Jan. 20, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Complete Jan. 18 Rankings in PDF Format
The NCAA released Thursday the first of three coaches' panel rankings for the 2010-11 wrestling season. The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Nine of head coach Cael Sanderson's Penn State Nittany Lions are listed in the first official individual rankings.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches' rankings to earn spots for the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches across the nation. Each qualifying tournament has five coaches rank the top 33 wrestlers in two weight classes. For ranking purposes, coaches must select a wrestler as a starter at a designated weight class. In addition, coaches may only select one wrestler per weight class.
The top-ranked wrestlers at each weight class in the inaugural rankings are: Brandon Precin, Northwestern University (125 pounds); Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State University (133 pounds); Kellen Russell, University of Michigan (141 pounds); Kyle Dake, Cornell University (149 pounds); Steve Fittery, American University (157 pounds); Jordan Burroughs, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (165 pounds); Jonathan Reader, Iowa State University (174 pounds); Kirk Smith, Boise State University (184 pounds); Cam Simaz, Cornell (197 pounds) and Zachery Rey, Lehigh University (Heavyweight). The full rankings of each weight class are available at www.ncaa.com.
Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) is ranked No. 11 at 125. Pataky is 7-2 on the year having recently returned from a pre-season injury. Sophomore All-American Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) is ranked No. 8 at 133. Long is undefeated as a Nittany Lion with a 4-0 mark after transferring to Penn State after the first semester. True freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is ranked No. 5 at 141. Alton is 22-2 on the year with 15 pins. Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is ranked No. 6 at 149. Molinaro is 17-2 on the year with three pins, three techs and seven majors. Red-shirt freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is ranked No. 2 at 157. Taylor sports an undefeated 23-0 mark with six pins, nine techs and seven majors. Classmate Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 33 at 165. Kemerer is 12-6 on the year. Red-shirt freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 2 at 174. Ruth is 21-1 overall with eight pins, five techs and two majors. All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is ranked No. 8 at 184. The sophomore is 8-2 to date and is set to return to the line-up after an early December injury sidelined him. Junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is ranked No. 7 at heavyweight. Wade is 19-3 on the year with eight pins, three techs and two majors. In all, seven of Penn State's nine ranked individuals are ranked in the top eight at their respective weights.
The Nittany Lions, ranked No. 2 nationally, are 11-0 on the year, their best start (no losses or ties) since the team went 12-0 in 1971-72, heading into this weekend's dual meets. Penn State will host No. 22 Pittsburgh Friday night at 6 p.m. in a Big Ten Network national broadcast. Tickets are going fast but still available. With the Iowa dual next weekend sold out, tickets are going fast for Penn State's final two home duals of the season. The Nittany Lions host No. 15 Illinois on Feb. 11 and No. 3 Wisconsin on Feb. 18. Fans wishing to purchase single dual meet tickets can place their orders by calling 814-865-5555 or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket pricing is $8 for adults and $5 for youth, and there will be a limit of eight tickets per order. Group sales are also available. The 2010-11 Penn State wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC (1390 AM) and WSQV (92.1 FM). All radio broadcasts are streamed live at GoPSUsports.com as part of the All-Access package. The 2010-11 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.