MANHEIM, Pa. – The West Liberty University wrestling team will take the mat in next week's NCAA Division II Super Region 3 Regional as the No. 4-ranked squad in the nation.
    The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its final NCAA Division II poll of the regular season on Friday afternoon and Coach Danny Irwin's defending regional championship squad slotted in at No. 4 for the third consecutive poll.
    Two of West Liberty's former national champions are ranked No. 1 at their respective weights. Defending 125-pound national champion Cole Laya held onto his No. 1 ranking from the previous poll while Connor Craig, who won the 184-pound title in 2019 and was runner-up in St. Louis a year ago, moved up from No. 2 to No. 1 in this month's poll.
    The Hilltoppers also have three other nationally-ranked wrestlers. Ty McGeary is ranked No. 6 at 174 pounds, Jordan Kemp is the 11^th-ranked 197-pounder in the nation and Francesco Borsellino checked in at No. 7 in the 285-pound weight class.
    The top five spots in the national poll remained unchanged from a month ago. Central Oklahoma is No. 1 with St. Cloud State and Nebraska-Kearney at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. McKendree (Ill.) is No. 5 behind West Liberty with Adams State, UW-Parkside, Findlay, Augustana and Indianapolis rounding out the Top 10.
    Four of the 11 teams scheduled to compete in the Feb. 26 Super Region 3 event at West Liberty were ranked in the Top 25 and two more received votes in the final regular season poll. The Hilltoppers are the highest-ranked team at No. 4 but Findlay also cracked the Top 10 at No. 8. Ashland (No. 15) and Lake Erie (No. 24) made the Top 25 with Davis & Elkins and Glenville State receiving votes.
         Team                                                              Pts        Pvs
  1. Central Oklahoma                                       119       1
  2. St. Cloud State                                              103       2
  3. Nebraska-Kearney                                       100       3
  4. WEST LIBERTY                                              58         4
  5. McKendree                                                   56         5
  6. Adams State                                                 28         14
  7. UW-Parkside                                                 39         8
  8. FINDLAY                                                        36         9
  9. Augustana                                                     35         10
10. Indianapolis                                                  45         7
11. Colorado Mesa                                            23         16
12. Upper Iowa                                                   27         15
(tie) Lindenwood                                                22         17
14. Minnesota State                                          22         17
15. ASHLAND                                                      30         12
(tie) Mercyhurst                                                 17         19
(tie) Gannon                                                        53         6
18. Kutztown                                                       32         11
19. Pitt-Johnstown                                             29         13
20. Newberry                                                      19         RV
21. Colorado School of Mines                          15         21
22. Mary                                                               13         20
(tie) Central Missouri                                         13         RV
24. SW Minnesota State                                   12         21
(tie) LAKE ERIE (OHIO)                                      12         RV
     Also receiving votes: Northern State 11, Alderson Broaddus 10, San Francisco State 10, Drury 10, American International 10, Belmont Abbey 10, King 9, UNC Pembroke 7, Newman 6, DAVIS & ELKINS 4, Fort Hays State 4, Chadron State 4, GLENVILLE STATE 3, Lander 3, Limestone 3, Shippensburg 2, Western Colorado 1, Queens (N.C.) 1