Takedown Report

Seven returning champs and Penn State among top-ranked in WIN’s 2018-19 Preseason Ranks

Editor’s Notes; Well no surprise here as Penn State looks to dominate again. Yet it will still be a race into March and it is interesting to look over the list of the rankings for not only the teams but for each weight class. Dig in wrestling fans at the W.I.N. web site to see where your favorite wrestlers are ranked.
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NEWTON, Iowa — Seven returning national champs, including Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia (above) and Penn State are ranked No. 1 team in WIN Magazine’s 2018-19 Preseason Tournament Power Index and Individual Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
WIN’s Tournament Power Index (TPI) awards team points for individuals ranked in the respective weight classes based on how many potential All-Americans each school could produce at the 2019 NCAA Championships next March in Pittsburgh.
WIN’s TPI point totals are broken down by the following individual rankings: 1st – 20 (16 AA points + 4 advancement points); 2nd – 16 (12+4); 3rd – 13.5 (10+3.5); 4th – 12.5 (9+3.5); 5th – 10 (7+3); 6th – 9 (6+3); 7th – 6.5 (4+2.5); 8th – 5.5 (3+2.5). Additional points for other rankings include: 9th/12th – 2; 13th/16th – 1.5; 17th-20th – 1. TPI points will be lower than the final actual NCAA tournament point totals because it does not include bonus points.
The Nittany Lions feature seven ranked wrestlers, all of whom are predicted to finish in the Top 8 which would also garner them All-American honors in their weight classes to give the Nittany Lions 112 TPI points. That includes three defending national champions who are rated No. 1 in their weight class: Jason Nolf (157 pounds), Vincenzo Joseph (165) and Bo Nickal (184, who has moved up to 197). Meanwhile, 174-pounder Mark Hall, a 2017 NCAA champion for Penn State, and heavyweight Nick Nevills are ranked No. 2. With Nickal moving up to 197, Shakur Rasheed, an All-American at 197, has dropped down to 184, where he is ranked fifth.
Ohio State, last year’s team runner-up, is ranked No. 2 with 83.5 points. That includes seven ranked wrestlers, six the Top 8 of their weight class. This group includes 184-pound Myles Martin, a 2016 NCAA champion, who is rated No. 1 as well as 141-pound Joey McKenna and 197-pound All-American Kollin Moore, who are ranked No. 2.
Oklahoma State and Iowa are predicted to finish third and fourth, respectively, and are separated by only 1.5 points (73-71.5) as each school features nine ranked wrestlers. Seven Cowboys are ranked in the Top 8 of their weight class, led by Nick Piccininni, No. 3 at 125 pounds. The Hawkeyes feature five in the Top 8, including two top-ranked wrestlers: defending champion Spencer Lee at 125 pounds and heavyweight Sam Stoll.
Rest of the story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2018/09/defending-champ-penn-state-picked-no-1-in-wins-2018-19-preseason-ranks/?mc_cid=b6c167c754&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

September 14, 2018 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized