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Big Ten competition continues to spark movement in Top 25

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by Jason Bryant, NWCA

Manheim, Pa. -- The top five teams remained in place, but Big Ten dual meet competition caused some movement as the USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll was released on Tuesday.

The nation's last four unbeaten teams in Division I still occupy the top four spots as Penn State, Iowa, N.C. State and Missouri continued their strong seasons. Penn State (10-0) won two duals, 46-4 over Northwestern and 24-10 over then-No. 7 Nebraska. Penn State's win at Northwestern was highlighted by Zain Retherford's 15-5 major decision over 2014 NCAA Division I champion Jason Tsirtsis at 149 pounds.

Iowa (11-0) rolled past Wisconsin 31-3, while N.C. State won its 17th dual of the season in smashing No. 17 Virginia 35-7. The Wolfpack win streak is the second-longest current active in Division I, followed by No. 4 Missouri (9-0), which claimed its 36th and 37th dual wins in a row with victories over Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan.

Oklahoma State (6-2) holds steady at No. 5. The Cowboys topped a pair of ranked teams, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, on an Eastern swing. Coach John Smith's team won 19 of 20 individual bouts in the two matches.

Lehigh (10-1), Oklahoma (8-2), Michigan (7-1), Ohio State (6-2) and Virginia Tech (9-2) round out the top 10.

Ohio State continued to make the Big Ten dual meet season interesting as the Buckeyes unleashed 2015 NCAA All-American and 2015 freestyle World champion Kyle Snyder into the lineup at heavyweight. Snyder's major decision over Collin Jensen would lift the Buckeyes past Nebraska on Sunday. Nebraska fell four spots to No. 11.

Minnesota (6-6) re-entered the Top 25 after a one-week hiatus. The Golden Gophers evened their record after a 17-16 win over then-No. 6 Rutgers in Minneapolis on Sunday.

Kent State (10-3) broke into the Top 25 for the first time this season. The Golden Flashes upended MAC rival Ohio over the weekend.

Rank

Team (First)

Record

Points

Conference

Previous

1

Penn State (11)

10-0

299

Big Ten

1

2

Iowa

11-0

287

Big Ten

2

3

N.C. State (1)

17-0

276

ACC

3

4

Missouri

9-0

263

MAC

4

5

Oklahoma State

6-2

255

Big 12

5

6

Lehigh

10-1

232

EIWA

8

7

Oklahoma

8-2

219

Big 12

9

8

Michigan

7-1

212

Big Ten

10

9

Ohio State

6-2

210

Big Ten

11

10

Virginia Tech

9-2

183

ACC

12

11

Nebraska

8-3

183

Big Ten

7

12

Rutgers

11-3

176

Big Ten

6

13

Illinois

10-3

159

Big Ten

13

14

North Carolina

9-2

134

ACC

15

15

Cornell

3-3

125

EIWA

16

16

Iowa State

7-3

114

Big 12

14

17

Virginia

5-3

101

ACC

17

18

Pittsburgh

9-2

89

ACC

18

19

Central Michigan

5-2

81

MAC

19

20

Purdue

7-2

80

Big Ten

20

21

Indiana

5-1

58

Big Ten

22

22

Oregon State

5-4

54

Pac-12

23

23

Minnesota

6-6

32

Big Ten

NR

24

Kent State

10-3

18

MAC

NR

25

Appalachian State

8-2

16

SoCon

25

 

Dropped out: No. 21 Ohio, No. 24 West Virginia

Others Receiving Votes: Ohio 11, Arizona State 10, West Virginia 10, Stanford 5, Wisconsin 4, Chattanooga 3, Bucknell 1

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