INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released the first of four coaches’ panel rankings for the 2016-17 wrestling season on Friday, with 20 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 2017 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 2017 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 20 ranked individuals are: Campbell’s Nathan Kraisser (No. 11), Appalachian State’s Vito Pasone (22) and SIUE’s Freddie Rodriguez (25) at 125 pounds; Appalachian State’s Colby Smith (21) at 133; Appalachian State’s Matt Zovistoski (17) at 149; The Citadel’s Aaron Walker (19) and VMI’s Neal Richards (29) at 157; Gardner-Webb’s Tyler Marinelli (23) and Appalachian State’s Forrest Przybysz (28) at 165; Appalachian State’s Nick Kee (22) and Gardner-Webb’s Austin Trott (23) at 174; Chattanooga’s Bryce Carr (16), Gardner-Webb’s Hunter Gamble (t-17), Campbell’s Ville Heino (22) and Appalachian State’s David Peters-Logue (t-30) at 184; and Chattanooga’s Jared Johnson (10), Appalachian State’s Denzel Dejournette (13), Gardner-Webb’s Boyce Cornwell (27), SIUE’s Jake McKiernan (31) and Campbell’s Jere Heino (t-32) at heavyweight.

The 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 16-18 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.