After a year far away from the Midwest in Houston, Texas, the NCAA Div. II Championships return a little closer to Iowa this weekend on the campus of the University of Nebraska Omaha. The action gets underway Friday morning at 11 a.m. and concludes with the championship bouts Saturday night at 8 p.m.

Upper Iowa University was ranked third near the end of the season, but the Peacocks had some trouble at their Regional qualifier and will need an outstanding effort from the six who did qualify to have a shot at competing for a team trophy. The Peacocks come into the championships ranked 10th.

This tournament also boasts several former Iowa high school stars competing for other teams. Augustana College in South Dakota has five qualifiers from the state, all of whom are very familiar names to wrestling fans in the state. They look to help lead the third-ranked squad to the top of the team standings.

Four other teams have Iowa natives entered in the tournament.

Here is a quick look at each weight class for the upcoming 2010 NCAA Div. II Wrestling Championships, including a peak at the draws for the Upper Iowa wrestlers and the other native Iowans.

125
Who's No. 1? - Seth Wright, New Mexico Highlands
Returning All-Americans - No. 2 Arsenia Barksdale, Adams State (1st); No. 3 Thomas Edgmon, Fort Hays State (2nd); Matt Oliver, Newberry (3rd); No. 4 Tyler Mumbulo, Upper Iowa (8th in 2007, 6th in 2008); No. 5 Andy Forstner, Minnesota State (6th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 4 Tyler Mumbulo, Upper Iowa; No. 7 Russell Weakley, North Carolina-Pembroke (former Fort Madison).

The bottom side of the draw is where we find four-time NCAA Div. II qualifier and two-time All-American Tyler Mumbulo of Upper Iowa. The fourth-ranked Peacock draws Kyle O'Brien of Western State in the first round. We could have Mumbulo versus former Fort Madison standout Russell Weakley in the quarterfinals. Weakley, ranked seventh for NC-Pembroke, meets Terrell McKinney of Nebraska-Omaha in the opening round. Also on that half are returning champ and second-ranked Arsenia Barksdale of Adams State and returning third-place finisher Matt Oliver of Newberry, who comes in unranked but battle-tested. Barksdale and Oliver could meet in the quarterfinals.

On the top half, top-ranked Seth Wright of New Mexico Highlands in the huge favorite in his quarter, but could meet No. 3 Thomas Edgmon of Fort Hays State or No. 5 Andy Forstner of Minnesota State in the semifinals. Edgmon and Forstner, both returning All-Americans, meet in a very tough opening-round bout.

133
Who's No. 1? - Shane Valko, Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Returning All-Americans - No. 1 Shane Valko, Pitt-Johnstown (2nd); No. 2 Cody Garcia, Nebraska-Omaha (1st at 125 in 2006 and 2008, 3rd at 133 in 2009); No. 3 Naveed Bagheri, San Francisco State (5th); Joseph Morrison, Nebraska-Kearney (7th); Scott Berens, Central Oklahoma (8th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 8 Laramie Shaffer, Augustana College (former Winterset and Iowa State); Kyle Pedretti, Upper Iowa.

Eighth-ranked Laramie Shaffer, a former Winterset star and transfer from Iowa State, is the lone ranked wrestler in his quarter on the top half of the draw. He faces Michael Magaha of Limestone in the opening round and could meet returning All-American Scott Berens of Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. Top-ranked Shane Valko of Pittsburgh-Johnstown is a likely semifinal opponent for that winner.

Kyle Pedretti of Upper Iowa, a qualifier at 125 last season, draws a very tough quarter. Pedretti meets No. 4 Sheridan Moran of Newberry in the first round. If Pedretti gets past him, two-time NCAA champ and second-rankled Cody Garcia of Nebraska-Omaha likely waits in the quarters. Garcia is a perfect 45-0 entering the tournament and should be considered the favorite wrestling at home. The third and fifth-ranked wrestlers could meet in the other quarter.

141
Who's No. 1? - Josh Hensley, Adams State
Returning All-Americans - No. 3 Mario Morgan, Nebraska-Omaha (3rd); No. 7 Jay Sherer, Augustana (7th); Cory Bloodgood, Central Missouri (8th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - None

The only weight class of the tournament where we don't find an Upper Iowa or Iowa-related wrestler.

No. 2 Andre Harrison of Fort Hays State and sixth-ranked Jeremy Parker could meet in the semifinals on the top half of the draw. Returning All-American Jay Sherer of Augustana could meet Harrison in the quarters.

