Collegiate Duals reconfigure NCAA Div. I Coaches Poll Top 25 as 2022 comes to a close
by Jason Bryant, NWCA
Manheim, Pennsylvania – Penn State and NC State remained undefeated and won their respective pools as nine of the nation’s Top 25 teams took part in the Journeymen Collegiate Duals in New Orleans on Monday and Tuesday. Penn State remained No. 1 in the most recent NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll released Thursday. The Nittany Lions closes out 2022 with a 7-0 record, followed by second-ranked Iowa, which also closed out the dual portion of 2020 at 7-0.
The biggest upset to come out of the event from a team perspective was then-No. 22 Northern Iowa upending No. 3 Ohio State 19-13. Northern Iowa fell to NC State 27-12 later in the event, but the Panthers (2-1) jumped nine spots to No. 13 this week. Arizona State (2-0) moved up to third, while Iowa State (7-2) leapt to fourth despite its loss to top-ranked Penn State. Individually, the event saw a number of stellar matchups, including the growing log-jam of results at 197 pounds and NCAA champion Aaron Brooks of Penn State falling to Iowa State’s Marcus Coleman at 184 pounds.
Ohio State dropped four spots to No. 7. Appalachian State (3-1) entered the Top 25 for the first time this year, primarily due to its 19-13 upset win at then-No. 21 North Carolina over the weekend. The Tar Heels went 1-2 at the Collegiate Duals, falling to Penn State and No. 12 Cornell and fell out of the poll this week.
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 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.
NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
December 22, 2022
Rank/Team/(First)/Record/Points/Conf./Previous
1 Penn State (13) (7-0) 349 Big Ten 1
2 Iowa (1) (7-0) 336 Big Ten 2
3 Arizona State (2-0) 307 Pac-12 4
4 Iowa State (7-2) 295 Big 12 6
5 Michigan (3-0) 293 Big Ten 5
6 NC State (8-0) 289 ACC 7
7 Ohio State (6-1) 259 Big Ten 3
8 Virginia Tech (3-1) 244 ACC 8
9 Minnesota (7-0) 237 Big Ten 9
10 Missouri (3-2) 226 Big 12 10
11 Wisconsin (6-1) 218 Big Ten 11
12 Cornell (2-2) 197 EIWA 12
13 Northern Iowa (2-1) 179 Big 12 22
14 Oklahoma State (4-1) 175 Big 12 13
15 Northwestern (1-0) 146 Big Ten 14
16 North Dakota State (4-2) 132 Big 12 15
17 Nebraska (2-2) 113 Big Ten 16
18 Rutgers (6-1) 108 Big Ten 17
19 South Dakota State (1-2) 82 Big 12 18
20 Lehigh (4-5) 81 EIWA 19
21 Pittsburgh (5-1) 73 ACC 20
22 Maryland (5-0) 55 Big Ten 23
23 Michigan State (6-0) 45 Big Ten 24
24 Appalachian State (3-1) 36 SoCon NULL
25 Cal Poly (3-3) 18 Pac-12 25
Dropped Out: No. 21 North Carolina (2-5)
Others Receiving Votes: Indiana 12, Oklahoma 10, North Carolina 9, Stanford 7, Penn 6, Oregon State 5, West Virginia 5, Princeton 3.