Yes/No: How many Division II squads from MN will automatically qualify for Nationals?

Area Division II colleges will soon be on their way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the Central Regional  Meet and a chance to punch their ticket to the Nationals.  Hosted by Augustana on Saturday, November 9, the event will kick off at 10:30 AM.  The Division II National Championship will be run in Spokane, Washington two weeks after the regional meets.

A formula determines how many teams qualify for Nationals from each region, and this year the Central Region will automatically qualify the top five teams on the men's side and the top four for the women.  The region features many nationally ranked teams, including powerhouse Augustana, which ranks at number six for the men and number twelve for the women.

But we are going to follow the teams from Minnesota this week with the following question...

Yes/No: Will two or more teams from Minnesota automatically qualify for the Division II National Meet?

Make sure to play the Photo ID contest this week as we will be giving an extra point to anyone that answers correctly.

To simplify the yes/no question: we are asking if two or more teams from Minnesota will finish in the top five for Men and/or the top four for women.

In the Central Region rankings, there are zero men's teams in the top ten.  On the women's side, Minnesota-Duluth is ranked first, followed by Winona State in fourth, MSU Moorhead ninth and Minnesota State, Mankato in tenth.

The NSIC Conference Championships were held on 10/26/13 on the same course as the Regional Meet.  The surprise from that meet is that the UMD women upset the Augustana team that was previously ranked fourth in the nation.  Winona State finished third at NSIC and are currently ranked 20th in the country.  In the men's race, Augustana nearly achieved a perfect score, ending with 18 points.  Sioux Falls and University of Mary took the next two spots before a large group of Minnesota teams finished close together:  Minnesota-Duluth, Winona State, MSU-Mankato and MSU-Moorhead were third through seventh.

Augustana swept the men's and women's titles at the 2012 Central Region Champs.  For these results as well as previous year's, click HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 10:30 A.M. CDT, Saturday, November 9.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  No

Last week's fantasy contest was a Pick Ten.  The weekly winner was Toby Hatlevig with 51 points over Bryan Tolcser at 48.  In the overall standings, Mike Henderson still maintains a healthy lead with 191 points.  The chase pack is very tight and led by Bryan Tolcser with 178 followed by Patrick Eastman with 174, Rich Cowles - 173 and Daniel Gerber at 172 points.

In the yes/no contest, a handful of people earned an extra point this week with a correct answer in the photo ID.  First place is owned by Lori Anne Schiesow with 23 points.  Close behind are Pat Foley and Dimitri Drekonja with 22 points apiece.

PHOTO ID:

The fellow pictured here will be very familiar to a select group of track athletes and coaches.  He's already something of a legend among the group he "teaches."  He's a formerAll American athlete, a coach, and a physics teacher. Who is the guy with the red tie?

Last week's Photo ID answer:  Steve Plasencia...and John Swain

Anyone who answers the photo ID correctly this week will receive an extra point in the Yes/No contest.

Eight individuals answered correctly in last week's photo ID contest:  Pat Foley, Mike Henderson, Rich Cowles, Bill Miles and Chris Lundberg answered John Swain as the gentleman with Steve Plascensia.  Pat Foley came through with the first correct answer.  We also gave points to anyone who guessed Enger - Toby Hatlevig, Daniel Gerber and Bryan Tolcser. Reason for this is our mistake on the hint offered last week.  The fellow in the photo shaking hands with Steve is John Swain, who the meet was named after.  The guy who the park where the meet is held is Bert Enger.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.