Takedown Report

College Wrestling Rankings, Polls & Lists

By The Numbers: 2nd Coaches Poll
A deep dive into the most recent rankings courtesy of the NCAA coaches.
The second NCAA Coaches Poll and first RPI rankings are out. This means we can dig into the coaches’ poll rankings and create some cool tables and charts based on those rankings!
The following table is how the 2024 NCAA Tournament will go based on projections from the Second Coaches Poll, using the same methodology as our Team Tournament Rankings, where a ranking equals a placement, which is then used to calculate advancement and placement points at the NCAAs. As such, no bonus points are factored in. … story and full numbers at … Flowrestling.org/By-the-numbers-2nd-coaches-poll
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NCAA DI Rankings Updated (2/13/2024)
We’re coming down the home stretch of the 2023-24 wrestling season – only two weeks of dual competition remaining. Time flies when you’re not cutting weight!  For once, we’ll skip over 125 lbs. There were some upsets and, therefore, some movement – but nothing out of the ordinary or that needs explanation. 
141. Cole Matthews really has thrown a wrench into this weight. I’m sure some may have written the 2022 All-American off when he suffered nine losses before mid-January. Most to competition ranked lower than him, at the time. Matthews has seen some familiar faces of late and has thrived. In two of his last three outings, he’s beaten #4 Ryan Jack (NC State) and #5 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina). That should mean that Jack and McNeil fall, right? Not necessarily, because of the construction of the next tier of competitors at the weight. Jack has head-to-head wins over McNeil (x2), Happel, and Jamison. McNeil has wins over Happel, Echemendia, Jamison, Koderhandt. In addition, the Happel, Hardy, Jamison, Echemendia crew have all exchanged wins with each other. 
141 is a good example of why each weight class has a personality of its own. You shouldn’t make decisions at 141, just because you did them at 133. It may not make sense. If the losses continue to mount for any in this range 4-9, obviously more action will be taken. 
Another weight that may stand out is 149 lbs. Kannon Webster should be redshirting now and has been removed from the rankings. His removal, coupled with Chance Lamer’s two losses and his subsequent drop, have led to others in that upper tier moving up a spot in the rankings, despite coming off a loss. I don’t like the aesthetics, but what are you gonna do?
We have a new #2 at 197 lbs with Trent Hidlay moving up after Stephen Buchanan was beaten by Tanner Sloan. Some might argue that the move is way overdue. … story and complete rankings at … Intermatwrestle.com/NCAA-di-rankings-updated
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Cornell, SDSU, Lehigh remain atop Mid-Major Top 20
Manheim, Pennsylvania – Cornell, South Dakota State and Lehigh stayed put atop the most recent NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Mid-Major Coaches Poll released on Wednesday.
The Big Red (10-3) beat a pair of Ivy League opponents – Penn and Princeton – over the weekend. South Dakota State split matches on the road against Big 12 foes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Jackrabbits (12-3) remain second in this week’s Mid-Major poll. Lehigh improved to 6-3 after picking off Bucknell 31-11.
Northern Iowa (6-6) jumped to fourth this week after splitting Big 12 duals. The Panthers beat California Baptist 36-9 on the road before returning to Iowa, where they fell to host Iowa State 27-11. Little Rock improved to 14-5 after home wins against CSU Bakersfield and SIU Edwardsville. The Trojans’ 14 wins are the most in school history and is currently tied with Ohio State for the most dual meet wins in the nation among Division I men’s teams.
Campbell, which is ranked in 24^th in the nation overall, moves into sixth, while the rest of the Top 10 is Appalachian State, Cal Poly, Navy and Penn. The EIWA leads all conferences with seven teams ranked in the Top 20, … story at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-cornell-sdsu-lehigh-remain-atop-mid-major-top-20
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NCAA releases midseason coaches’ rank and RPI for 2024 Division I Wrestling Championships
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has announced the second coaches ranking and first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
The coaches’ rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the seven conferences. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one within the last 30 days.
The RPI is a calculation that consists of three factors: winning percentage, opponent winning percentage (strength of schedule) and opponent’s opponent winning percentage (opponent’s strength of schedule). Only matches against Division I opponents at the designated weight class count towards the RPI and a wrestler needs to have wrestled 15 matches to be ranked.
In the coaches rank, of the 10 weight classes two are led by former national champions in Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole at 165 pounds, Penn State’s Carter Starocci at 174 pounds. The pair has a combined five national titles led by Starocci with three.
Currently no wrestlers sit atop both the coaches rank and RPI in their respective weight class.  With many wrestlers still looking to reach the 15-match threshold to earn an RPI, the top of those rankings looks a little different than the coaches’ rank.
At 125 pounds, Purdue’s Matt Ramos sits first in the coaches rank and second in RPI.  Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech and Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State are the top-ranked wrestlers in the RPI in their respective weight classes while being ranked second in the coaches rank. … story at … NWCAonline.comNWCA-ncaa-releases-midseason-coaches-rank-and-rpi-for-2024-division-i-wrestling-championships

February 23, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 Final Rankings – 126-138 lbs. – TDR # 31-58

Editor’s Notes; The final rankings for the 27th Annual TDR Top 12 in eastern North Carolina with three more weight classes. The top 12 wrestlers in each weight class are listed in order. Wrestlers listed as 13th are considered as honorable mention for the weight class. We welcome reader’s input and information.  Email us at martinkfleming@takedownreport +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rank  Wght.  Wrestler         Team          Gr. Yr. Wins Ls  Pct Reg. State

February 23, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

North Carolina Colleges Wrestling News – mid Feb.

