Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats #7 In Nation In WIN Magazine Preseason Rankings
9/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Sept. 3, 2014
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Head coach Drew Pariano's Northwestern wrestling team has been rated #7 in the nation in the most recent preseason rankings released by WIN Magazine. In addition to the team recognition, reigning NCAA Champion Jason Tsirtsis is atop the individual rankings at 149 lbs., senior Mike McMullan is slotted #2 nationally at Heavyweight, and Pierce Harger checks in at #4 in the country in the 165 lbs. division.
"We feel confident heading into the season," said Wildcats head coach Drew Pariano. "With that being said, we have very high goals for the entire team. It's not about the individual rankings as much as it's about the process leading up to the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in the spring. It's our job as a staff to prepare our guys to peak in March and we believe that our program understands the ultimate goal of earning NCAA Championships."
The Wildcats return a wealth of experience led by sophomore Jason Tsirtsis, who in 2014 became the first freshman in program history to capture an NCAA Championship. The Crown Point, Ind., native also earned the Big Ten title at 149 lbs and was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and InterMat Freshman of the Year for his efforts.
McMullan is already a three-time All-American entering his senior season for the Wildcats. In a division loaded with depth, especially in the Big Ten, the Easton, Pa., native knocked off a pair of #1-ranked opponents last season and held the mantle himself during the 2013-14 campaign.
An All-American in 2014, Pierce Harger enters his senior season ranked #4 in the country by WIN at 165 lbs. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree finished 8th at the NCAA Championships and 4th at the Big Ten Championships last year.
To this veteran leadership, Pariano has added WIN Magazine's #1-ranked recruiting class. The publication slated the Wildcats Class of 2014, which features Bryce Brill (Mt. Carmel, Ill.), Sammy Gross (Beachwood, Ohio), Stevan Micic (Hanover Central, Ind.) and Johnny Sebastian (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), as the best in the nation. In the late signing period, Pariano added Conan Jennings, Regis Durbin, and Dan Radcliffe.
Northwestern wrestling opens the 2014-15 season on Nov. 8 in Palo Alto, Calif., when they take on the Stanford Cardinal. Ticket information will be available soon to catch the Wildcats in the new-and-improved Welsh-Ryan Arena, which added four high-definition video screens since the conclusion of last season.
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