MOORHEAD, Minn. – The NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships begin on Friday on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. First-year Head Coach Kris Nelson looks to lead his No. 19 Dragon squad to a successful tournament.

The Dragons reached the national rankings with an impressive showing at the Super III Regionals in Aberdeen, S.D. The Dragons finished fifth in the team standings but sent five wrestlers to the D-II National Tournament.

Among the wrestlers are seniors Jarret Hall at 174 pounds and Tim Johnson at 285 pounds, juniors Derek Bomstad at 149 pounds and Brady Schneeberger at 141 pounds and sophomore Corey Ulmer at 125 pounds. Hall and Johnson placed third at regionals, the same finish both wrestlers achieved last season to advance to the national tournament.

Sophomore Corey Ulmer, the youngest of the qualifiers, will face a regional champion to begin his tournament action at 125 pounds. Juniors Derek Bomstad and Brady Schneeberger both reached the finals in at regionals.

Bomstad took second at 149 pounds and will face a third-place finisher at regionals. Schneeberger, unranked but wrestling at his strongest, became the only unranked regional champion at the regional tournament. For his efforts, Schneeberger will face a fourth place finisher in the opening round.

The first round begins at 11 a.m. on Friday with the first and second rounds starting at 6 p.m. The third session, which includes the championship semifinals, third round consolation and consolation semifinals, starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The national champions of each weight class will be crowned starting at 8 p.m.

For complete coverage of the NCAA DII Wrestling National Championships or to follow Johnson, Hall, Ulmer, Bomstad or Scheenberger, click:?
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