Minnesota edges Iowa & Cornell in WIN’s 2014-15 Preseason TPI & Ranks

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Updated: September 2, 2014

Editor’s Note: These rankings are subject to change once schools finalize plans to what weight their wrestlers will compete and/or if their wrestlers redshirt this season. WIN’s next individual rankings will be announced on Nov. 3, 2014.

 

Sept. 2, 2014

NEWTON, Iowa — Minnesota, which settled for a disappointing second place in last year’s NCAAs after it looked like they could dethrone Penn State for a time during the event, has been picked No. 1 in WIN’s Preseason Tournament Power Index (TPI), which predicts how team will finish in the 2015 NCAAs in St. Louis next March.

The Gophers, who return all but one of their seven All-Americans from last year’s runner-up team, have tallied 76 points, which is based on how many All-American points they could score.

Point totals associated with individual rankings are as followed: 1st – 20 (16 AA points + 4 advancement points); 2nd – 16 (12+4); 3rd – 13.5 (10+3.5); 4th – 12. 5 (9+3.5); 5th – 10 (7+3); 6th – 9 (6+3); 7th – 6.5 (4+2.5); 8th – 5.5 (3+2.5); 9th/12th – 2; 13th/16th – 1.5; 17th-20th – 1. TPI points will be lower than the final NCAA tournament points because it does not include bonus points.

Among those Minnesota wrestlers ranked in the Top 8 of their weight class are two No. 1s: 157-pound Dylan Ness, a two-time national runner-up (2012, ‘14) and 174-pound Logan Storley. As reported in the Sept. issue of WIN from an interview the Gopher coach J Robinson, Minnesota is looking at a number of weight-class changes would could greatly impact where some of the current starters are ranked and the team-race picture.

Just behind the Gophers and tied for second place are Iowa and Cornell, which finished fourth and seventh, respectively, in 2014. The Hawkeyes feature the most predicted All-Americans (7), but none are ranked No. 1 at their weight class, while the Big Red will be led by 184-pound Gabe Dean, the only man to beat Penn State’s three-time champ Ed Ruth before settling for third place at the Nationals.

Penn State, the four-time defending NCAA team champs, is picked in fifth place, one-half point behind Big Ten-rival Ohio State. Nittany Lion coach Cael Sanderson lost his two champs — Ruth and two-time Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor — but features six predicted All-Americans, including two-time national runner-up Nico Megaludis (125). However, some reports have both Megaludis and true sophomore Zain Retherford (141) redshirting, much limiting the number of potential All-American points PSU would start the year with on paper.

The Buckeyes are expected to earn six All-American honors, including OSU’s three-time champ Logan Stieber (141), who will be reunited with his All-American brother Hunter Stieber (149), who redshirted last winter. Not factored into WIN’s Preseason Rankings because they have yet to wrestle a college varsity match for the Buckeyes: Kyle Snyder, Bo Jordan and Nathan Tomasello. Snyder, for example, would start off the year ranked No. 4 at 197 and would give the Buckeyes enough TPI points to start the year ranked No. 1 ahead of Minnesota.

WIN will announce a separate Dual Team rankings, beginning Dec. 1. WIN’s TPI will be updated in early November once line-ups are set and will continue on a weekly basis through the NCAA Division I qualifying tournaments in early March.

 

2014-15 WIN’s Preseason Tournament Power Index (TPI)

The following is a breakdown of WIN’s 2014-15 Tournament Power Index. This includes a projection of Top 8 All-American finishers and TPI points each school will score next March in the NCAA tournament … as well as a listing where each school placed in last year’s Nationals, including how many individual champs and All-Americans each school had. Updated TPI rankings will begin on Nov. 3.

