University of Minnesota Athletics
Wrestling Moves up to Fifth in NWCA Poll
1/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Manheim, Pa. - The Golden Gopher Wrestling team moved up to No. 5 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) top-25 poll when it was released, Jan. 12. Minnesota jumps to fifth for the first time since Dec. 1, after spending four weeks at No. 6.
The Gophers are coming off a 2-2 performance last week at the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals, where they beat then No. 17 Missouri and No. 5 Central Michigan. Minnesota first beat Missouri 25-14, before dominating Central Michigan 25-9. The win over CMU moved the Gophers into the No. 5 spot, previously held by the Chippewas, who fell to No. 11 in this week's poll.
The Gophers have been among the top-six all season long, with this week marking their third at No. 5. Iowa remains No. 1, where they have been all season, garnering all 11 first place votes. The top four all stayed the same, with Iowa State at No. 2, Ohio State at No. 3 and Oklahoma State at No. 4. Minnesota's (5-4) four losses have all come from teams in the top-four, while three of their wins have come from top-25 teams.
Minnesota earned 229 points, edging No. 6 Boise State by eight points. The 5-4 Gophers are off this coming weekend, and will return to the mat Jan. 22 and 23, when the open Big Ten action on the road at Michigan State and Michigan respectively.
Among the Big Ten, Minnesota, Iowa and Ohio State are joined by No. 12 Indiana, No. 13 Penn State, No. 14 Wisconsin, and No. 19 Illinois. Already having met Ohio State, Minnesota will face off this season with each of the Big Ten teams in the poll, including Iowa for a second time.
In the latest InterMat Individual rankings, seven Gophers landed among the best in the nation. The biggest mover was Scott Glasser (Bismarck, N.D.) who enters the top-10 at No. 8 after gaining his first ranking last week. At 133, Jayson Ness (Bloomington, Minn.) has been ranked No. 2 all season long, and is joined at the top by Dustin Schlatter (Massillion, Ohio) who is No. 2 for a second straight week. Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) is next in line, ranked sixth at 125, while Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) joins him in the top-10 at No. 7 at 141. Sonny Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.) moves up to No. 16 in his second week at 197, while Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) rounds out the ranked Gophers, at No. 18 at 149.
NWCA Rankings - 01/12/10
No. Team, Rec
1. Iowa (11), 13-0
2. Iowa State , 6-2
3. Ohio State, 11-1
4. Oklahoma State, 8-0-1
5. Minnesota, 5-4
6. Boise State, 9-1
7. Cornell, 3-3
8. Maryland, 10-3
9. Lehigh, 9-3
10. Oklahoma, 8-1-1
11. Central Michigan, 8-2
12. Indiana, 9-0
13. Penn State, 6-3-1
14. Wisconsin, 4-6
15. Kent State, 9-1
16. Missouri, 2-4
17. Cal Poly, 4-2
18. Pittsburgh, 9-1-1
19. Illinois, 5-2
20. Virginia Tech, 10-3
21. Edinboro, 3-4
22. Oregon St., 12-1
23. Arizona State, 4-4
24. Virginia, 10-3
25. Nebraska, 8-5
-UM-
Players Mentioned
