NCAA announces national qualifying allocations per weight & conference
With the start of the 2016 NCAA Division I postseason beginning this weekend with the Pac-12 Championships, followed by seven other NCAA qualifying tournaments in one more week, the NCAA has announced the qualifier allocations for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as listed in the chart below.
| CONFERENCE | 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285 | TOTAL |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 34 |
| Big 12 Conference | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 36 |
| Big Ten Conference | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 71 |
| Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 51 |
| Eastern Wrestling League | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| Mid-American Conference | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 41 |
| Pacific-12 Conference | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 21 |
| Southern Conference | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| TOTAL QUALIFIERS | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 284 |
The following is a list of the eight NCAA qualifying tournaments that will eventually send 330 wrestlers to compete in the nationals, March 17-19, in New York City:
- Pac 12, Feb. 27 in Tempe, Ariz.
- Eastern Wrestling League, March 5 in Lock Haven, Pa.
- Southern Conference, March 5 in Asheville, N.C.
- Big Ten Conference, March 5-6 in Iowa City, Iowa
- Big 12 Conference, March 5-6 in Kansas City, Mo.
- Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association, March 5-6 in Princeton, N.J.
- Mid-American Conference, March 5-6 in Ypsilanti, Mich.
- Atlantic Coast Conference, March 6 in Charlottesville, Va.
Each qualifying tournament was awarded spots per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; rating percentage index (RPI); and coaches ranking.
For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his qualifying tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each qualifying tournament, with automatic qualifying status, was awarded a minimum of one wrestler per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA tournament spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on place-finish.
Coaches Top 33 Wrestlers Per Weight as of Feb. 21
After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 46 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 9. 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 ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage.
