Oklahoma State University Athletics
First NCAA Coaches Panel Ranks Out
January 20, 2011 | Cowboy Wrestling
NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings in PDF Format
Jan. 20, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS--- 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.
If the tournament were to start today, Oklahoma State would be in position to have all 10 of its starters in the mix. A total of 33 wrestlers compete in each weight class at the NCAA Championships, and no Cowboy is ranked lower than No. 28.
OSU 133-pounder Jordan Oliver is No. 1 in the coaches panel rankings and 197-pounder Clayton Foster is ranked No. 2. Freshman 125-pounder Jon Morrison (ninth) and 149-pounder Jamal Parks (eighth) round out the crop of Cowboys ranked in the top 10 in their respective weight classes.
Filling out the OSU contingent are 15th-ranked 141-pounder Josh Kindig, 20th-ranked 157-pounder Neil Erisman, 14th-ranked 165-pounder Dallas Bailey, 15th-ranked 174-pounder Mike Benefiel, 12th-ranked 184-pounder Chris Perry and 28th-ranked heavyweight Blake Rosholt.
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).
