FAYETTE, Iowa – The West Liberty University wrestling team was ranked No. 12 here Wednesday when the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its 2019-20 NCAA Division II preseason Top 25.
    In addition, a trio of Coach Danny Irwin's Hilltoppers were ranked among the top wrestlers in the nation at their respective weight classes.
    Irwin, whose team checked in at No. 4 in the Super Region 3 rankings earlier this week, was pleased with the preseason recognition for his resurgent Black and Gold program.
    "This is always an exciting time of year with the regional and national rankings coming out as we continue to draw closer to the start of our season," said the reigning NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.
    "The NWCA coaches always do a good job with these rankings and I think this will get our fans even more fired up knowing that we are going to be a team in the hunt! As a coaching staff, we already knew based on the effort, purpose and intensity our guys are practicing with every day."
    A pair of returning NCAA Division II All-Americans and a two-time national qualifier propelled Irwin's Hilltoppers to their lofty preseason status.
    Sophomore Cole Laya was ranked No. 3 in the nation at 125 pounds while senior Darius Bunch is the nation's No. 3-ranked 141-pounder. Senior Logan Kemp is ranked No. 7 at 197 pounds.
    Laya is coming off a third-place finish at 125 pounds in last year's NCAA Division II Nationals at Cleveland while wrestling as a true freshman at then-Wheeling Jesuit University. Laya dropped a tough 4-1 decision to eventual national champion Carlos Jacquez of Lindenwood in the semifinals but came back strong to finish third. Jacquez is ranked No. 1 again this year with Nebraska-Kearney's Josh Portillo, who lost to Jacquez in the 125-pound final, back at No. 2 in a loaded 125-pound division.
    Bunch is moving up a weight class after redshirting at West Liberty last winter. He had a great run two years ago when he powered through the wrestle-backs to hit the All-America podium with a fourth-place finish at 133 pounds at the 2018 Nationals. Newberry sophomore Isaiah Royal, last year's national runner-up at 141, is No. 1 heading into this season with Brandon Ball of Fort Hays State at No. 2. Ball placed fourth at 141 in Cleveland.
    Kemp returns for his final run at All-America honors after coming up just short in each of the last two national tournaments. The 2019 Super Region 3 runner-up at 197 pounds, Kemp was ranked as high as No. 5 at 197 pounds a year ago after earning runner-up honors at the Midwest Classic. Four of the top eight finishers at 197 in last year's Nationals are back this season with defending national champion Nick Mason of Tiffin at No. 1.
    Pitt-Johnstown was No. 1 in the NWCA's preseason Top 25. Veteran coach Pat Pecora – a WLU Hall of Famer – has five wrestlers ranked among the top four in their weight class including a pair of No. 1s. Defending champion St. Cloud State is No. 2 with seven ranked wrestlers and one No. 1. McKendree, Nebraska-Kearney and Notre Dame (Ohio) round out the top five.
    Hilltopper fans can get a sneak peek at this year's squad on Saturday when Irwin will hold an open practice on the ASRC arena floor at 5 p.m. West Liberty opens its season at home on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. dual against WVU Tech.
  Team                                                                     Pts
  1. Pitt-Johnstown                                               88
  2. St. Cloud State                                                82
  3. McKendree                                                     71
  4. Nebraska-Kearney                                         68
  5. Notre Dame (Ohio)                                        58
  6. Lindenwood                                                    46
  7. Minnesota State                                            43
  8. Newberry                                                        42
  9. Ashland                                                           40
10. Maryville                                                        39
11. Upper Iowa                                                     36
12. WEST LIBERTY                                               33
13. Central Oklahoma                                         27
14. Mercyhurst                                                    24
15. Kutztown                                                        23
16. Tiffin (Ohio)                                                    21
17. Fort Hays State                                              20
(tie) Adams State                                                 20
(tie) Limestone                                                     20
20. Colorado Mines                                             19
21. UNC-Pembroke                                              17
22. East Stroudsburg                                           16
23. Gannon                                                           14
24. Chadron State                                                13
(tie) Bellarmine                                                    13
(tie) Newman                                                       13
     Also receiving votes: Emmanuel 12, San Francisco State 12, CSU-Pueblo 11, Indianapolis 10, MSU-Moorhead 10, Shippensburg 10, Western State 9, Mary 9, Wis.-Parkside 6, American Int. 6, Queens (N.C.) 6, King 6, Alderson-Broaddus 6, Colorado Mesa 3, Coker 3, Minot State 2