 

Rk College ‘14-15 Proj.  ‘13-14 NCAA  
Top 8 TPI Pts Finish Ch/AA
 1 Minnesota 6 76 2nd 0/7
 2t Cornell 5 72 7th 0/3
 2t Iowa 7 72 4th 1/6
 4 Ohio State 6 66 6th 1/2
 5 Penn State 6 65.5 1st 2/7
 6 Oklahoma State 3 57 3rd 2/5
 7t Missouri 3 50 14th 1/2
 7t Northwestern 3 50 9th 1/3
 9 Edinboro 3 49 5th 0/3
 10 Nebraska 3 42.5 11th 0/2
 11 Illinois 2 37.5 13th 1/1
 12 Iowa State 2 32.5 12th 0/3
 13 Virginia Tech 2 31.5 8th 0/3
 14 Lehigh 2 30 18th 0/4
 15 Pittsburgh 3 27 22nd 0/1
 16 Michigan 2 26 17th 0/2
 17t NC State 1 24 19th 1/2
 17t Wisconsin 2 24 16th 0/2
 19 Virginia 1 21.5 23rd 0/1
 20 Old Dominion 1 20.5 23rd 0/1
 21 Oklahoma 1 17 10th 0/3
 22 Kent State 1 16.5 29th 0/1
 23 Oregon State 2 16 28th 0/0
 24 Northern Iowa 1 15 15th 0/3
 25 Penn 1 14.5 36th 0/1
 26 North Carolina 1 14 25th 0/1
 27 Duke 1 13.5 29th 0/1
 28t Brown 1 12.5 46th 0/1
 28t Ohio U. 1 12.5 35th 0/1
 30 Chattanooga 2 12 51st 0/0
 31t Central Michigan 1 9.5 33rd 0/1
 31t Wyoming 1 9.5 53rd 0/0
 33 CSU Bakersfield 1 9 47th 0/1
 34 Rutgers 1 8 34th 0/1
 35 Franklin & Marshall 1 6.5 44th 0/1
 36 Maryland 0 4.5 20th 0/0
 37 Navy 0 4 40th 0/0
 38t North Dakota St 0 3 21st 0/1
 38t Rider 0 3 37th 0/0
 38t Stanford 0 3 40th 0/0
 41t Citadel 0 2.5 31st 0/1
 41t Clarion 0 2.5 40th 0/0
 41t Harvard 0 2.5 58th 0/0
 44t American U. 0 2 56th 0/0
 44t Arizona State 0 2 58th 0/0
 44t Bucknell 0 2 53rd 0/0
 44t Indiana 0 2 25th 0/1
 44t Lock Haven 0 2 56th 0/0
 44t Purdue 0 2 39th 0/0
 44t Utah Valley 0 2 64th 0/0
 51t Air Force 0 1.5 58th 0/0
 51t Appalachian State 0 1.5 66th 0/0
 51t Cal Poly 0 1.5 63rd 0/0
 51t Gardner-Webb 0 1.5 61st 0/0
 51t Michigan State 0 1.5 32nd 0/1
 56t Army 0 1 50th 0/0
 56t Drexel 0 1 66th 0/0

