NWCA Division II rankings (PDF)  l  Brackets released for NCAA Championships

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University redshirt junior Brendan McKeown, the Super Region 1 champion at 174 pounds, moved to No. 4 in the final NWCA Division II rankings going into next week's NCAA Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

McKeown, the Outstanding Wrestler at the regional, upset the previous No. 1, Mike Williams (UNC-Pembroke), with a 3-2 decision to win the SR 1 title last Saturday at Kutztown.

McKeown, a returning national qualifier entering the season, was unranked for the last two months after beginning the year at No. 6. He fell out after an injury default loss to Gary Lantz (UPJ) on December 4, but has won 16 straight matches since to enter the NCAA Championships with a 20-1 record.

McKeown had an 8-5 decision over Lantz in the regional semifinal to set up his match-up with Williams, a three-time regional champion and the defending national champion at 165 pounds. He trailed 2-0 early in the third period but scored a takedown with 30 seconds left, and piled up a minute-plus riding time advantage for the 3-2 victory.

McKeown, redshirt junior Braden Turner (157) and freshman Tyson Searer (197) give ESU three national qualifiers. Turner and Searer both finished fourth in the region. Turner was ranked No. 5 in DII and Searer was No. 6 going into the regional.

The NCAA Championships will be held March 8-9 in Birmingham. ESU has 11 national qualifiers in its first four years in Division II and three All-Americans, including Turner, who was sixth at 157 pounds last year.


NWCA Division II rankings – 174 pounds (previous rank)

1. Elliot Copeland, Western State (Colo.) (2)
2. Patrick Martinez, Nebraska-Kearney (5)
3. Kelly Henderson, Central Oklahoma (6)
4. Brendan McKeown, ESU
5. Mike Williams, UNC-Pembroke (1)
6. Eric Burgey, Notre Dame (Ohio) (3)
7. Kyle Begin, Southwest Minnesota
8. Blake Sorensen, Upper Iowa