The brackets for the NCAA Division II Championships were released on Tuesday (Feb. 27). The Tigers have four wrestlers that qualified for nationals which is set to take place in ten days (Mar. 9-10). No. 3 Brandon Ball (141), No. 4 Efe Osaghae (149), Ryne Cokeley (157) and Rakim Dean (197) earned at least fourth place at the West Super Regional last weekend.

In the 141-pound weight class, third-ranked Brandon Ball (34-5) is set to begin his tournament by taking on fifth-ranked Nick Crume (20-3) of Indianapolis. There are three other wrestlers that Ball has faced this season, all on the top half of the 16-man bracket. Including Ball, nine of the 16 players are currently ranked in the nation.

In the 149-pound weight class, fourth-ranked Efe Osaghae (29-11) will begin his first national championships by facing Logan Grass of Mercyhurst. If Osaghae were to win in the first round, he could potentially go against the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country, James Pleski (26-1) of St. Cloud State. Three other wrestlers in the bracket are previous guys the redshirt-sophomore has faced this season. Of the 16 wrestlers in this weight class, nine are ranked individually in the country.

In the 157-pound weight class, junior Ryne Cokeley (12-10) will battle No. 4 Ryan Strope (38-11) of McKendree. This is Cokeley’s first appearance at the DII Championships. There are seven wrestlers among the top 12 wrestlers in the nation at this weight class.

Senior Rakim Dean (32-10) qualified for nationals in the 197-pound weight class. In the first round, Dean is taking on No. 9 Matthew Rudy (20-4) of Limestone. Nine of the top 12 wrestlers are in this 16-man weight class for nationals.