WIN’s 2014-15 Individual Rankings

Rk.   Name, School, Year, ’13-14 Record  NCAA Finish

125 pounds

1. Jesse Delgado Illinois Senior 30-2 1st
2. Nahshon Garrett Cornell Junior 34-2 2nd
3. Nico Megaludis Penn State Senior 31-4 3rd
 4. Alan Waters Missouri Senior RS
5. Joey Dance Virginia Tech Sophomore 29-10 4th
6. Dylan Peters Northern Iowa Sophomore 34-7 5th
7. Thomas Gilman Iowa Sophomore 17-3
 8. Tyler Cox Wyoming Senior RS
9. Darian Cruz Lehigh Sophomore 28-10 7th
 10. Earl Hall Iowa State Junior 21-15 8th
11. Eddie Klimara Oklahoma State Junior 21-10 NQ
12. David Terao American U. Junior 34-10 NQ
13. Ryan Taylor Wisconsin Sophomore 19-6 NQ
14. Josh Martinez Air Force Junior 33-5 NQ
15. Tim Lambert Nebraska Sophomore 24-13 NQ
16. Nathan Tomasello Ohio State RS Freshman 19-0
17. Robert Deutsch Rider Junior 32-6 NQ
18. Evan Silver Stanford Junior 24-6 NQ
19. Kory Mines Edinboro Senior 24-11 NQ
20. Conor Youtsey Michigan Sophomore 20-13 NQ
133 Pounds            
1. A.J. Schopp Edinboro Senior 35-3 4th
2. Mason Beckman Lehigh Junior 28-6 6th
3. Cody Brewer Oklahoma Junior 23-10 8th
4. Cory Clark Iowa Sophomore 22-5 5th/125
5. Mark Grey Cornell Sophomore 33-9 NQ
6. Zane Richards Illinois Sophomore 27-9 NQ
7. Johnni DiJulius Ohio State Junior 28-9 NQ
8. Nick Soto Chattanooga Senior 35-11 NQ
9. Geoffrey Alexander Maryland Senior 25-2 RS
10. James Gulibon Penn State Sophomore 18-15 NQ
11. Rossi Bruno Michigan Junior 22-16 NQ
12. Levi Wolfensperger Northern Iowa Junior/Senior 21-7 RS
13. Devon Lotito Cal Poly Junior 24-11 NQ
14. Dennis Gustafson Virginia Tech Sophomore 25-15 NQ
15. Joey Palmer Oregon State Junior 19-12 NQ
16. Matt Manley Missouri Sophomore 24-16 NQ
17. Mackenzie McGuire Kent State Junior 27-15 NQ
18. Kevin Devoy Drexel Sophomore 19-10 NQ
19. Chuck Zeisloft Rider Senior 24-16 NQ
20. Colton Rasche Navy Senior 25-14 NQ
141 Pounds            
 1. Logan Stieber Ohio State Senior 30-1 1st
 2. Devin Carter Virginia Tech Senior 18-1 2nd
 3. Mitchell Port Edinboro Senior 32-1 3rd
 4. Evan Henderson North Carolina Senior 37-8 4th
5. Zain Retherford Penn State Sophomore 33-3 5th
 6. Stephen Dutton Michigan Senior 13-6 7th
7. Richard Durso F. & Marshall Senior 37-6 8th
8. Chris Dardanes Minnesota Senior 28-8 NQ
9. Zach Horan Central Michigan Junior 32-6 NQ
10. Chris Mecate Old Dominion Junior 28-9 NQ
11. Anthony Collica Oklahoma State Sophomore 31-9 NQ
12. Josh Dziewa Iowa Senior 27-10 NQ
13. Lavion Mayes Missouri Sophomore 25-13 NQ
14. Edgar Bright Pitt Sophomore 19-11 NQ
15. Todd Preston Harvard Senior 24-10 NQ
16. Sam Speno NC State Junior 26-12 NQ
17. Dan Neff Lock Haven Junior 32-10 NQ
18. Joe Spisak Virginia Senior 19-14 NQ
19. Stephen Rodrigues Illinois Junior 12-11 NQ
20. Shyheim Brown Maryland Sophomore 15-10 NQ
149 Pounds            
1. Jason Tsirtsis Northwestern Sophomore 32-3 1st
2. Josh Kindig Oklahoma State Senior 24-9 2nd
3. Hunter Stieber Ohio State Junior 18-0 RS
4. David Habat Edinboro Senior 32-6 4th
5. Drake Houdashelt Missouri Senior 38-3 5th
