INDIANAPOLIS – The
NCAA has announced the qualifier allocations for the 2013 NCAA Division I
Wrestling Championships, with the Southern Conference receiving 13 automatic
bids.
Each qualifying tournament was awarded spots per weight
class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following:
Division I winning percentage at the weight class; rating percentage index
(RPI); and coaches ranking.
For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two
of the three categories, his qualifying tournament was awarded a qualifying
spot in that weight class. Each
qualifying tournament, with automatic qualifying status, was awarded a minimum
of one wrestler per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion,
even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three
thresholds. NCAA tournament spots for
each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on
place-finish.
The SoCon got automatic qualifiers at each weight class and
an additional spot each at 125 pounds, 141 and 165.
After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA
Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 40
at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 13. All weight classes
will consist of 33 wrestlers. The
at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head
competition; qualifying event placement; quality wins; results against common
opponents; winning percentage; RPI; coaches ranking and the number of matches
contested at that weight class.
The final coaches’ panel rankings and second RPI were also
released. The SoCon was represented by: Chattanooga’s Nick Soto (No. 18 coaches/No.
16 RPI) and Campbell’s Eric Montoya (28/28) at 125; SIUE’s Patrick Myers
(--/32) at 133; The Citadel’s Ugi Khishignyam (6/7) and Chattanooga’s Dean
Pavlou (28/24) at 141; Appalachian State’s Zack Strickland (22/24) and Chattanooga’s
Josh Condon (25/16) at 165; Chattanooga’s Niko Brown (20/17) at 197; and The
Citadel’s Odie Delaney (14/14), Gardner-Webb’s Travis Porter (31/--) and
Chattanooga’s Kevin Malone (32/31) at 285.