INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA has released qualifier allocations for the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as well as the latest coaches’ panel rankings and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2014-15 wrestling season.
The Southern Conference was allocated 14 spots for the NCAA Championships, with three at 149 pounds, two each at 125 pounds and heavyweight, and one each at the seven other weights.
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, 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.
After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 70 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 11. 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 Southern Conference is represented by 13 wrestlers in the coaches’ panel rankings and 11 in the RPI. Chattanooga 125-pounder Sean Boyle is ranked in the top 10 in both.
The SoCon’s ranked wrestlers are: Chattanooga’s Boyle (No. 8 coaches, No. 9 RPI) and Appalachian State’s Dominic Parisi (25/21) at 125 pounds; Chattanooga’s Nick Soto (15/13) at 133; Gardner-Webb’s Ryan Mosley (22 coaches), Chattanooga’s Shawn Greevy (25/25) and The Citadel’s Matt Frisch (28/28) at 149; The Citadel’s Aaron Walker (14/23) at 157; Appalachian State’s Nick Kee (28 coaches) and Gardner-Webb’s Austin Trott (31/26) at 165; SIUE’s Jake Residori (24 RPI) at 174; Chattanooga’s Scottie Boykin (31/30) at 197; and Appalachian State’s Denzel Dejournette (18/19), Chattanooga’s Jared Johnson (23/26) and VMI’s Juan Adams (31 coaches) at heavyweight.
The 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 19-21 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.