INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released qualifier allocations for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as well as the latest coaches’ panel and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2019-20 season Thursday. The Southern Conference received 14 allocations and saw 18 student-athletes earn spots in one or both of the rankings.
 
The final rankings will be tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2020 NCAA Championships, which will take place March 19-21 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Southern Conference was allocated two NCAA qualifiers each at 149 pounds, 174 pounds, 184 pounds and heavyweight. The conference was allocated one qualifier in the remaining weight classes.
 
Each qualifying tournament was awarded automatic bids per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; ratings percentage index (RPI); and coaches’ ranking.
 
For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each conference was awarded a minimum of one automatic bid 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 conference tournaments have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 47 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 10, while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 6 p.m. 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; quality wins; coaches’ ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage.
 
The coaches’ rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the seven conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, EIWA, MAC, Pac-12 and SoCon), which is double the voters that had previously been used for the coaches’ panel rankings. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. 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 to be ranked.
 
The RPI is a calculation that considers a wrestler’s winning percentage, opponent winning percentage (strength of schedule) and opponent’s opponent winning percentage (opponent’s strength of schedule). Only matches against Division I opponents at the designated weight class count towards the RPI and a wrestler needs to have wrestled 15 matches to be ranked.
 
The SoCon’s 18 ranked individuals are:
 
125 pounds (1 NCAA allocations)
Fabian Gutierrez, Chattanooga (24/22)
Sean Carter, Appalachian State (28/-)
Korbin Meink, Campbell (31/33)
 
133 pounds (1 NCAA allocation)
Noah Gonser, Campbell (7/10)
Codi Russell, Appalachian State (30/33)
Colton Landers, Chattanooga (-/32)
 
141 pounds (1 NCAA allocation)
Josh Heil, Campbell (10/10)
 
149 pounds (2 NCAA allocations)
Jonathan Millner, Appalachian State (21/15)
Tanner Smith, Chattanooga (23/16)

157 pounds (1 NCAA allocation)
Matt Zovistoski, Appalachian State (25/28)
 
165 pounds (1 NCAA allocation)
Quentin Perez, Campbell (15/15)
Dazjon Casto, The Citadel (33/27)
 
174 pounds (2 NCAA allocation)
Neal Richards, VMI (16/19)
Thomas Flitz, Appalachian State (28/22)
 
184 pounds (2 NCAA allocations)
Andrew Morgan, Campbell (8/11)
Matthew Waddell, Chattanooga (22/21)
 
197 pounds (1 NCAA allocation)
None
 
Heavyweight (2 NCAA allocations)
Jere Heino, Campbell (13/11)
Cary Miller, Appalachian State (24/18)