University of Minnesota Athletics
Wrestling Sixth in NWCA Poll
12/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Manheim, Pa. - After dropping a 21-8 decision to third ranked Oklahoma State last weekend, the Minnesota wrestling team falls to No. 6 in the latest top-25 poll from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
The poll, released yesterday (Dec. 8), sees the Gophers drop one spot from fifth, where they were the two previous weeks, into a tie in sixth with Cornell. A 5-0 Central Michigan team swapped spots with the Gophers, moving into the top-five after coming in sixth a week ago. The team that beat Minnesota, Oklahoma State, falls from third to fourth, after also tying Oklahoma last week.
The top two remain unchanged as first place Iowa garners all 11 first place votes to better second place Iowa State. The interstate rivals have been perched atop the poll all season. Big Ten rival Ohio State takes over the vacated spot at No. 3, moving up from No. 4 last week.
Also from the Big Ten, Indiana and Penn State remain in the top-25 at 13 and 14 respectively, as the Hoosiers held steady with the Nittany Lions moving up one spot. Wisconsin at No. 18 and Illinois at No. 20 round out the Big Ten representation.
Minnesota's next opponent, Nebraska, also lands on the poll at No. 12 with a 4-1-0 record. The Gophers and Huskers will match up in Williams Arena on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 7:00 p.m.
In the latest InterMat Individual rankings, eight Gophers landed among the best in the nation. At 133, Jayson Ness (Bloomington, Minn.) is ranked highest, earning a No. 2 tally. Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) at 125 and Dustin Schlatter (Massillion, Ohio) at 165 are each ranked No. 4, while Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) is ranked sixth at 141. Schlatter and Thorn each fell in the rankings for the first time all season, after losses last week. Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) is ranked No. 9 at 149, Ben Berhow (Hayward, Minn.) is ranked No. 11 at heavyweight, Jake Deitchler (Anoka, Minn.) is ranked No. 12 at 157 and Sonny Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.) is ranked No. 18 at 184 to complete the Gophers in the Individual rankings.
NWCA Rankings - 12/08/09
No. Team, Rec
1. Iowa (11), 8-0-0
2. Iowa State, 1-1-0
3. Ohio State , 4-0-0
4. Oklahoma State, 1-0-1
5. Central Michigan, 5-0-0
6.-T Minnesota, 1-1-0
6.-T Cornell , 0-1-0
8. Boise State, 4-0-0
9. Maryland, 5-1-0
10. Oklahoma, 4-0-1
11. Lehigh, 6-2-0
12. Nebraska, 4-1-0
13. Indiana, 6-0-0
14. Penn State, 4-1-0
15. Kent State, 2-0-0
16. Missouri, 1-2-0
17. Edinboro, 2-1-0
18. Wisconsin, 1-3-0
19. Cal Poly, 2-0-0
20. Illinois, 2-2-0
21. Arizona State, 3-2-0
22. Old Dominion, 0-1-0
23. Virginia, 7-1-0
24.-T Oregon State, 3-1-0
24.-T Pittsburgh, 5-1-0
-UM-
Players Mentioned
