Wyoming, Northwestern move into USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

Manheim, Pennsylvania --  Two new teams entered the USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. Wyoming (5-2) and Northwestern (6-1) entered the poll for the first time this season. 

The Cowboys are fresh off a 4-0 weekend which saw them head to North Carolina and pick up wins over American, Army West Point, Duke and then-No. 19 North Carolina. Northwestern slid up to No. 25 despite losing by a point to No. 12 Illinois. Losses by previously ranked Oklahoma and North Dakota State aided the Wildcats move up.

The top 17 positions remained unchanged although there were a number of head-to-head duals between ranked teams with the biggest held on international soil. Third-ranked Oklahoma State (6-0) split five matches with fifth-ranked NC State (10-1) but it was bonus victories by heavyweight Derek White and All-American Kaid Brock at 133 that was the difference in the 19-16 Cowboys win in Naples, Italy. The Tussle for the Troops was the first NCAA dual meet held outside of North America.

Second-ranked Ohio State (8-0) headed east to beat No. 17 Rutgers 29-11 and Maryland 44-3. The Buckeyes were also aided by the return of three-time All-American Nathan Tomasello at 125 pounds in the win over Maryland. 

No. 7. Iowa (8-0) blasted Michigan State 49-6, while Michigan (5-1) picked up a trio of wins -- a 43-0 victory over Indiana,  a 25-14 win over then-No. 24 Purdue and a 28-10 win over Princeton. Arizona State also picked off North Carolina 27-9 in Chapel Hill. Illinois snuck past Nebraska on criteria before edging Northwestern 18-17 on Sunday in Champaign. 

West Virginia knocked off No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 25 North Dakota State. Pittsburgh also topped No. 18 Oklahoma, dropping the Sooners out of the Top 25. North Carolina slid five spots to No. 24. 

The USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is comprised of two voting coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Points are 25 for each first-place vote, 24 for second, 23 for third all the way to a 25^th-place vote is one point.
 
Future Poll Dates (Tuesdays unless otherwise noted): January 16, January 23, January 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, February, 27.

Rank	Team (First)	Record	Points	Conference	Previous
1	Penn State (11)	5-0	395	Big Ten	1
2	Ohio State (5)	8-0	389	Big Ten	2
3	Oklahoma State	6-0	367	Big 12	3
4	Missouri	12-0	350	MAC	4
5	NC State	10-1	334	ACC	5
6	Lehigh	6-1	316	EIWA	6
7	Iowa	8-0	312	Big Ten	7
8	Michigan	5-1	304	Big Ten	8
9	Virginia Tech	5-1	268	ACC	9
10	Arizona State	3-2	254	Pac-12	10
11	Northern Iowa	2-1	234	Big 12	11
12	Illinois	3-2	212	Big Ten	12
13	Cornell	4-2	194	EIWA	13
14	Minnesota	6-3	191	Big Ten	14
15	South Dakota State	5-2	179	Big 12	15
16	Wisconsin	4-0	172	Big Ten	16
17	Rutgers	3-3	145	Big Ten	17
18	Central Michigan	4-3	119	MAC	21
19	Nebraska	3-3	104	Big Ten	20
20	Lock Haven	4-0	86	EWL	22
21	Rider	5-2	64	EWL	23
22	Purdue	5-2	49	Big Ten	24
23	Wyoming	5-2	46	Big 12	NR
24	North Carolina	5-4	38	ACC	19
25	Northwestern	6-1	15	Big Ten	NR

Others Receiving Votes: Navy 13, West Virginia 12, Oklahoma 9, American 8, Edinboro 6, Utah Valley 5, Drexel 4, North Dakota State 4, Kent State 1, Pittsburgh 1.
Dropped out: No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 25 North Dakota State.