In the bottom of the draw, top-ranked Josh Hensley of Adams State and third-ranked Mario Morgan of Nebraska-Omaha will be favored to come out of their quarters and meet in the semifinals.

149
Who's No. 1? - Craig Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside
Returning All-Americans - No. 3 Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha (3rd); No. 1 Craig Becker, Wisconsin-Parkside (4th); No. 6 Kevin McElhaney, Gannon (6th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 3 Esai Dominguez, Nebraska-Omaha (former Iowa Team member, Council Bluffs); No. 5 Nate Herda, Augustana (former Central Lyon); Derek Stolarzyk, Upper Iowa.

No. 3 Esai Dominguez of Nebraska-Omaha, who won several medals competing for Team Iowa during the summer months in Greco-Roman and freestyle, stars off with a tough first-rounder. He meets No. 6 Kevin McElhaney of Gannon in a battle of returning All-Americans. The winner meets either Derek Stolarzyk of Upper Iowa or Louie DeSantis of CSU-Pueblo in the quarterfinals. Waiting in the semifinals just might be former Central Lyon two-time State champ and fifth-ranked Nate Herda of Augustana. Herda meets Tyler Juby of Mesa State College in the opening round and could face No. 8 Latra Collick of Newberry in the quarters.

On the top half of the draw, top-ranked Craig Becker of Wisconsin-Parkside and No. 2 Mitch Smith of West Liberty State appear on a collision course for the semifinals.

157
Who's No. 1? - Marcus Edgington, Augustana College
Returning All-Americans - No. 7 Andy Lamancusa, Mercyhurst (3rd); No. 4 Danny Grater, Fort Hays State (6th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 1 Marcus Edgington, Augustana (former Hinton); No. 5 George Ivanov, Nebraska-Omaha (former Council Bluffs Lewis Central); Justin Decker, Upper Iowa.

Justin Decker of Upper Iowa is one of the most talked-about stories in the nation this season. A former assistant coach for the Peacocks, Decker returned to competition this year and qualified for Nationals. He takes on sixth-ranked Michael Williams of NC-Pembroke in the opening round. The winner could face No. 4 Danny Grater of Fort Hays State in the quarterfinals.

Also on the top half of the bracket, top-ranked Marcus Edgington of Augustana College has a tough opening-round bout against 2009 third-place finisher and No. 7 Andy Lamancusa of Mercyhurst. Edgington, a former State champ at Hinton, is one of five Iowans representing Augustana at Nationals this weekend. If Edgington gets past that tough opener, he could meet another Iowan in the quarterfinals. No. 5 George Ivanov of Nebraska-Omaha is a former Council Bluffs Lewis Central standout and he faces Stephen Towne of Grand Canyon in the opening round in the other quarter.

On the bottom half of the draw, No. 2 Joseph Deaguero of Adams State and third-ranked Kyle Francis of Western State College are the only rated wrestlers and appear headed for a semifinal showdown.

165
Who's No. 1? - Josh Shields, Mercyhurst
Returning All-Americans - No. 1 Josh Shields, Mercyhurst (1st); No. 2 Travis Eggers, Upper Iowa (2nd at 157 in 2009, 4th at 157 in 2008); No. 5 Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (3rd); Taylor May, Nebraska-Kearney (5th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 2 Travis Eggers, Upper Iowa; Gavin Nelson, Augustana College (former Missouri Valley).

Second-ranked Travis Eggers moves up a weight class after nearly stunning the wrestling world at 157 last season. Eggers pushed three-time NCAA Div. II champ Todd Meneely of Nebraska-Omaha to overtime before falling in the title bout. Eggers, a four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American, meets Thomas Graszi of Ashland in the opening round. If Eggers wins, as expected, the quarterfinal opponent would be third-ranked Kyle Keane of Pittsburgh-Johnstown or returning All-American Taylor May of Nebraska-Kearney.

Former Missouri Valley two-time State runner-up Gavin Nelson of Augustana meets Derrick Adkins of Central Oklahoma in the first round. Nelson, who has lost only twice this season, is favored in that bout between unranked opponents and if he wins, Nelson would likely meet top-ranked defending champ Josh Shields of Mercyhurst in the quarterfinals.

174
Who's No. 1? - Kamarudeen Usman, Nebraska-Kearney
Returning All-Americans - No. 1 Kamarudeen Usman, Nebraska-Kearney (2nd); No. 2 Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa (5th); No. 5 Aaron Denson, Nebraska-Omaha (2nd at 165).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 2 Mitch Norton, Upper Iowa; No. 6 Ben Becker, Minnesota State-Mankato (former Fort Dodge St. Edmond).

