Photo by: Alex King
NCAA Qualifier Allocations Announced
March 01, 2019 02:33 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The NCAA announced qualifier allocations for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Friday. The most recent Coaches' Panel Rankings and Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) were released as well.
The Big 12 Conference was awarded 53 automatic qualifying spots, second most behind the Big Ten Conference with 78. The 149-pound and 197-pound weight classes will qualify the top seven finishers at the 2019 Big 12 Championship – the most of any weight classes. A weight-by-weight breakdown is listed below:
Each Division I starter was evaluated for Division I wins at his respective weight class, RPI and Coaches' Panel Rankings. For each Big 12 wrestler that reached the threshold in two of three categories, the league was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. NCAA tournament spots will be awarded at the Big 12 Championship based solely on place-finish.
Wrestlers who do not earn a bid at their qualifying tournament may still be eligible for one of 44 at-large bids, which will be announced on March 12, followed by brackets and seeding on March 13. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition, quality wins, coaches' panel rankings, results against common opponents, RPI, qualifying event placement and winning percentage.
Five Mountaineers rank in the top 33 of their respective weights in the most recent NCAA coaches' panel rankings. The rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. 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.
Redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt comes in at No. 16 at 133 pounds. The Platte City, Missouri, native finished the regular season with 14 wins, most notably defeating then-No. 19 Cam Sykora of North Dakota State on Dec. 30. Schmitt has won three of his last four duals and looks to qualify for his second consecutive NCAA Championships this season.
Redshirt senior Christian Monserrat moves up one spot to No. 17 in his weight class of 149 pounds. The Methuen, Massachusetts, native is currently on a five-match win streak and has a team-high 20 wins on the year. Monserrat has wins over five previous NCAA qualifiers this season, including a 3-1 win over then-No. 4 Justin Oliver of NC State on Jan. 13.
Sophomore Nick Kiussis checks in at No. 26 at 165 pounds. The Brunswick, Ohio, native ranks second on the team with 18 wins, topping three opponents ranked inside Intermat's Top-20 Poll this season. Kiussis earned his first victory over a ranked opponent on Dec. 29, defeating No. 18 Cam Coy of Virginia in a 9-2 decision at the South Beach Duals.
Redshirt freshman Noah Adams ranks at No. 26 in his weight class of 197 pounds. The Coal City, West Virginia, native has 14 wins on the year, including five victories by major decision and two by fall. Adams has topped a pair of opponents ranked inside various wrestling publications this season.
Junior Brandon Ngati rounds out the Mountaineers in the coaches' panel, ranking at No. 30 in the heavyweight division. The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native returned to the starting lineup in mid-December and has claimed 11 victories on the year, more than doubling his win total from last season.
Additionally, Schmitt, Monserrat, Kiussis and Adams each appear in the RPI rankings. Adams is the highest-ranked Mountaineer at No. 15 at 197 pounds, while Schmitt (133) and Monserrat (149) appear at No. 17 in their respective weight classes. Kiussis also sits at No. 28 in the 165-pound division. To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have 17 matches against Division I opponents. Forfeits do not count towards that total.
Of note, Monserrat, Kiussis, Adams and Ngati each look to qualify for their first-ever NCAA Tournament, which will be held in Pittsburgh, at PPG Paints Arena, from March 21-23.
Looking ahead, WVU will take a week off from competition before heading to the 2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championship from March 9-10. The event will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Big 12 Conference was awarded 53 automatic qualifying spots, second most behind the Big Ten Conference with 78. The 149-pound and 197-pound weight classes will qualify the top seven finishers at the 2019 Big 12 Championship – the most of any weight classes. A weight-by-weight breakdown is listed below:
| 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | HWT |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
Each Division I starter was evaluated for Division I wins at his respective weight class, RPI and Coaches' Panel Rankings. For each Big 12 wrestler that reached the threshold in two of three categories, the league was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. NCAA tournament spots will be awarded at the Big 12 Championship based solely on place-finish.
Wrestlers who do not earn a bid at their qualifying tournament may still be eligible for one of 44 at-large bids, which will be announced on March 12, followed by brackets and seeding on March 13. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition, quality wins, coaches' panel rankings, results against common opponents, RPI, qualifying event placement and winning percentage.
Five Mountaineers rank in the top 33 of their respective weights in the most recent NCAA coaches' panel rankings. The rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. 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.
Redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt comes in at No. 16 at 133 pounds. The Platte City, Missouri, native finished the regular season with 14 wins, most notably defeating then-No. 19 Cam Sykora of North Dakota State on Dec. 30. Schmitt has won three of his last four duals and looks to qualify for his second consecutive NCAA Championships this season.
Redshirt senior Christian Monserrat moves up one spot to No. 17 in his weight class of 149 pounds. The Methuen, Massachusetts, native is currently on a five-match win streak and has a team-high 20 wins on the year. Monserrat has wins over five previous NCAA qualifiers this season, including a 3-1 win over then-No. 4 Justin Oliver of NC State on Jan. 13.
Sophomore Nick Kiussis checks in at No. 26 at 165 pounds. The Brunswick, Ohio, native ranks second on the team with 18 wins, topping three opponents ranked inside Intermat's Top-20 Poll this season. Kiussis earned his first victory over a ranked opponent on Dec. 29, defeating No. 18 Cam Coy of Virginia in a 9-2 decision at the South Beach Duals.
Redshirt freshman Noah Adams ranks at No. 26 in his weight class of 197 pounds. The Coal City, West Virginia, native has 14 wins on the year, including five victories by major decision and two by fall. Adams has topped a pair of opponents ranked inside various wrestling publications this season.
Junior Brandon Ngati rounds out the Mountaineers in the coaches' panel, ranking at No. 30 in the heavyweight division. The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native returned to the starting lineup in mid-December and has claimed 11 victories on the year, more than doubling his win total from last season.
Additionally, Schmitt, Monserrat, Kiussis and Adams each appear in the RPI rankings. Adams is the highest-ranked Mountaineer at No. 15 at 197 pounds, while Schmitt (133) and Monserrat (149) appear at No. 17 in their respective weight classes. Kiussis also sits at No. 28 in the 165-pound division. To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have 17 matches against Division I opponents. Forfeits do not count towards that total.
Of note, Monserrat, Kiussis, Adams and Ngati each look to qualify for their first-ever NCAA Tournament, which will be held in Pittsburgh, at PPG Paints Arena, from March 21-23.
Looking ahead, WVU will take a week off from competition before heading to the 2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championship from March 9-10. The event will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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