Manheim, Pennsylvania — Two new teams entered the USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. Wyoming (5-2) and Northwestern (6-1) entered the poll for the first time this season.
The Cowboys are fresh off a 4-0 weekend which saw them head to North Carolina and pick up wins over American, Army West Point, Duke, and then-No. 19 North Carolina. Northwestern slid up to No. 25 despite losing by a point to No. 12 Illinois. Losses by previously ranked Oklahoma and North Dakota State aided the Wildcats move up.
The top 17 positions remained unchanged although there were a number of head-to-head duals between ranked teams with the biggest held on international soil. Third-ranked Oklahoma State (6-0) split five matches with fifth-ranked NC State (10-1) but it was bonus victories by heavyweight Derek White and All-American Kaid Brock at 133 that was the difference in the 19-16 Cowboys win in Naples, Italy. The Tussle for the Troops was the first NCAA dual meet held outside of North America.
Second-ranked Ohio State (8-0) headed east to beat No. 17 Rutgers 29-11 and Maryland 44-3. The Buckeyes were also aided by the return of three-time All-American Nathan Tomasello at 125 pounds in the win over Maryland.
No. 7. Iowa (8-0) blasted Michigan State 49-6, while Michigan (5-1) picked up a trio of wins — a 43-0 victory over Indiana, a 25-14 win over then-No. 24 Purdue and a 28-10 win over Princeton. Arizona State also picked off North Carolina 27-9 in Chapel Hill. Illinois snuck past Nebraska on criteria before edging Northwestern 18-17 on Sunday in Champaign.
West Virginia knocked off No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 25 North Dakota State. Pittsburgh also topped No. 18 Oklahoma, dropping the Sooners out of the Top 25. North Carolina slid five spots to No. 24.
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The USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is comprised of two voting coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Points are 25 for each first-place vote, 24 for second, 23 for third all the way to a 25th-place vote is one point.
Future Poll Dates (Tuesdays unless otherwise noted): January 16, January 23, January 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, February, 27.
RankTeam (First)RecordPointsConferencePrevious1Penn State (11)5-0395Big Ten12Ohio State (5)8-0389Big Ten23Oklahoma State6-0367Big 1234Missouri12-0350MAC45NC State10-1334ACC56Lehigh6-1316EIWA67Iowa8-0312Big Ten78Michigan5-1304Big Ten89Virginia Tech5-1268ACC910Arizona State3-2254Pac-121011Northern Iowa2-1234Big 121112Illinois3-2212Big Ten1213Cornell4-2194EIWA1314Minnesota6-3191Big Ten1415South Dakota State5-2179Big 121516Wisconsin4-0172Big Ten1617Rutgers3-3145Big Ten1718Central Michigan4-3119MAC2119Nebraska3-3104Big Ten2020Lock Haven4-086EWL2221Rider5-264EWL2322Purdue5-249Big Ten2423Wyoming5-246Big 12NR24North Carolina5-438ACC1925Northwestern6-115Big TenNR
Others Receiving Votes: Navy 13, West Virginia 12, Oklahoma 9, American 8, Edinboro 6, Utah Valley 5, Drexel 4, North Dakota State 4, Kent State 1, Pittsburgh 1.
Dropped out: No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 25 North Dakota State.
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