By Craig Sesker/TheMat.com    They call the North Central Conference wrestling tournament the mini-national tournament.     And never was that description more fitting than last season.    One of four annual qualifying events for Division II nationals, the NCC tournament produced teams that finished 1-2-3 in the country last season.    North Dakota State captured its second straight national crown. South Dakota State was a close second. And NCC power Nebraska-Omaha tied Central Oklahoma for third place.    This year's NCC tourney is scheduled for Sunday at Augustana in Sioux Falls, S.D.    The NCC is loaded once again as D2 teams begin the postseason this weekend. The rest of the nation's D2 teams will take part in the East, Midwest and West regionals. The top four wrestlers at each weight class in each regional advance to nationals March 8-9 in Kenosha, Wis.    "This is always a tough, tough tournament," Nebraska-Omaha Coach Mike Denney said. "It's always a great challenge for us. Every match is tough from the first round on. It's just really competitive. And it's a lot of fun."    North Dakota State is ranked second in the nation, Nebraska-Omaha is third, Minnesota State fifth, Augustana sixth, South Dakota State 12th and Northern Colorado 17th.     Veteran North Dakota State Coach Bucky Maughan said he considers South Dakota State the favorite.     "I think they are really the team to beat," Maughan said. "South Dakota State has five really solid All-Americans returning. They weren't much of a dual team because they weren't real balanced. There won't be a dominant team. I think the team race will be real close."     North Dakota State won the meet last year with Nebraska-Omaha second. The Mavericks return two of their four conference champions in Zach Stalder (184) and Chad Wallace (197). Two-time All-American Roderick Ratcliff of UNO is ranked No. 1 in the country at 141.     NDSU returns national champions in Todd Fuller (174) and Nick Severson (heavyweight), but neither wrestler won the league title last year. Fuller lost to Stalder in the NCC finals and Severson was third in the league meet. Fuller is a two-time national champion.     The NCC's strongest weight is at heavyweight where all four national qualifiers return, including three All-Americans. In addition to Severson, runner-up Jon Madsen of South Dakota State is back. Madsen won the national title in 2000. Augustana's James Garvey, who is ranked second, was fourth in the nation last year. St. Cloud State's Dustin Darveaux, who is ranked fifth, also wrestled at nationals last year.     Nebraska-Omaha heavyweight Lance Tolstedt owns a win over Madsen this season.     "I think the top four heavyweights in the country are in the NCC," Maughan said. "And the Omaha kid is right there, too."     South Dakota State has three No. 2-ranked wrestlers - Aaron Veskrna (157), Tyler Bryant (165) and Tyler Jones (184).     The 165 class in the NCC also has no shortage of talent with Bryant, No. 4 Michael Fiedler of North Dakota State and No. 5 Matt Gadient of Minnesota State in the field.     Augustana's Jacob Ramos, the outstanding wrestler at the National Duals in Division II, is ranked No. 1 at 133.     Top-ranked Central Oklahoma, which beat North Dakota State and Nebraska-Omaha in dual meets this season, will wrestle in the Midwest Regional on Sunday in Aberdeen, S.D.     The Bronchos are led by defending national champion Cole Province (133) and top-ranked Muhammed Lawal (197).     Fourth-ranked Ashland is among the teams competing at the East Regional on Friday and Saturday in West Liberty, W.Va.      Ashland's Chris Peretti (133) and Chris Shears (141) are both ranked second.      Ninth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney is among the teams competing at the West Regional on Saturday and Sunday in Alamosa, Colo.      Kearney is led by No. 3 Frank Kuchera (174) and No. 4 Brandon Pfizenmaier (149).