PSU headlines first coaches’ rankings

• Complete Division I coaches’ panel rankings

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released the first of three coaches’ panel rankings for the 2011-12 wrestling season on Friday. The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships.

Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches’ rankings to earn spots for the 2012 championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches across the nation. Each qualifying tournament has five coaches who rank the top 33 wrestlers in two weight classes. For ranking purposes, coaches must select a wrestler as a starter at a designated weight class. In addition, coaches may only select one wrestler per weight class.

Third-ranked Penn State, the 2011 team national champion, is the only team with two top-ranked wrestlers as Frank Molinaro (149 pounds) and and David Taylor (165) were the initial No. 1s at their respective weights. Top-ranked Oklahoma State has three wrestlers in the top three with four others also in the top 10 while second-ranked Iowa has three wrestlers in the top five and seven total ranked.  

The top-ranked wrestlers at each weight class in the first ranking of 2012 are: