Mid-American Conference

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY WRESTLING RANKINGS
Missouri selected as the favorite in February rankings over Old Dominion and Ohio
 
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference wrestling coaches announced the February weight class individual rankings in conjunction with the league office today.  Based on the individual rankings, six-time defending MAC Champion Missouri Tigers (36.0 points) were selected first in the Conference over second-place Old Dominion (16.0 points) and third-place Ohio (14.0 points).

The February ranking also witnessed Northern Illinois (9.0 points) ranked fourth, with Buffalo (8.0 points) and Central Michigan (8.0 points) tied for fifth place.  SIU Edwardsville (7.0 points) and Kent State (2.0 points) rounded out the rankings.
 
The MAC had six All-Americans in 2018 and will see five of these All-Americans returning this season, including senior Kyle Conel (Kent State, 197), junior Jaydin Eierman (Missouri, 141), senior Daniel Lewis (Missouri, 174), sophomore Grant Leeth (Missouri, 149) and junior Se’Derian Perry (Eastern Michigan, 141 and now enrolled at Old Dominion).
 
In addition, seven MAC wrestlers who won their respective weight class at the 2018 MAC Wrestling Championships will be returning this season as well: sophomore Michael McGee (Old Dominion, 125); senior John Erneste (Missouri, 133); junior Jaydin Eierman (Missouri, 141); sophomore Grant Leeth (Missouri, 149); junior Connor Flynn (Missouri, 165); senior Daniel Lewis (Missouri, 174) and sophomore Matt Stencel (Central Michigan, 285).
 
In the summer of 2017, the MAC announced the addition of SIUE to begin as an affiliate member in wrestling for the 2018-19 season. The MAC will operate the 2018-19 season with eight members.
 
The rankings will be released each month throughout the season, with one additional ranking system (two total) in January and February.  The February ranking, voted on by the league’s head coaches in an open forum are as follows:
 
2019 MAC Weight Class February Rankings:
125 – 1. Shakur Laney (Ohio, Junior); 2. Michael McGee (Old Dominion, Sophomore); 3.  Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 4. Dack Punke (Missouri, Redshirt Freshman).
 
133 – 1. John Erneste (Missouri, Senior); 2. Mario Guillen (Ohio, Sophomore); 3. Derek Spann (Buffalo, Sophomore); 4. Alijah Jeffery (Northern Illinois, Senior).
 
141 – 1. Jaydin Eierman (Missouri, Junior); 2. Bryan Lantry (Buffalo, Senior); 3. Sa’Derian Perry (Old Dominion, Junior); 4. Cam Kelly (Ohio, Senior).
 
149 – 1. Brock Mauller (Missouri, Freshman); 2. Alec Hagan (Ohio, R-Freshman); 3. Tyshawn Williams (SIUE, Junior); 4. Kevin Budock (Old Dominion, Sophomore).
 
157 – 1. Jarrett Jacques (Missouri, Freshman); 2. Larry Early (Old Dominion, Junior); 3. Zac Carson (Ohio, Junior); 4. Logan Parks (Central Michigan, Junior).
 
165 – 1. Connor Flynn (Missouri, Junior); 2. Kenny Moore (Northern Illinois, Sophomore); 3. Nate Higgins (SIUE, Senior); 4. Colt Yinger (Ohio, Freshman).
 
174 – 1. Daniel Lewis (Missouri, Senior); 2. Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois, Redshirt Freshman); 3. Seldon Wright (Old Dominion, Senior); 4. Collin Lieber (Central Michigan, Redshirt Freshman).
 
184 – 1. Dylan Wisman (Missouri, Junior); 2. Antonio Agee (Old Dominion, Junior); 3. Andrew McNally (Kent State, Sophomore); 4. Will Feldkamp (Northern Illinois, Redshirt Freshman).
 
197 – 1. Wyatt Koelling (Missouri, Sophomore); 2. Christian Dulaney (SIUE, Senior); 3. Tim Young (Old Dominion, Junior); 4. Brett Perry (Buffalo, Senior).
 
HWT – 1. Matt Stencel (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 2. Zach Elam (Missouri, Freshman); 3. Jake Gunning (Buffalo, Senior); 4. Caleb Gossett (Northern Illinois, Junior).
 
The February team rankings were also decided in the same forum.  The eight schools were ranked based on the number of first through fourth-place votes that were earned in the individual voting system.  A first-place vote was worth four team points; a second-place vote earned three team points; third-seeded votes were worth two team points, while a fourth-place tally earned one point in the team ranking system.  The team rankings for the MAC are as follows:
 
2019 MAC February Rankings
1.         Missouri (36.0)
2.         Old Dominion (16.0)
3.         Ohio (14.0)
4.         Northern Illinois (9.0)
t-5.       Buffalo (8.0)
t-5.       Central Michigan (8.0)
7.         SIUE (7.0)
8.         Kent State (2.0)
 
The 2019 MAC Wrestling Championships will be held March 8-9 and hosted by Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
 
Last year, Missouri won its sixth consecutive MAC Championship with 177 points, followed by second-place Central Michigan (125 points) and third-place Eastern Michigan (120.5 points).  Kent State (98.0 points) finished fourth, followed by Ohio (84.5 points), Buffalo (81.0 points), Old Dominion (80.0 points) and Northern Illinois (78.0 points).