NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

Oklahoma’s weekend upset over Missouri shakes up USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

Manheim, Pennsylvania — With patchwork lineups evident on both sides of the mat, Ross Larson’s pin over Austin Myers lifted Oklahoma past Missouri 24-18 over the weekend and shook up the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Wednesday.

Former Big 12 rivals, both teams were without notable starters but with the dual tied 18-18, Larson stepped to the mat, scored six and gave Lou Rosselli his first win over a ranked program in his short tenure as the head coach in Norman. The Tigers (5-2) felt the sting and dropped four spots to No. 9, while the Sooners (2-3) received a small bump, moving up three spots to No. 15.

Even with a large portion of Division I competing at holiday tournaments over the last three weeks, there were plenty of notable duals that impacted the rankings as well as the positioning for the NWCA’s Dual Championship Series.

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Little movement in USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll heading into the close of 2016

Manheim, Pennsylvania – There was little movement as the final USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll for the 2016 calendar year was released on Tuesday. Oklahoma State, Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State and Missouri held steady in the top five, while Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Cornell, Lehigh and NC State followed.

Oklahoma State (5-0) received a stern test from No. 8 Cornell on Friday night. The Cowboys prevailed 23-19 to remain unbeaten. Cornell (4-1) would rebound, albeit sluggishly, defeating No. 18 Oklahoma 21-18 on Sunday.

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Lehigh moves into Top 10; Minnesota this week’s big mover after upset win at Michigan

Manheim, Pennsylvania — Upset victories by Steven Polakowski, Jake Short and Nick Wanzek sparked Minnesota’s 22-18 victory over then-No. 10 Michigan on Sunday in Big Ten competition. The victory pushed Minnesota up five spots this week to No. 13 in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.

The Gophers (3-1) also picked up a weekend win in East Lansing, downing Michigan State 20-17 on Friday. Lehigh (5-1, 3-0 EIWA) moved into the Top 10 after losses by Michigan and NC State. The Mountain Hawks also picked up wins against then-No. 24 Drexel 31-3 and Princeton 34-3. Michigan’s loss to Minnesota dropped the Wolverines four spots to No. 14.

NC State (3-1) lost to No. 7 Nebraska 22-10 in Raleigh, and the Wolfpack dual lineup took a considerable hit when it learned nationally ranked 157-pounder Max Rohskopf would be lost for the season. Nebraska started its eastern swing with a 30-6 win over previously-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

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Oklahoma State, Penn State roll in weekend duals

Drexel ranked in Top 25 for first time in school history

Manheim, Pennsylvania – Top-ranked Oklahoma State improved to 4-0 after a pair of ranked wins, while second-ranked Penn State bested an in-state rival to improve to 3-0. The Cowboys and the Nittany Lions remained No. 1 and No. 2 in this week’s USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.

Oklahoma State bested then-No. 16 Oklahoma 33-3 in the first Bedlam dual of the season before shutting out then-No. 21 Pittsburgh of the ACC 39-0. Penn State drew the eighth-largest crowd (15,424) in NCAA wrestling history in their lone Bryce Jordan Center dual this season, dispensing with Lehigh 30-10.

Iowa remained unbeaten on the year, topping South Dakota State 29-8 at Frost Arena in Brookings, South Dakota. The crowd at Frost Arena, 4,087, was the largest in school history. Fans didn’t get to see the much-ballyhooed tangle between 133-pound stars Cory Clark of Iowa and Seth Gross of South Dakota State as Clark was scratched prior to the dual with an undisclosed injury.

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Michigan moves into Top 10 of USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

Princeton ranked for second time in school history

Manheim, Pennsylvania – With a slim college wrestling schedule following the Thanksgiving Break, there were only a handful of duals that impacted the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.

No. 8 Cornell’s 28-10 victory over then-No. 8 Rutgers in the fifth annual Grapple at the Garden in New York’s Madison Square Garden pushed the Scarlet Knights out of the Top 10 for the first time this season. Rutgers (5-1) checked in at No. 12 in this week’s poll, while Michigan moved up a spot to No. 10, and Lehigh moved up one spot to No. 11.

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Top 10 remains unchanged in USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll

Appalachian State moves into Top 25 after weekend win over Oregon State

Manheim, Pennsylvania – Coach JohnMark Bentley’s Appalachian State Mountaineers made school history a year ago as his program earned a Top 25 ranking for the first time. The group from Boone, N.C., closed out last season ranked for the final four weeks.

In 2016-17, the Mountaineers didn’t have to wait nearly as long to garner its first ranking of the season following a win over No. 15 Oregon State at home this past weekend. The win moved the Mountaineers (2-0) in at No. 23 in this week’s USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. The No. 23 ranking ties the best in school history, which was set in the final poll of last season.

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South Dakota State enters Top 25

Minimal changes after opening week of Division I season in USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

Manheim, Pennsylvania – Coming off a sound 27-9 win over then-No. 14 Iowa State, South Dakota State entered the Top 25 for just the fourth time in school history as the second weekly USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll was released on Tuesday.

Coach Chris Bono’s Jackrabbits (1-0) won seven of 10 bouts to also earn the school’s first-ever win over Iowa State in 10 tries. Bono also earned the win over his alma mater, highlighted by Seth Gross’ technical fall at 133 pounds and David Kocer’s upset win at 174 pounds over All-American Lelund Weatherspoon.

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Oklahoma State opens season ranked No. 1 in USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

Manheim, Pennsylvania — Oklahoma State garnered 10 of the possible 16 first-place votes to open the 2016-17 NCAA Division I wrestling season atop the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll on Wednesday.

The Cowboys went 13-3 last season and finished second at the 2016 NCAA Division I Championships. Coach John Smith’s team returns five All-Americans including 141-pound NCAA champion Dean Heil. Along with Heil, All-Americans Anthony Collica, Joe Smith, Kyle Crutchmer and Nolan Boyd will give the Cowboys a formidable dual meet squad. Transfer All-American Geo Martinez isn’t expected to compete this season for Oklahoma State, while Crutchmer returns after missing most of last season due to injury.

Penn State, last year’s NCAA team champions and NWCA National Duals Champions, finished the season a perfect 16-0 in dual meets. Coach Cael Sanderson’s squad has won five of the last six NCAA team championships and returns four All-Americans, including 149-pound NCAA champion Zain Retherford. The Nittany Lions received five first-place votes. Joining Retherford is NCAA finalist Jason Nolf, and fellow All-Americans Jimmy Gulibon and Bo Nickal. Penn State will be relying on several blue-chip first-time starters this season.

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