INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released the second of four coaches’ panel rankings and the first RPI rankings for the 2016-17 wrestling season on Friday, with 30 Southern Conference student-athletes appearing on one or both of the lists. The final rankings will be tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will take place March 16-18 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
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 RPI requires a minimum of 17 Division I matches to be eligible for a ranking.
The SoCon’s 30 ranked individuals are:
125 pounds
Nathan Kraisser, Campbell (No. 13 coaches/No. 11 RPI)
Alonzo Allen, Chattanooga (--/18)
Vito Pasone, Appalachian State (22/22)
Freddie Rodriguez, SIUE (27/20)
Dalton Henderson, VMI (--/32)
133 pounds
Colby Smith, Appalachian State (20/16)
Chris Debien, Chattanooga (--/28)
149 pounds
Matt Zovistoski, Appalachian State (18/16)
Chris Vassar, Gardner-Webb (32/18)
Ty Buckiso, The Citadel (--/29)
157 pounds
Aaron Walker, The Citadel (29/15)
Neal Richards, VMI (--/19)
Ryan Mosley, Gardner-Webb (--/31)
165 pounds
Tyler Marinelli, Gardner-Webb (27/23)
Forrest Przybysz, Appalachian State (29/27)
174 pounds
Austin Trott, Gardner-Webb (21/14)
Nick Kee, Appalachian State (27/--)
Sean Mappes, Chattanooga (--/26)
Jake Residori, SIUE (--/28)
184 pounds
Bryce Carr, Chattanooga (16/8)
Hunter Gamble, Gardner-Webb (18/14)
Ville Heino, Campbell (19/19)
197 pounds
Sawyer Root, The Citadel (--/27)
Jake Tindle, SIUE (--/29)
Willie Bivens, Campbell (--/33)
Heavyweight
Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State (9/6)
Jared Johnson, Chattanooga (11/7)
Jere Heino, Campbell (24/20)
Jake McKiernan, SIUE (27/29)
Boyce Cornwell, Gardner-Webb (29/22)
-www.SoConSports.com-