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First NCAA Coaches’ Panel Rankings Released
January 20, 2017 01:15 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The first of four coaches’ panel rankings for the 2016-17 wrestling season was released on Friday, with three members of the West Virginia University wrestling team appearing in the top 33 of their respective weight classes.
The final rankings will be used in determining qualifiers for the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held in St. Louis this March.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches’ rankings to earn spots in their qualifying tournaments for the NCAA Championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. In order to be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.
A 2014 NCAA qualifier at 125, senior Cory Stainbrook ranks 30th at 133 pounds. He’s tied for the team lead with 11 wins this season, including a trio of pins.
Ranked No. 8/10 in the nation at 165 pounds, Dylan Cottrell is ninth in the first coaches’ rankings. Despite missing three duals and a tournament with an injury, the senior from Spencer, West Virginia, is 8-2 this season with a pair of tech. falls, a major decision and a pin. He previously qualified for the NCAA Championships at 149 and 157 pounds.
No. 6 Jacob A. Smith is also sixth in the first coaches’ panel rankings. Smith, a redshirt junior, is 10-4 this season. He will look to qualify for his third straight NCAA Championships this March.
The Mountaineers (2-8, 0-0) are in Oklahoma, where they will take on No. 1 Oklahoma State in an 8 p.m. ET dual in Stillwater on Friday.
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