Four-time NCAA qualifier and returning All-American Mitch Norton of Upper Iowa comes into the tournament ranked second and is the lone rated wrestler in his quarter of the draw on the bottom part of the bracket. The former Nashua-Plainfield star meets Shawn Kuhlman of Fort Hays State in the first round Friday morning. In the other quarter, former FD St. Edmond State champ Ben Becker of Minnesota State-Mankato draws top-ranked Kamarudeen Usman of Nebraska-Kearney in the opening round. The winner likely gets No. 5 Aaron Denson of Nebraska-Omaha, who placed second at 165 last season.

There are no returning All-Americans in the top half of the draw. No. 3 J.J. Davis of NC-Pembroke and No. 4 Luke Rynish of Wisconsin-Parkside could be the semifinal up top, but Rynish must get past No. 7 Curtis Chenowith of Newberry in the opening round.

184
Who's No. 1? - Charlie Pipher, Western State College
Returning All-Americans - No. 7 Bryant Blanton, Newberry (4th); No. 2 Derek Skala, St. Cloud State (7th at 174); No. 8 Austin Boehm, Nebraska-Omaha (2nd in 2007).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 8 Austin Boehm, Nebraska-Omaha (former Urbandale).

Former Urbandale standout and eighth-ranked Austin Boehm of Nebraska-Omaha, just a sophomore in eligibility, returns to the National Tournament for the first time in three seasons. He was a National runner-up at this weight as a true freshman for the Mavericks in 2007, but sat out the past two seasons with injuries. Boehm begins his tournament against Zachariah Jimenez of San Francisco State. The winner advances to the quarterfinals with a possible bout against No. 6 Tim Darling of Kutztown. Second-ranked Derek Skala of St. Cloud State is favored to reach the semifinals out of the other quarter.

Top-ranked Charlie Pipher of Western State College is the lone ranked wrestler in his quarter on the bottom half of the bracket. No. 4 Lucas Haug of Wisconsin-Parkside and returning All-American Bryant Blanton of Newberry could meet in the other quarterfinal.

197
Who's No. 1? - Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha
Returning All-Americans - No. 2 Keeno Griffin, Newberry (1st); No. 1 Jacob Marrs, Nebraska-Omaha (2nd); No. 5 Kyle Sand, Adams State (1st at 184); No. 3 Tyler Copsey, Augustana (7th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - No. 3 Tyler Copsey, Augustana College (former Glenwood).

Third-ranked Tyler Copsey of Augustana, a two-time All-American from Glenwood, opens his tournament against 18-18 Daniel Stevenson of Findlay. If Copsey gets past that match he could meet seventh-ranked Mitch Knapp of West Liberty State in the quarterfinals. A potential semifinal bout against top-ranked Jacob Marrs of Nebraska-Omaha looms.

In a very odd draw in the top half, a pair of 2009 NCAA Div. II champs meet in the very first round. No. 2 Keeno Griffin of Newberry, the champ at 197 last season, takes on 2009 184-pound champ and fifth-ranked Kyle Sand of Adams State. The winner should be the favorite on this half, but might have to get through No. 4 Donovan McMahill of Western State in the semifinals.

285
Who's No. 1? - Brady Wilson, Minnesota State-Mankato
Returning All-Americans - No. 3 Dustin Finn, Central Oklahoma (2nd); No. 1 Brady Wilson, Minnesota State-Mankato (3rd); No. 4 Charlie Alexander, Western State (4th); No. 5 Niall McGrath, Gannon (5th); No. 8 Steve Franklin, San Francisco State (6th).
Iowa-related qualifiers - Brian Rodas, Southwest Minnesota State (former MFL MarMac)

The bottom half of the bracket is loaded with five ranked wrestlers, including four returning All-Americans. Former MFL MarMac star Brian Rodas finds himself in this half and against fourth-ranked and returning fourth-place finisher Charlie Alexander of Western State in the first round. It doesn't get any easier for the winner, as third-ranked and 2009 runner-up Dustin Finn of Central Oklahoma likely waits in the quarterfinals. Finn and top-ranked Brady Wilson of Minnesota State-Mankato could meet in the semifinals.

Second-ranked Elijah Madison of Nebraska-Omaha is favored on the top half of the bracket, but could meet returning All-American and eighth-ranked Steve Franklin of San Francisco State in the quarterfinals and No. 6 Jake Kahnke of St. Cloud State in the semifinals.