Lehigh is No. 1, UNI is No. 2 in NWCA Mid-Major Top 20 Coaches Poll
Share:
by NWCA
Manheim, Pennsylvania — The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its first Mid-Major Top 20 of the season on Thursday. Formulated in 2017, the Mid-Major Top 20 concentrates on the programs that fall outside of the traditional “Power 5” conferences.
The EIWA conference dominated the top 5 with four of the top five teams led by Lehigh which was ranked first. Northern Iowa was right behind the Mountain Hawks in the second position. Princeton, which just won its first Ivy League Championship since 1986 fell into the third spot. The Tigers had a win in November over Lehigh.
Rounding out the top five is Cornell in fourth and Army West Point in fifth.
The Southern Conference made a big splash in the next five with Campbell reaching their highest Mid-Major Poll ranking ever falling into the 6th spot. Appalachian State was right on their heels falling into the 8th spot.
Seven mid-major teams are ranked in the NWCA Coaches Poll. The EIWA led all conferences with seven teams ranked in the top 20 while six of the Big 12 affiliates made the top 20 poll.
The next Mid-Major poll will be released on February 26.
The EIWA conference dominated the top 5 with four of the top five teams led by Lehigh which was ranked first. Northern Iowa was right behind the Mountain Hawks in the second position. Princeton, which just won its first Ivy League Championship since 1986 fell into the third spot. The Tigers had a win in November over Lehigh.
Rounding out the top five is Cornell in fourth and Army West Point in fifth.
The Southern Conference made a big splash in the next five with Campbell reaching their highest Mid-Major Poll ranking ever falling into the 6th spot. Appalachian State was right on their heels falling into the 8th spot.
Seven mid-major teams are ranked in the NWCA Coaches Poll. The EIWA led all conferences with seven teams ranked in the top 20 while six of the Big 12 affiliates made the top 20 poll.
The next Mid-Major poll will be released on February 26.
|
Rank |
Team (First) |
Record |
Points |
Conference |
All-Sports |
|
1 |
Lehigh (4) |
(9-3) |
96 |
EIWA |
Patriot League |
|
2 |
Northern Iowa (1) |
(6-3) |
94 |
Big 12 |
Missouri Valley |
|
3 |
Princeton |
(6-4) |
93 |
EIWA |
Ivy League |
|
4 |
Cornell |
(9-6) |
85 |
EIWA |
Ivy League |
|
5 |
Army West Point |
(8-3) |
79 |
EIWA |
Patriot League |
|
6 |
Campbell |
(8-2) |
76 |
SoCon |
Big South |
|
7 |
Rider |
(10-3) |
70 |
MAC |
Metro Atlantic |
|
8 |
Appalachian State |
(8-2) |
62 |
SoCon |
Sun Belt |
|
9 |
South Dakota State |
(10-5) |
56 |
Big 12 |
Summit |
|
10 |
Central Michigan |
(7-4) |
52 |
MAC |
MAC |
|
11 |
North Dakota State |
(7-3) |
52 |
Big 12 |
Summit |
|
12 |
Wyoming |
(7-9) |
32 |
Big 12 |
Mountain West |
|
13 |
Navy |
(8-4) |
31 |
EIWA |
Patriot League |
|
14 |
Northern Illinois |
(10-4) |
30 |
MAC |
MAC |
|
15 |
CSU Bakersfield |
(5-5) |
26 |
Pac-12 |
WAC |
|
16 |
Old Dominion |
(7-9) |
22 |
MAC |
Conference USA |
|
17 |
Lock Haven |
(7-6) |
16 |
MAC |
Division II |
|
18 |
Fresno State |
(9-8) |
13 |
Big 12 |
Mountain West |
|
19 |
Bucknell |
(9-4) |
12 |
EIWA |
Patriot League |
|
20 |
American |
(3-7) |
10 |
EIWA |
Patriot League |
|
|
