BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Led by individual champions Daniel DeShazer (133) and Raufeon Stots (149), Nebraska-Kearney won its second straight NCAA Div. II national title, edging St. Cloud State by three points. It was a repeat of last year’s top two team finish, with Nebraska-Kearney also winning ahead of runner-up St. Cloud State. Stots won the national title for the second straight year, defeating Jacob. Horn of St. Cloud State in the finals, 4-3. DeShazer also defeated a St Cloud State opponent, stopping Andrew Pokorny in the finals, 7-5. St. Cloud State had an individual champion, Shamus O`Grady, who stopped Dallas Smith of Ouachita Baptist by major decision in the finals, 12-2 at 184 pounds. St. Cloud State led after the first day of action at the Div. II Nationals. Notre Dame College, competing in the Div. II nationals for the first time, placed third, and had a pair of individual champions: Joey Davis (165) and Eric Burgey (174). Davis stopped Chase Nelson of Nebraska-Kearney in the finals, 7-5, and Burgey beat Blake Sorensen of Upper Iowa, 14-3. Stots was the only 2012 champion to repeat this year. Mike Mueleners of Northern State, who won NCAA Div. II national titles the previous two years, was defeated in the heavyweight finals by talented Tyrell Fortune of Grand Canyon , 4-3. Maryville University, which started its wrestling program just last season with long-time and highly respected former Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Denney at its helm, had its first NCAA Div. II individual champion, Matthew Baker at 197 pounds. Baker stopped Nebraska-Kearney’s Romero Cotton in the finals, 5-4 in overtime in the first tie-breaker. Other individual champions were Jesse Hillhouse of CSU-Pueblo at 125 pounds, Naveed Bagheri of San Francisco State at 141 pounds and Cory Dauphin of Central Oklahoma at 157 pounds. Hillhouse stopped Gerald Huff of Adams State in the finals, 4-2, in a battle of colleges located in Colorado. Bagheri also beat an opponent from Adams State in the finals, Ryan Fillingame, by a 5-2 score in tiebreaker two. Dauphin won by a 4-2 decision over Zach Vargo of Lake Erie College in the finals. LOPERS GO BACK-TO-BACK! Wins third national title From Nebraska-Kearney website Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team has defended its national title, scoring 108.0 points to edge St. Cloud State and Notre Dame College (Ohio) Saturday night at the NCAA Division II Championships in Birmingham, Ala. The Lopers, who also placed first in 2008, entered the finals with 101.0 points, one point ahead of top-ranked St. Cloud State. UNK secured the team trophy when redshirt freshman Daniel DeShazer (133 lbs.) and senior Raufeon Stots (149 lbs.) each beat a St. Cloud wrestlers to win individual national crowns. Later, senior Chase Nelson (165 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Romero Cotton (197 lbs.) finished as national runners up. Kearney actually scored 109.0 points but was docked a point for team misconduct. Finishing with seven All-Americans, the Lopers came in just ahead of the SCSU Huskies (105.0) and the NDC Falcons (103.5), who were making their first trip to the NCAA's. Last year, Kearney scored 107.0 points with SCSU second (95.0). Ranked fourth, DeShazer (Wichita, Kans.) took on Bennington senior and former UNO Maverick and UNL Husker Andrew Pokorny, a second-ranked senior. Leading from start to finish, he tallied a takedown at 2:02 of the first period and added a second 30 seconds later. Up 5-2 after the second period, he recorded another takedown and then hung on for a 7-5 win. DeShazer ends his first year in Kearney at 33-8 (21-1 vs. D2 competition). Looking to join Brett Allgood, Ali Elias and Tervel Dlagnev as Lopers with two national titles, the top-ranked Stots (Houston, Texas) got a takedown about two minutes into his 149 lbs. final match against St. Cloud senior Jacob