Top 25 released as nation primes for Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational

Manheim, Pennsylvania – Only two Division I dual meets took place during the Thanksgiving break, so there was minimal movement in the most recent NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.

Minnesota (4-0) topped No. 14 South Dakota State 30-3 in Brookings, South Dakota, moving the Gophers up one spot to No. 8 in this week’s Top 25. It’s the highest ranking the Gophers have received in the poll since November 12, 2019 when they were ranked sixth.

The only other dual was No. 10 Northern Iowa (2-0) defeating then-No. 15 Missouri 24-10 at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin last Tuesday. Northern Iowa stayed at No. 10, while Missouri slid one spot to No. 16.

Much of the nation’s focus this coming weekend will be on Las Vegas as the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational kicks off Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. One of the nation’s most prestigious in-season tournaments, last year’s event saw 30 of its placewinners eventually hit the podium at the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships, including four individual NCAA champions.

Methodology: The NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, 24 points for a second-place vote, 23 points for a third-place vote, and so on, through to one point for a 25th-place vote. The poll is based on dual meet results.