6. Mitchell Minotti Lehigh Sophomore 25-11 6th
7. Nick Dardanes Minnesota Senior 34-5 NQ
8. Jake Sueflohn Nebraska Senior 31-6 NQ
9. Chris Villalonga Cornell Senior 34-4 NQ
10. Gus Sako Virginia Senior 19-5 NQ
11. Andrew Alton Penn State Senior 8-1
12. Brody Grothus Iowa Junior 24-12 NQ
13. Alex Richardson Old Dominion Junior 26-9 NQ
14. Tywan Claxton Ohio U. Senior 27-9 NQ
15. Dylan Cottrell Appalachian State Sophomore 26-3 NQ
16. Rylan Lubeck Wisconsin Sophomore 14-14 NQ
17. Mike Depalma Kent State Junior 26-20 NQ
18. Justin Arthur Clarion Sophomore 29-16 NQ
19. Matt Frisch Citadel Junior 28-11 NQ
20. Caleb Ervin Illinois Junior 8-8 RS
157 Pounds            
1. Dylan Ness Minnesota Senior 23-6 2nd
2. James Green Nebraska Senior 35-2 3rd
3. Ian Miller Kent State Junior 31-6 4th
4. Brian Realbuto Cornell Sophomore 36-8 6th
5. Isaac Jordan Wisconsin Sophomore 31-7 7th
6. Dylan Alton Penn State Senior 20-7 NQ
7. Anthony Perrotti Rutgers Sophomore 22-15 8th
8. Josh Demas Ohio State Senior 20-12 NQ
9. Isaiah Martinez Illinois RS Freshman 13-2 RS
10. Joe LaVallee Missouri Sophomore 30-10 NQ
11. Luke Smith Central Michigan Junior 22-12 NQ
12. Brian Murphy Michigan Sophomore 18-9 NQ
13. Justin DeAngelis Oklahoma Senior 18-7 NQ
 14. Blaise Butler Virginia Junior 22-8 NQ
15. Austin Matthews Clarion Sophomore 23-9 NQ
16. Aaron Walker The Citadel Sophomore 31-9 NQ
17. Tristan Warner Old Dominion Senior 19-13 NQ
18. Im. Kerr-Brown Duke Senior 26-13 NQ
19. Spartak Chino Ohio U. Junior 19-13 NQ
20. Thomas Gantt NC State Senior 35-10 NQ
165 Pounds            
1. Alex Dieringer Oklahoma State Junior 32-1 1st/157
2. Nick Sulzer Virginia Senior 36-3 3rd
3. Mike Moreno Iowa State Senior 31-9 5th
4. Pierce Harger Northwestern Senior 29-10 8th
5. Dylan Palacio Cornell Sophomore 32-9 NQ
6. Nick Moore Iowa Senior 23-5 NQ
7. Bo Jordan Ohio State RS Freshman 23-0 RS
8. Corey Mock Chattanooga Senior 31-5 NQ
9. Jim Wilson Stanford Sophomore 35-8 NQ
10. Chris Moon Virginia Tech Senior 23-11 NQ
11. Cooper Moore Northern Iowa Sophomore 27-8 NQ
12. Taylor Walsh Indiana Senior 35-7 NQ-157
13. Jackson Morse Illinois Senior 25-8 NQ
14. Harrison Hightower Ohio U. Senior 31-13 NQ
15. Austin Trott Gardner-Webb Sophomore 29-9 NQ
16. John Staudenmayer North Carolina Junior 15-14 NQ
17. Dakota Friesth Wyoming Senior 29-10 NQ
18. Casey Kent Penn Junior 19-9 NQ
19. Austin Wilson Nebraska Junior 23-16 NQ
20. Peyton Walsh Navy Senior 26-14 NQ
174 Pounds            
1. Logan Storley Minnesota Senior 35-6 3rd
2. Robert Kokesh Nebraska Senior 37-3 4th
3. Matt Brown Penn State Senior 33-6 5th
4. Mike Evans Iowa Senior 28-7 6th
5. Tyler Wilps Pitt Senior 32-7 7th
6. Bryce Hammond CSU-Bakersfield Junior 24-11 8th
7. Cody Walters Ohio U. Junior 13-4 NQ
8. Mike Ottinger Central Michigan Senior 27-7 NQ
9. Matt Miller Navy Junior 24-6 NQ
10. Elliot Riddick Lehigh Sophomore 25-12 NQ
11. Tanner Weatherman Iowa State Junior 25-16 NQ
12. Kyle Crutchmer Oklahoma State RS Freshman 15-1 RS