D. Horn. A second period takedown gave Stots a 4-3 lead heading into the final two minutes. Neither wrestler scored in the third period but the final 10 seconds provided a lot of action; Stots got close to a takedown and then Horn almost returned the favor. Stots finishes his senior year 34-4 (26-2 vs. D2 competition). The 165 lbs. title match was between the top-ranked Joey Davis of NDC and the second-ranked Nelson (Wichita, Kans.). Davis showed why he went unbeaten in his first collegiate season (30-0) as he had two powerful takedowns in the first period and added another in the second. Nelson managed three escapes and ends his one and only year in Kearney at 30-4 (21-2 vs. D2 competition). Finally at 197 lbs., Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) ran into former UNO Maverick Matt Baker, now a senior at Maryville U. in St. Louis. Ranked eighth nationally, Cotton grabbed the early lead on the top-ranked Baker (36-1) by getting a takedown at the 1:35 mark of the first period. However, Baker used two escapes to tie the match heading into the final period. After Cotton escaped early in the third, Baker used a takedown with a minute to go to grab his first lead. Cotton escaped to tie things up and then almost got a takedown with time winding down. However, the buzzer sounded and the match went into overtime tied at four. After neither wrestler scored in sudden victory, Baker rode out Cotton for 30 seconds. Baker then got an escape with 21 seconds left to pick up a 5-4 victory. NCAA DIVISION II NATIONALS At Birmingham, Alabama, March 8-9 125 POUNDS 1st - Jesse Hillhouse (Colorado State University - Pueblo) 29-3, Jr. over Gerald Huff (Adams State) 23-5, Jr. (SV-1 4-2). 3rd - Skylor Davis (Simon Fraser University) 24-5, Jr. over Jeffrey Vesta (Newberry College) 37-9, RS Jr. (Dec 10-4). 5th - Alex Johns (University of Indianapolis) 30-5, RS Jr. over Garrett Evans (Ouachita Baptist University) 22-7, Fr. (Dec 6-3). 7th - Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst University) 34-7, Fr. over Matthew Turek (Gannon University) 29-10, RS So. (Maj 8-0). 133 POUNDS 1st - Daniel Deshazer (Nebraska-Kearney) 28-8, RS Fr. over Andrew Pokorny (St. Cloud State) 24-3, RS Jr. (Dec 7-5). 3rd - Alphonso Vruno (Minnesota State Mankato) 37-8, Fr. over Michael Labry (Ashland University) 35-4, Fr. (Dec 2-1). 5th - Casy Rowell (Central Oklahoma) 36-5, RS Jr. over Marty Carlson (Notre Dame College) 19-13, Jr. (TF 16-1). 7th - Justin Reinsma (Southwest Minnesota State) 28-9, RS Jr. over Perry Mcafee (Chadron State) 16-11, RS Sr. (Dec 6-4). 141 POUNDS 1st - Naveed Bagheri (San Francisco State) 27-5, RS Sr. over Ryan Fillingame (Adams State) 24-6, RS Jr. (TB-1 5-2). 3rd - Brock Coutu (Nebraska-Kearney) 17-9, RS Jr. over Maurice Miller (Notre Dame College) 31-6, RS Fr. (Dec 8-6). 5th - Matt Nelson (St. Cloud State) 22-9, RS Fr. over Michael Hamel (Grand Canyon University) 15-6, RS So. (Maj 10-2). 7th - Dave Cawley (University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown) 24-7, RS Jr. over Daniel Ownbey (North Carolina-Pembroke) 37-3, So. (Dec 1-0). 149 POUNDS 1st - Raufeon Stots (Nebraska-Kearney) 30-4, RS Sr. over Jacob. Horn (St. Cloud State) 18-8, RS Sr. (Dec 4-3). 3rd - Ryan Maus (Truman State University) 27-11, Fr. over Deral Brown (Newberry College) 40-7, RS Jr. (Pin 4:22). 5th - Jordan Basks (Central Oklahoma) 31-6, Jr. over James Martinez (Colorado Mesa University) 17-6, RS Fr. (Maj 9-1). 7th - Cameryn Brady (University of Indianapolis) 20-5, Jr. over John Hagerty (Maryville University of St. Louis) 42-11, So. (Dec 7-5). 157 POUNDS 1st - Cory Dauphin (Central Oklahoma) 28-3, Jr. over Zach Vargo (Lake Erie College) 28-9, RS Fr. (Dec 4-2). 3rd - Jeffrey Pelton (Notre Dame College) 20-4, RS Fr. over Clint Poster (St. Cloud State) 35-5, RS Fr. (Dec 8-3). 5th - Chase White (Nebraska-Kearney) 32-12, RS Fr. over Bryce Lumzy (Upper Iowa University) 33-14, RS Jr. (Dec 3-2). 