Allocations
Coaches' rankings
RPI
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA has released qualifier allocations for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as well as the latest coaches’ panel rankings and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2015-16 wrestling season.
The Southern Conference was allocated 13 spots for the NCAA Championships, with three at heavyweight, two at 157 pounds and one each at the eight other weights. The 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will be held March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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 46 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 9. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; quality wins; coaches ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage.
The Southern Conference has 20 student-athletes appearing in the coaches’ rankings and 18 in the RPI for a total of 23 different ranked wrestlers. The SoCon’s 23 ranked individuals are:
125 pounds
Appalachian State’s Vito Pasone (No. 30 coaches/No. 24 RPI)
133 pounds
Campbell’s Nathan Kraisser (23/21)
Gardner-Webb’s Tyler Ziegler (No. 32 RPI)
141 pounds
Chattanooga’s Mike Pongracz (24/32)
Appalachian State’s Michael Longo (No. 31 coaches)
149 pounds
Gardner-Webb’s Chris Vassar (29/12)
The Citadel’s Matt Frisch (33/33)
157 pounds
Chattanooga’s Kamaal Shakur (25/24)
The Citadel’s Aaron Walker (28/17)
VMI’s Neal Richard (No. 33 RPI)
165 pounds
Gardner-Webb’s Austin Trott (No. 26 coaches)
Campbell’s Paul Duggan (29/33)
Appalachian State’s Forrest Przybysz (32/24)
174 pounds
Appalachian State’s Nick Kee (22/18)
Chattanooga’s Sean Mappes (No. 33 coaches)
184 pounds
Chattanooga’s John Lampe (29/24)
Gardner-Webb’s Hunter Gamble (33/26)
Campbell’s Ville Heino (No. 33 RPI)
197 pounds
Chattanooga’s Scottie Boykin (No. 22 coaches)
The Citadel’s Marshall Haas (No. 30 coaches)
Heavyweight
Appalachian State’s Denzel Dejournette (5/11)
Chattanooga’s Jared Johnson (12/13)
Gardner-Webb’s Boyce Cornwell (32/27)