CollegeUSAW

Iowa is No. 1, Michigan No. 2 in first Trackwrestling Div. I tournament rankings of 2021

Share:

by Andy Hamilton, Trackwrestling

Division I wrestling shifted back into gear last weekend with more than 400 individual matches across the country. Those results, coupled with roster and lineup changes, contributed to the movement in this week's edition of the Trackwrestling Division I rankings presented by Resilite.

The most movement occurred at 133 and 165. South Dakota State's Zach Price moved up 12 spots to No. 9 at 133 after posting wins against two wrestlers who had been ranked inside the top 10 — then-No. 7 Devan Turner of Oregon State and No. 10 Matt Schmitt of Missouri. North Dakota State true freshman Kellyn March debuted at No. 18 at 133 after posting a major decision win against Turner.

At 165, Evan Wick, who is not listed on Wisconsin's roster, was removed from the rankings. He had been ranked fifth in the preseason. Pitt's Jake Wentzel moved up two notches to No. 9 after downing then-No. 7 Tanner Skidgel of Navy. Nebraska's Peyton Robb rounds out the top 10. He had been ranked at 157 in the preseason but is expected to compete this season for the Huskers at 165.

On the team front, Iowa continues to hold a big lead. The Hawkeyes, led by top-ranked Spencer Lee (125), Jaydin Eierman (141) and Michael Kemerer (174), are ranked eighth or better at all 10 weights, giving Iowa a projected 134 NCAA placement and advancement points. Michigan (77), Penn State (67) and Oklahoma State (52.5) follow the Hawkeyes. Nebraska (49.5) and North Carolina State (49.5) are tied for fifth, followed by Ohio State (48.5), Virginia Tech (44), Iowa State (40.5) and Rutgers (37.5).

The rankings, which are linked below, do not include wrestlers from conferences and schools that have stated plans not to compete during the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Trackwrestling team rankings are based strictly on the number of advancement and placement points each squad would accumulate if its wrestlers finished in those ranking slots at the NCAA Championships. Top-ranked wrestlers earn 20 points, followed by 16 for second, 13.5 for third, 12.5 for fourth, 10 for fifth, 9 for sixth, 6.5 for seventh, 5.5 for eighth, 2 for spots 9-12, 1.5 for spots 13-16 and 1 for 17-25. Team dual outcomes are not factored into the team rankings.

The Trackwrestling rankings include 33 wrestlers at each weight class, representing the number of wrestlers who qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Do you have questions or comments on the Trackwrestling rankings? Email us with feedback at rankings@trackwrestling.com.

Rank

School

Points

1

Iowa

134

2

Michigan

77

3

Penn State

67

4

Oklahoma State

52.5

T-5

Nebraska

49.5

T-5

North Carolina State

49.5

7

Ohio State

48.5

8

Virginia Tech

44

9

Iowa State

40.5

10

Rutgers

37.5

11

Arizona State

37

12

Northwestern

35

13

Minnesota

34

14

North Carolina

33

T-15

Oklahoma

31

T-15

Stanford

31

17

Michigan State

30.5

18

Central Michigan

29.5

T-19

Missouri

29

T-19

Purdue

29

21

West Virginia

23

22

Pittsburgh

19

23

Virginia

18.5

T-24

Northern Colorado

16

T-24

Rider

16

26

Binghamton

13.5

27

Wisconsin

13

28

Utah Valley

10.5

29

Illinois

9

30

Indiana

8.5

31

Clarion

7.5

32

Wyoming

7

33

South Dakota State

6.5

T-34

Army West Point

5.5

T-34

Duke

5.5

36

North Dakota State

5

T-37

Lehigh

4.5

T-37

Navy

4.5

T-37

Northern Iowa

4.5

40

Campbell

4


 Division I 285-pound rankings presented by Resilite

Read More#