NCAA releases 2d Coaches Panel Rankings, first RPI for Div. I wrestlers for 2012

The second of three Division I Wrestling Coaches Panel Rankings and the first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2011-12 season were released by the NCAA Thursday.

The final rankings and RPI -- expected to be released in the coming weeks -- will be two of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships which will be held at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on March 15-17. (A third tool: winning percentage.)

> Coaches Panel Rankings: Here are the No. 1 wrestlers in each weight class, according to the Feb. 9 coaches panel rankings:

• 125: Matt McDonough, Iowa (replaces Zach Sanders, Minnesota at No. 1 in Jan. 20 rankings)
• 133: Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State (replaces Devin Carter, Virginia Tech)
• 141: Kellen Russell, Michigan (replaces Kendric Maple, Oklahoma)
• 149: Frank Molinaro, Penn State
• 157: Kyle Dake, Cornell University
• 165: David Taylor, Penn State
• 174: Nick Amuchastegui, Stanford University
• 184: Joe LeBlanc, University of Wyoming
• 197: Chris Honeycutt, Edinboro University
• Hwt: Ryan Flores, American University

These coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches across the nation. Each qualifying tournament (such as Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and EIWA championships) has five coaches rank the top 33 wrestlers in two weight classes. For ranking purposes, coaches must select a wrestler as a starter at a designated weight class. In addition, coaches may only select one wrestler per weight class.

> Rating Percentage Index: For comparison, here are the wrestlers with the highest RPI in each weight class as of Feb. 9:

• 125: Alan Waters, Missouri
• 133: Devin Carter, Virginia Tech
• 141: Boris Novachkov, Cal Poly
• 149: Frank Molinaro, Penn State
• 157: Kyle Dake, Cornell
• 165: David Taylor, Penn State
• 174: Ed Ruth, Penn State
• 184: Robert Hamlin, Lehigh
• 197: Matt Powless, Indiana
• Hwt: Alan Gelogaev, Oklahoma State

To be considered for RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 17 Division I matches at a given weight class. The top 33 wrestlers in the RPI are listed for each weight class. (Typically at the NCAAs, there are 33 wrestlers in each weight class bracket.)

This is the fourth season that coaches' rankings will be used to determine qualifiers for the NCAA Div. I wrestling championships. One last set of rankings will be released in the coming weeks before the 2012 NCAAs.

Want to know more? Check out the original NCAA press release... and the entire 2012 Division I Wrestling Coaches Panel rankings, featuring 33 wrestlers per weight class. For the first calculation of RPI from the NCAA, click here.