Guardiola Claims Wrestler of the Week Award
WALESKA, Ga.— Freddy Guardiola of the Montreat men’s wrestling team was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Wrestler of the Week according to a release from the conference office Monday afternoon. The award marked the first of Guardiola’s career and the second for a Montreat wrestler this season.  
The Hudson, N.C. native saw his first action of the year on Saturday for senior night against the University of Pikeville. In the 184-lb matchup, Guardiola capped off the dual with a pin in 39 seconds as the Cavaliers defeated the Bears 48-3. … story at … Montreatcavaliers.comGuardiola-claims-wrestler-of-the-week-award
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From Understudy to Captain: Barket’s Rise in Blue Devil Wrestling
By Morgan Pruchniewski, Duke Athletics Communications Student Assistant
DURHAM —Connor Barket joined the Duke wrestling team last year as a freshman, but over this past summer he has truly started growing into his full potential. The heavyweight is leading the team with 13 wins and the future looks bright for the young Indiana native.
In his rookie season, Barket was behind senior Jonah Niesenbaum, only seeing action in three bouts, but gaining invaluable experience. “I took a lot from Jonah,” said Barket.  “It was great to have a year to be under his wing and learn everything I could.  He believed in me and kept my head up. He showed me how to become a successful Division I wrestler, how someone who achieves those kinds of things works and carries themselves.”
Following Niesenbaum’s leadership throughout the regular season, Barket had the opportunity to stay with the team, while they prepared for the NCAA Championship. “Leading up to nationals was a huge learning experience for me,” … story at … GOduke.com/Barket-making-strides-in-just-second-season
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NC State Wrestling Trying To Solidify Lineup As Postseason Nears
NC State coach Pat Popolizio and his staff have some lineup decisions to make during the last few weeks of the college wrestling regular season
After a 3-0 start to ACC dual action, #8 NC State will step out of conference action this weekend with a top-10 dual inside Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack will host #9 Cornell this Friday night in a dual that has 19 of the 20 probable starters all ranked this week. “I think both of our teams are in a similar boat when it comes to the schedule,” NC State head coach Pat Popolizio said. “Both of us have wrestled a really good, competitive schedule and both of us have been going conference-heavy for a few weeks. I think this dual will benefit both teams. “I know we wanted to get a really good dual before we zone in on our conference and national tournaments. You look up and down these lineups, there are going to be a lot of good individual matchups.”

Lineup Decisions

Coming into the season, it appeared on paper there was only one weight class up for grabs in the NC State starting lineup. Now here in mid-February that may still be the case, but it now appears the lone question surrounding the postseason lineup has shifted to a different weight class.
Last year’s starter at 165 pounds, Matty Singleton, underwent offseason surgery and the intent was to redshirt him this year after he competed as a true freshman a year ago. He has not seen action in any open tournaments this year, but the Pack is eager to get him back in the starting lineup next year, right now it looks like that will be at 174 pounds with two-year starter Alex Faison out of eligibility at that weight. “He just got cleared a couple of weeks ago, and has been looking really good in training,” Popolizio said. “He has put on some size, … story at … Flowrestling.org/NC-state-wrestling-trying-to-solidify-lineup-as-postseason-nears
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Appalachian State Wrestling Posts Pair of SoCon Shutouts
THE CAROLINAS — Tackling a SoCon doubleheader that called for competition in two states, App State Wrestling produced a Thursday sweep with a 54-0 afternoon shutout against Presbyterian in Clinton, S.C., before winning 44-0 at Davidson in the nightcap. 
App State (8-3, 5-1 SoCon) started the marathon day, which began with a 6:15 a.m. departure from Boone for the three-hour drive to Clinton, with its national-leading 16th dual shutout since the calendar flipped to 2020. After fighting some heavy interstate traffic to reach Davidson, which is normally two hours from Presbyterian, the Mountaineers added their 17th shutout since 2020 and left the Lake Norman area after 9 p.m. for the two-hour trip home to the High Country.
Ethan Oakley and Will Miller had pins against Davidson, while Tommy Askey added a tech fall in a rematch of the 2023 SoCon final at 157 pounds. Ike Byers, Tomas Brooker and Carson Floyd all secured major decisions wrestling close to their hometowns, with Brooker avenging an early-January loss to Wyatt Ferguson at the Southern Scuffle. … story at … APPstatesports.com/Wrestling-posts-pair-of-socon-shutouts

February 23, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment