INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released the first of four coaches’ panel rankings for the 2015-16 wrestling season on Thursday, with 17 Southern Conference student-athletes appearing on the list. The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches’ rankings to earn spots in their qualifying tournaments for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. In order to be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.

The SoCon’s 17 ranked individuals are: Appalachian State’s Vito Pasone (No. 33) at 125 pounds; Campbell’s Nathan Kraisser (24) at 133; Chattanooga’s Mike Pongracz (22) at 141; The Citadel’s Matt Frisch (30) at 149; Chattanooga’s Kamaal Shakur (24) and The Citadel’s Aaron Walker (27) at 157; Appalachian State’s Forrest Przybysz (25) and Campbell’s Paul Duggan (29) at 165; Appalachian State’s Nick Kee (21) and Chattanooga’s Sean Mappes (33) at 174; Chattanooga’s John Lampe (23) and Campbell’s Ville Heino (32) at 184; Chattanooga’s Scottie Boykin (23) and The Citadel’s Marshall Haas (27) at 197; and Appalachian State’s Denzel Dejournette (5), Chattanooga’s Jared Johnson (13) and Gardner-Webb’s Boyce Cornwell (33) at heavyweight.

The 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City