MAC Gains Five At-Large Selections As 45 MAC Wrestlers Head To NCAA Championships
MAC With Third Most Qualifiers Among Division I Conferences Heading To 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships
INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA announced 49 at-large selections for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, as the at-large selections will join the 281 students that qualified automatically through individual Conference Championships over the last two weeks.
2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships Bracket
The MAC received five at-large selections to bring the Conference total to 45 wrestlers headed to the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships in New York City on March 17-19. The five at-large selections from the MAC were Josh Alber of Northern Iowa (133 lbs.), Zach Synon of Missouri (133 lbs.), Ian Miller of Kent State (155 lbs.), Tyler Buckwalter of Kent State (165 lbs.) and Gage Hutchison of Eastern Michigan (285 lbs.).
In addition, the MAC's 45 wrestlers that qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships represents the third most among any Division I Conference this season. Last weekend, the Missouri Tigers won their fourth consecutive MAC Wrestling Championship.
The at-large selections were made by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee using the following selection criteria: head-to-head competition, quality wins, results against common opponents, winning percentage, rating percentage index, coaches ranking, qualifying event placement, and number of matches contested at that weight class. The 2016 NCAA Division Wrestling Championships are at Madison Square Garden March 17-19.
MAC Wrestlers Qualified by weight class, listed alphabetically:
125
Brent Fleetwood, Central Michigan, 19-11
Brandon Jeske, Old Dominion, 18-11
Barlow McGhee, Missouri, 22-7
Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa, 14-2
133
*Josh Alber, Northern Iowa, 26-10
Austin Eicher, Northern Illinois, 19-11
Corey Keener, Central Michigan, 18-10
Cameron Kelly, Ohio, 22-7
Bryan Lantry, Buffalo, 18-14
Mack McGuire, Kent State, 24-5
*Zach Synon, Missouri, 16-12
*at-large selection
141
Steve Bleise, Northern Illinois, 26-8
Zachary Horan, Central Michigan, 25-11
Matt Manley, Missouri, 27-6
Chris Mecate, Old Dominion, 21-6
149
Nick Barber, Eastern Michigan, 18-9
Colt Cotten, Buffalo, 12-9
Mike DePalma, Kent State, 23-7
Lavion Mayes, Missouri, 26-2
Justin Oliver, Central Michigan, 28-5
157
LeRoy Barnes, Missouri, 27-8
Spartak Chino, Ohio, 23-11
*Ian Miller, Kent State, 20-1
Andrew Morse, Northern Illinois, 6-5
Luke Smith, Central Michigan, 30-8
Bryce Steiert, Northern Iowa, 21-9
*at-large selection
165
*Tyler Buckwalter, Kent State, 24-11
Dakota Juarez, Eastern Michigan, 14-10
Daniel Lewis, Missouri, 25-4
Cooper Moore, Northern Iowa, 15-6
Austin Reese, Ohio, 21-12
*at-large selection
174
Blaise Butler, Missouri, 20-3
Michael Ottinger, Central Michigan, 29-6
Cody Walters, Ohio, 26-4
184
Joe Ariola, Buffalo, 13-15
Jack Dechow, Old Dominion, 18-3
Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan, 28-12
Willie Miklus, Missouri, 18-5
197
Anthony Abro, Eastern Michigan, 20-8
Kyle Conel, Kent State, 26-6
J`den Cox, Missouri, 28-1
Shawn Scott, Northern Illinois, 23-9
Phil Wellington, Ohio, 25-6
285
Blaize Cabell, Northern Iowa, 22-6
*Gage Hutchison, Eastern Michigan, 21-13
*at large selection
