Northwestern University Athletics
Seven NU Wrestlers Make First NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
1/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 20, 2012
Complete 2012 NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
EVANSTON, Ill. – Seven Northwestern wrestlers made the cut in the first coaches' panel rankings that were released Friday by the NCAA. This is the first of three coaches' panel rankings for the 2011-12 wrestling season, which lists the top-33 wrestlers at each weight class. The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
Returning All-American Jason Welch leads the group of seven ranked Wildcats at No. 2 for 157 lbs. Welch wrestled above his No. 8 seed at the 2011 NCAA Championships to finish sixth. Standing before him in the top spot of the initial coaches' poll is Cornell's two-time NCAA champion at 141 and 149 lbs., Kyle Dake.
Junior Levi Mele along with redshirt freshmen Lee Munster and Mike McMullan are also ranked in the top-20 for their weight classes. Mele, a returning NCAA qualifier, comes in at No. 9 at 125 lbs., Munster is ranked 11th at 174 lbs. and McMullan is No. 16 at heavyweight.
Senior John Schoen (No. 27 at 197 lbs.), sophomore Kaleb Friedley (No. 27 at 149 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Pierce Harger (No. 28 at 165 lbs.) round out the ranked Northwestern wrestlers. Schoen and Harger look to qualify for their first NCAA championships while Friedley was a 2011 qualifier.
To earn a spot for the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches' rankings. 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. The 2012 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will be allotted NCAA tournament bids (per weight class) as determined by the coaches poll.
No. 18 Northwestern is still in the thick of its dual schedule with seven matches remaining before the postseason. NU hosts Michigan State tonight at 7 p.m. inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
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