7th - Dillon Bera (Wisconsin-Parkside) 22-8, RS Sr. over John Crowley (Colorado School of Mines ) 28-10, Fr. (TF 17-0). 165 POUNDS 1st - Joey Davis (Notre Dame College) 30-0, Fr. over Chase Nelson (Nebraska-Kearney) 26-4, Sr. (Dec 7-5). 3rd - Cody Quinn (Minnesota State Mankato) 27-8, RS So. over Chris Watson (Central Oklahoma) 32-20, RS So. (Maj 11-2). 5th - Isaiah Jimenez (San Francisco State) 23-8, RS Sr. over Blake Ridenour (Newberry College) 32-10, RS So. (Dec 7-4). 7th - Gabe Fogarty (St. Cloud State) 27-12, Fr. over Justin Samora (Adams State) 22-14, RS So. (Maj 14-5). 174 POUNDS 1st - Eric Burgey (Notre Dame College) 21-7, RS Jr. over Blake Sorensen (Upper Iowa University) 35-12, Fr. (Maj 14-3). 3rd - Mike Williams (North Carolina-Pembroke) 38-3, Sr. over Elliot Copeland (Western State Colorado University) 32-4, Fr. (SV-1 6-3). 5th - Patrick Martinez (Nebraska-Kearney) 14-2, Jr. over Brendan Mckeown (East Stroudsburg Univ. Of Pennsylvania) 23-4, RS Jr. (Maj 11-1). 7th - Kelly Henderson (Central Oklahoma) 26-7, RS Sr. over Ray Hall (Colorado State University - Pueblo) 16-14, RS Jr. (Dec 8-4). 184 POUNDS 1st - Shamus O`Grady (St. Cloud State) 40-1, RS Sr. over Dallas Smith (Ouachita Baptist University) 28-6, Fr. (Maj 12-2). 3rd - Travis Mckillop (University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown) 33-2, So. over Adam Walters (University of Findlay) 28-4, RS Jr. (Dec 4-2). 5th - Jordan Debus (Chadron State) 20-12, Jr. over Mitch Schultz (Upper Iowa University) 17-7, RS Jr. (Dec 8-1). 7th - Nick Peterson (Colorado Mesa University) 27-8, Jr. over Zack Zelcs (Gannon University) 13-9, RS So. (FF). 197 POUNDS 1st - Matthew Baker (Maryville University of St. Louis) 36-1, Sr. over Romero Cotton (Nebraska-Kearney) 6-2, So. (TB-1 5-4). 3rd - Carl Broghammer (Upper Iowa University) 41-5, RS So. over Brandonn Johnson (Notre Dame College) 24-7, RS Jr. (Dec 7-3). 5th - Davion Willis (Wisconsin-Parkside) 32-7, RS So. over Jayd Docken (Augustana College (SD)) 23-8, RS So. (SV-1 5-3). 7th - Joseph Brandt (Ashland University) 33-6, So. over Joe Grisko (Newberry College) 27-14, RS So. (Dec 4-3). 285 POUNDS 1st - Tyrell Fortune (Grand Canyon University) 34-1, Jr. over Matthew Meuleners (Northern State) 35-5, RS Sr. (Dec 4-3). 3rd - Jake Kahnke (St. Cloud State) 23-1, RS Sr. over Ziad Haddad (Kutztown Univ. Of Pennsylvania) 27-5, RS So. (Pin 4:31). 5th - Orlando Scales (Notre Dame College) 15-3, Jr. over Cody Dauphin (Central Oklahoma) 26-8, Jr. (TB-1 2-1). 7th - Kevin Christman (Tiffin University) 19-12, RS Fr. over Andrew Tumlin (University of Findlay) 30-13, Sr. (Dec 6-3) TEAM STANDINGS 1. Nebraska-Kearney 108.0 2. St. Cloud State 105.0 3. Notre Dame College 103.5 4. Central Oklahoma 73.0 5. Upper Iowa University 49.0 6. Newberry College 43.5 7. Adams State 40.5 8. Minnesota State Mankato 35.5 9. Grand Canyon University 31.5 10. San Francisco State 28.0 11. Maryville University of St. Louis 27.0 12. Ouachita Baptist University 26.0 13. Colorado State University - Pueblo 25.0 14. University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown 21.0 15. Ashland University 19.5 15. University of Findlay 19.5 17. Lake Erie College 19.0 17. Wisconsin-Parkside 19.0 19. University of Indianapolis 18.0 20. North Carolina-Pembroke 17.0 20. Western State Colorado University 17.0 22. Colorado Mesa University 16.5 22. Truman State University 16.5 24. Kutztown Univ. Of Pennsylvania 16.0 25. Northern State 15.5 25. Simon Fraser University 15.5 27. Chadron State 12.5 28. Southwest Minnesota State 11.5 29. Gannon University 10.5 29. Mercyhurst University 10.5 31. Augustana College (SD) 9.5 32. East Stroudsburg Univ. Of Pennsylvania 9.0 33. Tiffin University 8.0 34. Colorado School of Mines 6.0 35. Seton Hill University 3.5 36. West Liberty University 2.5 37. Shippensburg Univ. Of Pennsylvania 2.0 37. University of Mary 2.0 39. Anderson University 1.0 39. Fort Hays State 1.0