Cornell, Lehigh finish season atop NWCA/National Duals Selection Committee Mid-Major Top 20

Manheim, Pennsylvania — The National Wrestling Coaches Association and the National Duals Selection Committee has released the final Mid-Major Top 20 college wrestling poll of the season. The NWCA/NDS Mid-Major Top 20, released on Thursday, ranks teams outside of the traditional Power 5 all-sports conferences.

Cornell and Lehigh finished the season as the top Mid-Major programs and both are coming off season-ending dual meet victories over Big Ten opponents at the NWCA National Duals Series. Cornell upset Ohio State, while Lehigh topped Rutgers.

Northern Iowa, the regular-season champion of the MAC, finished third.

Lehigh led a contingent of Patriot League schools in the Top 20. The Patriot League, which doesn't officially sponsor wrestling as a conference, had each of its five wrestling members included, leading all all-sports conferences. Lehigh was joined by No. 11 Bucknell, No. 13 Army West Point, No. 15 American and No. 18 Navy in the Top 20. The MAC and Ivy League each had three schools represented.

In total, 11 different all-sports conferences were represented in the final poll.

All-Sports members of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC are not eligible for consideration. This poll is also conducted independently of the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll. Inquiries may be sent to Pat Tocci at ptocci@nwca.cc.