The 2010
NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals began today with some of the top collegiate wrestling programs in the country competing. Six schools from Minnesota are competing in three different divisions to see who the top wrestling team will be.
The
University of Minnesota, currently ranked #6 in the NWCA/USA Today national poll, were seeded fifth in the Division 1 bracket. The Gophers opened the day against #17 ranked Missouri and advanced to the second round with a 25-14 victory.
Minnesota then faced #5 ranked Central Michigan, the fourth seed in the tournament. A dominating 25-9 win propelled the Gophers to the semifinals, where they will face their Big 10 Conference rival Iowa on Sunday at 11 AM. Iowa is ranked #1 in the nation and is the tournament top seed.
Two NCAA Division II schools are competing and did well on Saturday.
Minnesota State-Mankato, ranked #11 in the most current NWCA poll, pulled off an upset in the first round and advanced to the semifinals. The Mavericks opened the day with a 23-16 upset of the fifth seed Western (CO) State. Western State was ranked #7 in the national poll. A quarterfinal matchup against West Liberty (WV) University saw MSU coast to a 27-8 victory. The Mavericks will face top seed University of Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday at 11 AM.
St. Cloud State, ranked #9 nationally, defeated San Francisco State 22-10 in their opening match, but fell to Nebraska-Omaha 27-12 in the quarterfinals. The Huskies defeated #14 ranked Fort Hays State 17-13 in the consolation bracket.
Three MIAC teams are competing in the Division III bracket.
Augsburg,
Concordia (Moorhead), and
St. John's had mixed results on the first day, but the Auggies will be featured in the semifinals again on Sunday.
Ranked #2 in the NCWA Division III national poll, Augsburg defeated UW-Whitewater 32-6 and North Central (IL) 25-12 to advance in the tournament. They will face Coe (IA) College, the #3 ranked team in the country. Coe defeated #9 randed Concordia in the quarterfinals.
St. John's lost their opening match against Delaware Valley 22-15, but advanced through the consolation bracket by defeating Dubuque 19-18. The Johnnies advanced over North Central after a 15-15 score was decided by near-fall points.
Local results:
Minnesota 25, Missouri 14
Minnesota 26, Central Michigan 9
Minnesota State-Mankato 23, Western State 16
Minnesota State-Mankato 27, West Liberty 8
St. Cloud State 22, San Francisco State 10
Nebraska-Omaha 27, St. Cloud State 12
St. Cloud State 23, Fort Hays State 13
Augsburg 23, UW-Whitewater 6
Augsburg 25, North Central 12
Concordia 24, Cornell College 10
Coe 33, Concordia 6
Concordia 30, Johnson & Wales 13
Delaware Valley 22, St. John's 15
St. John's 19, Dubuque 8
St. John's 15, North Central (St. John's advances on near fall points)
Sunday schedule:
D1: Minnesota vs. Iowa, 11 AM
D2: St. Cloud State vs. Wisconsin-Parkside, 9 AM
D2: Minnesota State-Mankato vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 11 AM
D3: Concordia vs. St. John's, 9 AM
D3: Augsburg vs. Coe, 11 AM
