shaffer (Augustana)
5. Corey Bowers (Gannon)
6. Joe Morrison (Nebraska-Kearney)
7. Kyle Pedretti (Upper Iowa)
8. Scott Berens (Central Oklahoma)

141 pounds
1. Mario Morgan (Nebraska-Omaha)
2. Jeremy Parker (Limestone)
3. Josh Hensley (Adams State)
4. Jay Sherer (Augustana)
5. Andre Harrison (Fort Hays State)
6. Adam Hluschak (East Stroudsburg)
7. Cory Bloodgood (Central Missouri)
8. Gabe Suarez (St. Cloud State)

149 pounds
1. Craig Becker (UW-Parkside)
2. Esai Dominguez (Nebraska-Omaha)
3. T.J. Hepburn (Nebraska-Kearney)
4. Mitch Smith (West Liberty State)
5. Nate Herda (Augustana)
6. Latra Collick (Newberry)
7. Derek Stolarzyk (Upper Iowa)
8. Kevin McElhaney (Gannon)

157 pounds
1. Danny Grater (Fort Hays State)
2. Sean Byrnes (Newberry)
3. George Ivanov (Nebraska-Omaha)
4. Andy Lamancusa (Mercyhurst)
5. John Sundgren (St. Cloud State)
6. Marcus Edgington (Augustana)
7. Michael Williams (UNC Pembroke)
8. Dillon Bera (UW-Parkside)

165 pounds
1. Josh Shields (Mercyhurst)
2. Travis Eggers (Upper Iowa)
3. Ryan Pankoke (Nebraska-Omaha)
4. Tad Merritt (St. Cloud State)
5. Gavin Nelson (Augustana)
6. Blake Malloy (Fort Hays State)
7. Victor Carazo (Grand Canyon)
8. Kyle Keane (Pitt-Johnstown)

174 pounds
1. Marty Usman (Nebraska-Kearney)
2. J.J. Davis (UNC Pembroke)
3. Aaron Denson (Nebraska-Omaha)
4. Mitch Norton (Upper Iowa)
5. Curtis Chenoweth (Newberry)
6. Shamus O'Grady (St. Cloud State)
7. Chris Barrick (Shippensburg)
8. Matt Bailes (Central Missouri)

184 pounds
1. Austin Boehm (Nebraska-Omaha)
2. Bryant Blanton (Newberry)
3. Tim Darling (Kutztown)
4. Shane Mallory (East Stroudsburg)
5. Derek Skala (St. Cloud State)
6. Charlie Pipher (Western State)
7. Derek Ross (Nebraska-Kearney)
8. Lucas Haag (UW-Parkside)

197 pounds
1. Jacob Marrs (Nebraska-Omaha)
2. Donovan McMahill (Western State)
3. Keeno Griffin (Newberry)
4. Ty Copsey (Augustana)
5. Kyle Sand (Adams State)
6. Mitch Knapp (West Liberty State)
7. Luke Munkelwitz (St. Cloud State)
8. Scott Snyder (Kutztown)

285 pounds
1. Brady Wilson (Minnesota State-Mankato)
2. Elijah Madison (Nebraska-Omaha)
3. Dustin Finn (Central Oklahoma)
4. Charlie Alexander (Western State)
5. Jacob Kahnke (St. Cloud State)
6. Steven Franklin (San Francisco State)
7. Frank "Niall" McGrath (Gannon)
8. Kevin Bolinsky (Kutztown)