Division II’s top teams have made their way to the Kentucky Expo Center to battle Friday and Saturday in one of the most intriguing events of the year — the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals. 

Central Oklahoma snapped St. Cloud State's 77-meet dual winning streak in last year's finals to claim the title. 

This year’s tournament in Louisville features 16 teams, including the top four — #1 Central Oklahoma, #2 Nebraska-Kearney, #3 Lander, #4 St. Cloud State. This will be the first major dual test for the Bronchos, Lopers and Huskies. 

Here are the first-round pairings:

Central Oklahoma vs. Augustana 

Indianapolis vs. Gannon

Lander vs. Fort Hays State

West Liberty vs. Colorado Mesa

St. Cloud State vs. Mercyhurst

McKendree vs. Upper Iowa

Mary vs. Ashland

Nebraska-Kearney vs. Newberry

Colorado Mesa Surging

While there is no shortage of talent at the National Duals, one team that will be looking to continue to build momentum moving forward is Colorado Mesa University, a team coming off of a fourth-place finish at the Midwest Classic in December and is returning to full strength. Colorado Mesa coach Mike Mendoza is happy with his team’s growth. 

“Some of the younger guys, I think, are just getting better with every competition, and next up is the National Duals, which is a big deal for us and we are looking forward to it,” he said. 

High Hopes for the Second Half of the Season

Winter break on college campuses marks the midway point of the college wrestling season and offers up a chance for teams to rest and recover in preparation for the second half of the season. 

For #3 Lander, that means getting healthy and putting their best wrestlers on the mat at Super Regionals. 

“The main thing is getting people healthy,” Lander coach R.C. LaHaye said. “We’re ranked third or fourth in the country depending on what poll you are looking a,t but we still haven’t got our 10 best guys in the lineup at once yet, so that’s the main goal, to get everybody healthy.” 

After The Duals

After winter break, the dual season starts in earnest for most teams, as they compete within their conference before Super Regionals. Fifth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown’s coach Pat Pecora is a big believer in the dual meet season. 

“We are always committed to the dual meet season,” he said. “I have always felt that the dual meet is kind of the backbone of wrestling.” 

The Mountain Cats’ dual schedule provides plenty to look forward to as they wrestle #17 Millersville, #16 Gannon, #18 Glenville State, Shippensburg, and #11 Mercyhurst. 

“We want to have a good dual meet season, we want to win the conference, win the region, and get as many guys as we can to nationals, and hopefully we can make some noise at nationals,” Pecora said.  

Another team looking to break onto the scene nationally is Chadron State. The Eagles began the season unranked before briefly cracking into the top 20 thanks in large part to third-ranked 133-pounder Quentrevion Campbell and 125-pounder Quade Smith. 

Both wrestlers began the season unranked but have been steadily improving throughout the year. 

“They are very consistent in terms of every day, (they are) arguably the hardest workers in the room, they don’t allow themselves to have bad days,” coach Brett Hunter said. 

While Smith and Campbell have provided a boost to the Eagles, coach Hunter notes that the team has not been at full strength yet. 

“Our last three dual meets we had five backups in due to injuries and sicknesses so our first goal is to get everyone back.” 

The Eagles will need to be at full strength as they have duals with #6 Adams State, #19 Colorado Mesa, #14 Fort Hays State and #1 Central Oklahoma lined up in the second half of the year.