MAC WRESTLING EARNS TOP NATIONAL RANKING HONORS
47 MAC Wrestlers Earn Spots In NCAA Wrestling Coaches' Panel Rankings;
Missouri Ranked No. 5 in USA Today/NCWA Coaches Rankings, while Kent State, Central Michigan and Ohio also ranked in Top 25
The NCAA released its second of four coaches' panel rankings for the 2015-16 wrestling season and 47 MAC wrestlers earned spots, including five within the top five of the weight classes and 10 total ranked in the top ten. The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. This year's event is March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Missouri's J'Den Cox (197) ranked No. 2 in his respective weight class, while Kent State's Ian Miller (157) ranked No. 3 and Missouri's Daniel Lewis (165) ranked No. 4. Both Northern Iowa's Dylan Peters (125) and Missouri's Blaise Butler (174) ranked No. 5 in their respective weight classes.
In addition, Matt Manley (141) of Missouri ranked No. 6, while Mack McGuire (133) of Kent State, Alexander Richardson (149) of Old Dominion, Cody Walters (174) of Ohio and Mike Ottinger (174) of Central Michigan all ranked No. 8 in their respective weight classes.
Three-time defending MAC Champion Missouri enters this weekend with a 12-1 overall record and won the MAC regular season with a 8-0 MAC dual meet record as the Tigers have earned the No. 5 national ranking by the USA Today/NWCA Coaches National Rankings. Also from the MAC, Kent State earned the No. 17 ranking with a 13-3 overall record and 6-1 MAC dual meet record, while Central Michigan ranked No. 20 with an 8-4 overall record, 5-1 in the MAC. Ohio University also ranked No. 22 with 10-3 overall and 5-3 in MAC dual meets.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches’ rankings to earn spots in their qualifying tournaments for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. In order to be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.
USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll:
No. 5 Missouri (12-1 overall, 8-0 in the MAC)
No. 17 Kent State (13-3 overall, 6-1 in the MAC)
No. 20 Central Michigan (8-4 overall, 5-1 in the MAC)
No. 22 Ohio (10-3 overall, 5-3 in the MAC)
NCAA Wrestling Coaches' Panel Rankings (Individual Weight Class Rankings)
125:
5. Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
11. Barlow McGhee, Missouri
21. Brent Fleetwood, Central Michigan
28. Shakur Laney, Ohio
32. Brandon Jeske, Old Dominion
33. Kyle Akins, Buffalo
133:
8. Mackenzie McGuire, Kent State
11. Cameron Kelly, Ohio
13. Josh Alber, Northern Iowa
14. Zach Synon, Missouri
15. Emilio Saavedra, Old Dominion
26. Corey Keener, Central Michigan
141:
6. Matt Manley, Missouri
12. Chris Mecate, Old Dominion
15. Steve Bleise, Northern Illinois
16. Zach Horan, Central Michigan
28. Trevor Jauch, Northern Iowa
149:
8. Alexander Richardson, Old Dominion
12. Colin Heffernan, Central Michigan
19. Mike DePalma, Kent State
24. Nick Barber, Eastern Michigan
157:
3. Ian Miller, Kent State
11. Luke Smith, Central Michigan
23. Bryce Steiert, Northern Iowa
28. Spartak Chino, Ohio
29. LeRoy Barnes, Missouri
165:
4. Daniel Lewis, Missouri
19. Cooper Moore, Northern Iowa
29. Tyler Buckwalter, Kent State
32. Austin Reese, Ohio
33. Jordan Atienza, Central Michigan
174:
5. Blaise Butler, Missouri
8. Cody Walters, Ohio
9. Mike Ottinger, Central Michigan
32. Jacob Davis, Eastern Michigan
184:
11. Willie Miklus, Missouri
14. Jack Dechow, Old Dominion
26. Andrew Romanchik, Ohio
29. Cole Baxter, Kent State
32. Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan
197:
2. J`Den Cox, Missouri
12. Phillip Wellington, Ohio
15. Kyle Conel, Kent State
17. Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois
21. Anthony Abro, Eastern Michigan
285:
15. Blaize Cabell, Northern Iowa
28. Gage Hutchison, Eastern Michigan
