Jan. 26, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA released Monday the first of three coaches’ panel rankings for the 2008-09 wrestling season. The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2009 NCAA 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 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches across the nation. Each qualifying tournament has five coaches rank two weight classes each from one to 33. A wrestler receives 33 points for a first-place vote, 32 points for a second-place vote, etc. The high and low vote total for each wrestler is dropped to give a final point total.

A full video description of the entire selection process is available here or you can review appendix C of the 2009 Division I Wrestling Championships Handbook here.

The top ranked wrestlers at each weight class for the inaugural rankings include: Paul Donahoe, Edinboro University (125 pounds); Franklin Gomez, Michigan State University (133 pounds); Alex Tsirtsis, University of Iowa (141 pounds); Brent Metcalf, Iowa (149 pounds); Gregor Gillespie, Edinboro (157 pounds); Mack Lewnes, Cornell University (165 pounds); Steve Luke, University of Michigan (174 pounds); Jake Herbert, Northwestern University (184 pounds); Jake Varner, Iowa State University (197 pounds) and Jared Rosholt, Oklahoma State University (Heavyweight).

Complete Rankings Release