13. Joe Latham Oregon State Senior 30-16 NQ
14. Pete Renda NC State Sophomore 27-11 NQ
15. Mark Martin Ohio State Junior 28-13 NQ
16. Hayden Zillmer North Dakota St. Junior 27-8 NQ
17. Cody Caldwell Northern Iowa Junior 17-15 NQ
18. Austin Gabel Virginia Tech Junior 14-9 NQ
19. Caleb Marsh Kent State Senior 18-13 NQ
20. Mike England Missouri Senior 19-16 NQ
184 Pounds            
1. Gabe Dean Cornell Sophomore 40-3 3rd
2. Jack Dechow Old Dominion Sophomore 21-6 4th
3. Lorenzo Thomas Penn Senior 30-11 6th
4. Ophir Bernstein Brown Senior 36-11 8th
5. Max Thomusseit Pitt Senior 21-4 NQ
6. Kenny Courts Ohio State Junior 32-9 NQ
7. Brett Pfarr Minnesota Sophomore 25-3
8. Sam Brooks Iowa Sophomore 18-7
9. Blake Stauffer Arizona State Junior 25-11 NQ
10. Victor Avery Edinboro Junior 25-7 NQ
11. Lazarus Reyes Illinois Sophomore 20-14 NQ
12. Domenic Abounader Michigan Sophomore 16-11 NQ
13. Ben Stroh Wyoming Sophomore 28-8 NQ
14. John Risqallah Michigan State Senior 22-12 NQ
15. Lelund Weatherspoon Iowa State Sophomore 25-11 NQ
16. Kurtis Julson North Dakota St. Senior 23-13 NQ
17. Clint Morrison Rider Senior 19-6 NQ
 18. Timothy Dudley Nebraska Sophomore 26-8 NQ
19. Nolan Boyd Oklahoma State Sophomore 29-13 NQ
20. Fred Garcia Lock Haven Senior 25-9 NQ
197 Pounds            
1. J’den Cox Missouri Sophomore 38-2 1st
2. Scott Schiller Minnesota Senior 34-5 3rd
3. Kyven Gadson Iowa State Senior 30-4 4th
4. Conner Hartman Duke Junior 28-11 5th
5. Morgan McIntosh Penn State Junior 32-5 7th
6. Nathan Burak Iowa Junior 19-8 8th
7. Taylor Meeks Oregon State Senior 28-8 NQ
8. Nick Bonaccorsi Pitt Junior 24-14 NQ
9. Phillip Wellington Ohio U. Junior 34-5 NQ
10. Braden Atwood Purdue Senior 27-12 NQ
11. Jace Bennett Cornell Senior 31-11 NQ
12. Tim McCall Wisconsin Senior 17-16 NQ
13. Alex Polizzi Northwestern Senior 25-12 NQ
14. Austin Schafer Oklahoma State Sophomore 15-1
15. Spencer Johnson Junior Nebraska 25-8 RS
16. Shane Woods Wyoming Senior 24-9 NQ
17. James Fox Harvard Senior 15-11 NQ
18. Zach Nye Virginia Junior 21-11 NQ
19. Bryce Barnes Army Junior 20-15 NQ
20. John Bolich Lehigh Junior 16-15 NQ
Heavyweight            
1. Nick Gwiazdowski NC State Junior 43-2 1st
2. Mike McMullan Northwestern Senior 20-5 3rd
3. Bobby Telford Iowa Senior 26-7 4th
4. Austin Marsden Oklahoma State Junior 23-9 8th
5. Adam Coon Michigan Sophomore 32-5 NQ
6. Connor Medbury Wisconsin Junior 26-9 NQ
7. Amarveer Dhesi Oregon State Sophomore 28-9 NQ
8. James Lawson Penn State Senior 16-5
9. Joe Stolfi Bucknell Senior 34-8 NQ
10. Adam Fager Utah Valley Senior 19-9 NQ
11. Nick Tavanello Ohio State Sophomore 25-19 NQ
12. Ross Larsen Oklahoma Sophomore 23-12 NQ
13. William Smith Rutgers Sophomore 27-8 NQ
14. Spencer Myers Maryland Senior 24-6 NQ
15. Devin Mellon Missouri Senior 24-12 NQ
16. Michael Kroells Minnesota Sophomore 30-11
17. Dawson Peck Chattanooga Sophomore 20-7 NQ
18. Blaize Cabell Northern Iowa Junior 22-14 NQ
19. Brooks Black Illinois RS Freshman 0-0
20. Ty Walz Virginia Tech Sophomore 27-14 NQ