Penn State's Taylor continues to lead Most Dominant standings

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA has released the updated standings for the 2014 NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler Awards, in addition to standings for the most falls and tech falls within Divisions I, II and III. These awards will be presented in March at the respective NCAA Wrestling Championships. All of the standings only include matches between wrestlers in the same division.

The Most Dominant Wrestler standings are calculated by adding the total number of points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled. Points awarded per match are as follows:

• Fall, forfeit, injury default or DQ = 6 points (-6 points for a loss)
• Tech falls = 5 points (-5 points for a loss)
• Major decision = 4 points (-4 points for a loss)
• Decision = 3 points (-3 points for a loss)

This week a minimum of 14 matches are required to be eligible for the Most Dominant Wrestler standings. That required match total will increase by one per week until 18 matches is reached. Athletes redshirting the 2014 season are not eligible for any of the award standings.

In the Most Dominant standings, 2012 NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler David Taylor of Penn State maintains his lead with an average of 5.2 points. Taylor, a 165-pounder, has the highest tally across all three divisions. Oklahoma 174-pounder Andrew Howe checks in second with an average of 4.8667 points, while Taylor’s teammate, Edward Ruth (184 pounds), comes in third with 4.5789 points.

Alex Johns of Indianapolis holds on to the top spot in Division II with a 4.3684 average at 125 pounds, while Findlay 184-pounder Adam Walters takes over second with an average of 4.2353 points. Newberry takes the next two spots, but reversed from last week.   Jeffrey Vesta (125 pounds) is third with 4.1053 points and William Young (141 pounds) is fourth with 4.05 points.

A new leader has emerged in Division III as 2013 NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler and two-time NCAA champion Nazar Kulchytskyy of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has a 5.1429 average at 165 pounds. Ohio Northern heavyweight Cody Lovejoy and Wartburg 174-pounder Landon Williams are tied for second with an average of 5.0588 points. 

In the falls standings, Indiana’s Taylor Walsh maintains his lead with 19 pins at 157 pounds, while Bucknell heavyweight Joe Stolfi pulls closer in second with 15 falls. Two more student-athletes have reached double figures as Harrison Hightower (165 pounds) of Ohio and Kevin Birmingham (149 pounds) of Davidson have 10 pins.

For the first time this season, Division II features a sole leader in pins with Western State 149-pounder Ian Steen moving into first with 10 falls.  The pack is close behind as four wrestlers have nine pins, led by Edwin Cooper of Upper Iowa whose pins at 149 pounds have come in a combined time of 14:39. 

Colin Lenhardt of Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island) hangs on to the top spot in Division III with 17 pins at 184 pounds.  SUNY Oneonta’s Chad Obzud (197 pounds) is second with 15 pins and heavyweight Jamison Sacco of Western New England is third with 14 pins.

The tech fall standings in Division I features a close race between 133-pounders Cody Brewer of Oklahoma and Tyler Graff of Wisconsin.  The pair each have seven tech falls and Brewer holds the lead with a 1:59 advantage in combined time (38:14 to 40:13).  A duo of Nittany Lions is next in the standings as Taylor and Ruth each have six tech falls.

The lead in Division II also comes down to time as Austin Gillihan has six tech falls for Lake Erie at 133 pounds in 25:52, while Newberry’s Young has six in 29:56.

Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Shane Siefert leads all divisions with 10 tech falls at 197 pounds, four more than his nearest competitor.