Feb. 11, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The NCAA released the second of three coaches' panel rankings and the first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2010-11 wrestling season. The final rankings and RPI will be two of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by Division I winning percentage, 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.
To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 17 Division I matches at a given weight class. The top 33 wrestlers in the RPI are listed for each weight class. The top-ranked wrestlers at each weight class in the second rankings are: Anthony Robles, Arizona State University (125 pounds); Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State University (133 pounds); Kellen Russell, University of Michigan (141 pounds); Darrion Caldwell, North Carolina State 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 University (197 pounds) and Zachery Rey, Lehigh University (Heavyweight). The full rankings and RPI of each weight class are available at NCAA.com.
Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) is ranked No. 21 at 125 and sports a 7-2 mark. Sophomore All-American Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) is ranked No. 9 at 133 with an 8-1 record. True freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is ranked No. 6 at 141 and sports a lofty No. 2 RPI with a 25-4 mark. Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is ranked No. 5 at 149 and has an outstanding No. 3 RPI thanks to a 22-2 record. Red-shirt freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is ranked No. 2 by the coaches and is the No. 1 RPI man at 157. Taylor is undefeated with a 28-0 mark. Classmate Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) is unranked at 165 by the coaches but has a No. 24 RPI at 165. Red-shirt freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 2 by the coaches and has a No. 2 RPI at 174. Ruth has a 26-1 overall record. Sophomore All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) is ranked No. 12 by the coaches with a 12-3 record and junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is ranked No. 7 at heavyweight, has a No. 6 RPI and a 23-4 record.
The Nittany Lions will entertain No. 20 Illinois on Friday at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall and then trek to Minneapolis for a Sunday afternoon battle at No. 5 Minnesota. The Illinois dual will air live on www.BigTenNetwork.com as part of the StudentU package while the Minnesota dual is a Big Ten Network telecast that will air as a same day tape delay on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets for Penn State's final two home duals are going fast but are still available. The Nittany Lions also host Wisconsin on Feb. 18. Fans wishing to purchase single dual meet tickets for the 2010-11 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling season 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.