Wrestling highly touted in NCAA and MAC rankings
Several wrestlers have received high praise from the results of the NCAA coaches' panel rankings and Mid-American Conference coaches' rankings released last week.
Central Michigan featured six wrestlers ranked in the top-33 of their respective weight classes, according to the NCAA results. Central Michigan also received 19 votes in the top-25 team rankings.
"That’s very important for those guys to stay in the rankings and continue to move forward, maybe leapfrog some of the guys that are ahead of them by notching those guys off when we get a chance to wrestle them," said head coach Tom Borrelli.
The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifying teams for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index and coaches’ rankings to earn spots in qualifying tournaments for the championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament.
In order to be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers have to participate in at least five matches against Division I opponents within the last 30 days, in addition to their coach naming them as a starter for their team.
Junior 174-pounder Mike Ottinger and sophomore 141-pounder Zach Horan were the only wrestlers ranked in the top-10 by the coaches' panel, at seventh and eighth, respectively.
“Hopefully, I can improve that ranking by the end of the year," Horan said. "I’d like to get into the top 5 area, but it's going to be really important to get better."
Wrestlers are judged in a variety of means, but most important are their victories against similarly ranked opponents. Beating a higher ranked opponent can lead to a rapid upward boost.
"I have a really tough weight class in my conference, so it’s going to be important (that) I can get a good seeding in there as well," Horan said. "Hopefully, I can win the conference and try to set myself up to be in a good spot in the bracket for the NCAA Tournament.”
Meanwhile, freshman Corey Keener and senior Joe Roth ranked in the top 15 wrestlers in their weight-class at 13th and 15th, while redshirt sophomore Lucas Smith ranked 17th.
Senior Scott Mattingly was the final wrestler featured, ranking No. 33.
The MAC office released its second set of coaches' rankings for January with the Chippewas projected to finish fourth at the MAC Championships in March. Northern Iowa was picked to win the title with 20 team points, while Missouri was projected to have 18.5 points and Ohio 17 points.
Junior Mike Ottinger moved to No. 1 in the MAC at 174 pounds after two victories over highly-ranked opponents last weekend. Sophomore Lucas Smith moved up to No. 2 at 157 pounds.
