Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
First NCAA Coaches’ Panel Rankings Announced
January 24, 2020 03:26 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Led by redshirt sophomore Noah Adams, three members of the West Virginia University wrestling team appeared in the first of four coaches panel rankings for the 2019-20 season, as announced by the NCAA today.
Adams sits at No. 2 in the opening rankings to make him the highest-ranked Big 12 wrestler across all weight divisions. The Coal City, West Virginia, native, is 24-0, and is 10-0 against opponents that are ranked in the first poll. Adams was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season on Jan. 21, after earning wins over No. 10 Dakota Greer (Oklahoma State) and No. 14 Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) last week.
Junior Nick Kiussis sits at No. 25 at 165 pounds. Fresh off a pin over Sam Dover of Oklahoma on Sunday, the native of Brunswick, Ohio, holds a 10-7 overall record on the year, with a 2-1 mark in Big 12 matches.
Senior Brandon Ngati came in at No. 33 to secure the final spot in the 285 division. A native of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Ngati is 15-9 this season and leads the squad with 15 decisions on the year. His 15 wins this season matches a single-season career-high from last year when he earned his first bid to the NCAA Wrestling Championships. He has recorded a pair of wins against opponents ranked in the poll.
All three grapplers made their fifth straight appearance in the coaches' panel after earning a top-33 spot in all four rankings last season.
The final rankings will be used in determining qualifiers for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from March 19-21.
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. 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.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Adams sits at No. 2 in the opening rankings to make him the highest-ranked Big 12 wrestler across all weight divisions. The Coal City, West Virginia, native, is 24-0, and is 10-0 against opponents that are ranked in the first poll. Adams was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season on Jan. 21, after earning wins over No. 10 Dakota Greer (Oklahoma State) and No. 14 Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) last week.
Junior Nick Kiussis sits at No. 25 at 165 pounds. Fresh off a pin over Sam Dover of Oklahoma on Sunday, the native of Brunswick, Ohio, holds a 10-7 overall record on the year, with a 2-1 mark in Big 12 matches.
Senior Brandon Ngati came in at No. 33 to secure the final spot in the 285 division. A native of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Ngati is 15-9 this season and leads the squad with 15 decisions on the year. His 15 wins this season matches a single-season career-high from last year when he earned his first bid to the NCAA Wrestling Championships. He has recorded a pair of wins against opponents ranked in the poll.
All three grapplers made their fifth straight appearance in the coaches' panel after earning a top-33 spot in all four rankings last season.
The final rankings will be used in determining qualifiers for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from March 19-21.
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. 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.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
WRES: NCAA Championships Hype Video
Wednesday, March 18
2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships Hype
Thursday, March 05
WRES: 2026 Senior Recognition Ceremony
Tuesday, February 10
WRES: Wyoming Recap
Monday, January 26
