Takedown Report

DIVISION I COACHES POLL: Big Ten powers remain undefeated and atop nation’s Top 25

Manheim, Pennsylvania – The top three teams in the nation are a combined 25-0 this season in dual meets and all three are from the Big Ten. Penn State (8-0), Iowa (10-0) and Michigan (7-0) came in 1-2-3 in the most recent NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.

With Penn State idle, Iowa topped then-No. 11 Northwestern 27-9 at sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan beat a pair of ranked teams, winning 25-10 in front of a nearly 5,000 fans at then-No. 21 Michigan State’s Jenison Fieldhouse on Friday and then topping then-No. 14 Wisconsin 27-6.

It also sets the stage for a gigantic No. 1 Penn State vs. No. 3 Michigan matchup this coming Friday in University Park at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Iowa State (10-2) headed West to top host Utah Valley 31-9 and NC State wrapped up its non-conference schedule at 10-0 with a 30-6 win over visiting Army West Point. Cornell topped rival Lehigh 18-15 in one of the most storied rivalries in the EIWA. Ohio State remained seventh after beating visiting Rutgers 27-12 at the Covelli Center. Arizona State dropped a 24-12 home dual to visiting Princeton. The Sun Devils (2-3) dropped two spots to No. 10 this week. Virginia Tech (6-2) moved up a spot to No. 8 after a 23-11 win at then-No. 22 Appalachian State. Missouri (6-2) moved up a spot after a Western swing that saw the Tigers top Air Force 35-9 and Wyoming 28-10.

Nebraska (6-2) was the biggest mover within the rankings this week. The Huskers moved to No. 11 after wins over then-No. 11 Northwestern 21-15 and then-No. 12 Minnesota 21-9.

The Big Ten also saw a new team enter the rankings this week. Indiana (6-1) opened the week with a win over then-No. 23 Maryland on criteria and followed with a 24-16 win over then-No. 18 Rutgers. Indiana comes into the rankings this week tied for No. 21 and the Hoosiers are ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since February 2016. … rest of story at NWCAonline.com/division-i-coaches-poll-big-ten-powers-remain-undefeated-and-atop-nations-top-25

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 16 TPI, Dual and Individual Rankings

NEWTON — A trio of wrestlers — Nebraska’s Liam Cronin, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson and Penn State’s Levi Haines — have all moved into the Top-10 of their weight class in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 16 Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.

Cronin (13-2 as of Jan. 15) is a senior who jumped from 12^th to 7^th at 125 pounds after the Husker defeated both Minnesota’s Pat McKee and Northwestern’s Michael DeAugustino last weekend. Henson (14-3), a freshman, moved from 12^th to 8^th at 149 pounds, after he defeated Appalachian State All-American Jon Millner last Friday. Haines, also a freshman, jumped sixth spots from No. 15 to No. 9 at 157 and has a record of 13-1; his last victory coming over Wisconsin’s Garrett Model on Jan. 6.

  Overall, Penn State (8-0) remains the No. 1 team in both WIN’s Dual Rankings and Tournament Power Index, which projects where a team will finish in this season’s NCAA Division I Championships, March 16-18, in Tulsa, Okla. … rest of story at WIN-magazine.com/2023/01/16/win-magazines-jan-16-tpi-dual-and-individual-rankings

January 23, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized