Seven returning champs and Penn State among top-ranked in WIN’s 2018-19 Preseason Ranks

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Updated: September 6, 2018

NEWTON, Iowa — Seven returning national champs, including Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia (above) and Penn State are ranked No. 1 team in WIN Magazine’s 2018-19 Preseason Tournament Power Index and Individual Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.

WIN’s Tournament Power Index (TPI) awards team points for individuals ranked in the respective weight classes based on how many potential All-Americans each school could produce at the 2019 NCAA Championships next March in Pittsburgh.

WIN’s TPI point totals are broken down by the following individual rankings: 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). Additional points for other rankings include: 9th/12th – 2; 13th/16th – 1.5; 17th-20th – 1. TPI points will be lower than the final actual NCAA tournament point totals because it does not include bonus points.

The Nittany Lions feature seven ranked wrestlers, all of whom are predicted to finish in the Top 8 which would also garner them All-American honors in their weight classes to give the Nittany Lions 112 TPI points. That includes three defending national champions who are rated No. 1 in their weight class: Jason Nolf (157 pounds), Vincenzo Joseph (165) and Bo Nickal (184, who has moved up to 197). Meanwhile, 174-pounder Mark Hall, a 2017 NCAA champion for Penn State, and heavyweight Nick Nevills are ranked No. 2. With Nickal moving up to 197, Shakur Rasheed, an All-American at 197, has dropped down to 184, where he is ranked fifth.

Ohio State, last year’s team runner-up, is ranked No. 2 with 83.5 points. That includes seven ranked wrestlers, six the Top 8 of their weight class. This group includes 184-pound Myles Martin, a 2016 NCAA champion, who is rated No. 1 as well as 141-pound Joey McKenna and 197-pound All-American Kollin Moore, who are ranked No. 2.

Oklahoma State and Iowa are predicted to finish third and fourth, respectively, and are separated by only 1.5 points (73-71.5) as each school features nine ranked wrestlers. Seven Cowboys are ranked in the Top 8 of their weight class, led by Nick Piccininni, No. 3 at 125 pounds. The Hawkeyes feature five in the Top 8, including two top-ranked wrestlers: defending champion Spencer Lee at 125 pounds and heavyweight Sam Stoll.

Overall, seven defending champions return and are ranked No. 1. That includes 133-pound Seth Gross of South Dakota State, 141-pound Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell and 174-pound Zahid Valencia from Arizona State.

Another new top-ranked wrestler is Princeton’s Matt Kolodzik at 149 pounds. The Tiger finished third last year as a sophomore.

WIN’s preseason rankings do not include any true or redshirt freshmen. They will be considered by WIN’s Rankings Committee once they compete in varsity matches this season. Also, wrestlers’ weight classes are subject to change.

WIN will announce its first Dual-Team rankings on Dec. 3, 2018.

Below is a list of the entire TPI rankings list as well as the Top 20 rankings in all ten weight classes. It includes each wrestler’s record from last year and how they fared in the 2018 NCAA Championships. It also indicates how many wrestlers have transferred since last year or redshirted last season.

 

WIN’S 2018-19 Tournament Power Index (TPI)

Rank School Total Ranked Top 8 Ranked* TPI Points
1. Penn State 7 7 112
2. Ohio State 7 6 83.5
3. Oklahoma State 9 7 73
4. Iowa 9 5 71.5
5. Michigan 4 4 51
6. Lehigh 9 5 50.5
7. Nebraska 6 4 50
8. Cornell 7 4 48.5
9. Arizona State 7 3 46
10. Missouri 7 3 45
11. North Carolina State 6 3 39.5
12. Virginia Tech 8 3 37.5
13. Northern Iowa 7 3 35.5
14. Rutgers 4 2 33
15. Northwestern 5 2 27
16. South Dakota State 3 1 22.5
17. Princeton 2 1 22
18t. Illinois 5 1 19.5
18t. Wisconsin 4 1 19.5
20. Minnesota 5 2 19
21. Lock Haven 4 1 17.5
22. North Carolina 3 2 16.5
23t. Kent State 1 1 16
23t. Maryland 3 1 16
25. Oregon State 2 1 14
26. Iowa State 3 1 12
27. Wyoming 3 1 9.5
28t. Campbell 3 1 9
28t. Virginia 3 1 9
30. Purdue 5 0 8.5
31. Utah Valley 3 1 8
32. Old Dominion 2 1 6.5
33t. Army 3 0 5.5
33t. Stanford 3 0 5.5
35t. Drexel 3 0 4.5
35t. North Dakota State 3 0 4.5
37t. Duke 2 0 4
37t. Navy 2 0 4
39t. Clarion 2 0 3
39t. CSU Bakersfield 2 0 3
39t. Oklahoma 3 0 3
42t. Buffalo 2 0 2.5
42t. Indiana 2 0 2.5
42t. Northern Colorado 2 0 2.5
45. Fresno State 2 0 2
46t. Brown 1 0 1.5
46t. Central Michigan 1 0 1.5
46t. Franklin & Marshall 1 0 1.5
46t. Michigan State 1 1 1.5
46t. Ohio 1 0 1.5
46t. Pitt 1 0 1.5
52t. American 1 0 1
52t. Appalachian State 1 0 1
52t. Gardner Webb 1 0 1
52t. George Mason 1 0 1
52t. Northern Illinois 1 0 1
52t. Rider 1 0 1
52t. West Virginia 1 0 1

* projected All-Americans, wrestlers who finish in the Top 8 of the weight class

 

WIN’s 2018-19 Preseason Individual Rankings

125 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Spencer Lee Iowa Soph. 22-2 1st
2. Sebastian Rivera Northwestern Soph. 31-8 6th
3. Nick Piccininni Oklahoma State Junior 24-5 NQ
4. Ronnie Bresser Oregon State Senior 23-6 7th
5. Zeke Moisey Nebraska* Senior 26-12 8th
6. Sean Russell Minnesota* Senior 32-7 NQ
7. Connor Schram Lehigh* Senior injured
8. Taylor LaMont Utah Valley Soph. 27-5 NQ
9. Louie Hayes Virginia Soph. 31-8 NQ
10. Ryan Millhof Arizona State Senior 17-7 NQ
11. Travis Piotrowski Illinois Junior 19-10 NQ
12. Jay Schwarm Northern Iowa Junior 25-12 NQ
13. Gabe Townsell Stanford Junior 20-15 NQ
14. Paul Bianchi North Dakota State Soph. 24-15 NQ
15. Rayvon Foley Michigan State Soph. 28-11 NQ
16. Devin Schroder Purdue Soph. reserve
17. Connor Brown Wisconsin* Soph. 26-16 NQ
18. Kyle Akins Buffalo Senior 22-10
19. Brock Hudkins Northern Illinois Junior 18-12 NQ
20. Christian Moody Oklahoma Junior 23-15 NQ

* – transfers

 

133 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Seth Gross South Dakota State Senior 29-1 1st
2. Stevan Micic Michigan Junior 26-3 2nd
3. Nick Suriano Rutgers Junior 25-1 2nd/125
4. Tariq Wilson North Carolina State Soph. 27-10 3rd
5. Luke Pletcher Ohio State Junior 30-4 4th
6. Scott Parker Lehigh Senior 22-5 7th
7. Montorie Bridges Wyoming Soph. 35-7 8th
8. Jack Mueller Virginia Junior 24-7 NQ
9. Austin DeSanto Iowa* Soph. 30-7 NQ
10. John Erneste Missouri Senior 27-4 NQ
11. Chas Tucker Cornell Junior 22-11 NQ
12. Sean Nickell CSU Bakersfield Senior 24-12 NQ
13. Korbin Myers Virginia Tech* Junior 28-11 NQ
14. Rico Montoya Northern Colorado Senior 25-14 NQ
15. Cam Sykora North Dakota State Junior 23-12 NQ
16. Cameron Kelly Ohio U. Senior 25-8 NQ
17. Colin Valdivez Northwestern Soph. 20-13 NQ
18. Dylan Duncan Illinois Soph. 20-9 NQ
19. Matt Schmitt West Virginia Soph. 23-14 NQ
20. Josh Terao American U. Senior 29-10 NQ

* – transfer

 

141 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Yianni Diakomihalis Cornell Soph. 34-1 1st
2. Joey McKenna Ohio State Senior 21-2 3rd
3. Jaydin Eierman Missouri Junior 32-3 4th
4. Kaid Brock Oklahoma State Junior 30-5 5th/133
5. Nick Lee Penn State Soph. 33-7 5th
6. Chad Red Nebraska Soph. 26-11 7th
7. Mitch McKee Minnesota Junior 21-8 NQ
8. Sa’Derian Perry Old Dominion* Junior 18-19 8th
9. Michael Carr Illinois Soph. 20-7 NQ
10. Mason Smith Arizona State* Junior 32-7 NQ
11. Vince Turk Iowa Junior 16-10 NQ
12. Nick Gil Navy Senior 33-10 NQ
13. Luke Karam Lehigh Soph. 21-9 NQ
14. Josh Alber Northern Iowa Senior 25-8 NQ
15. Cole Weaver Indiana Senior 26-12 NQ
16. Brent Moore Virginia Tech Soph. 20-12 NQ
17. Ryan Diehl Maryland Senior 13-14 NQ
18. Henry Pohlmeyer South Dakota State Junior 24-11 NQ
19. Russell Rohlfing CSU Bakersfield Junior 22-13 NQ
20. Nate Limmex Purdue Junior 26-16 NQ

* – transfers

 

149 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Matt Kolodzik Princeton Junior 29-6 3rd
2. Anthony Ashnault Rutgers Senior redshirted 3-time AA
3. Grant Leeth Missouri Soph. 26-5 6th
4. Boo Lewallen Oklahoma State Junior 29-8 8th
5. Ke-Shawn Hayes Ohio State Junior 29-7 NQ
6. Max Thomsen Northern Iowa Junior 28-9 NQ
7. Justin Oliver North Carolina State* Senior 28-7 NQ
8. Pat Lugo Iowa* Senior redshirted 2-time NQ
9. Paul Fox Stanford Senior 23-9 NQ
10. Brock Zacherl Clarion Senior 29-3 NQ
11. Jarrett Degen Iowa State Soph. 23-11 NQ
12. Jared Prince Navy Junior 22-6 NQ
13. Ryan Blees Virginia Tech Senior 23-9 NQ
14. Sam Krivus Virginia Junior 20-15 NQ
15. Alfred Bannister Maryland Senior 24-10 NQ
16. Tommy Thorn Minnesota Senior 18-13 NQ
17. Cole Martin Wisconsin Junior 17-14 NQ
18. Sam Turner Wyoming Soph. 25-17 NQ
19. Davion Jeffries Oklahoma Senior 24-19 NQ
20. Khristian Olivas Fresno State Junior 25-8 NQ

* – transfers

 

157 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Jason Nolf Penn State Senior 26-1 1st
2. Hayden Hidlay North Carolina State Soph. 26-1 2nd
3. Tyler Berger Nebraska Senior 28-9 3rd
4. Alec Pantaleo Michigan Senior 21-7 5th
5. Micah Jordan Ohio State Senior 25-9 6th
6. Josh Shields Arizona State Junior 34-4 7th
7. Ryan Deakin Northwestern Soph. 32-7 NQ/149
8. Kennedy Monday North Carolina Soph. 21-16 NQ
9. Mitch Finesilver Duke Senior 19-6 NQ
10. Ian Brown Lehigh Senior 18-12 NQ
11. Garett Hammond Drexel Senior 20-7 NQ
12. Luke Weiland Army Junior 24-17 NQ
13. Austin Kraisser Campbell Junior 21-13
14. Taleb Rahmani Pitt Junior 18-14 NQ
15. Kaleb Young Iowa Soph. reserve/174
16. Andrew Shomers Oklahoma State* Junior 29-8 NQ
17. Steve Bleise Minnesota Senior 20-9 NQ/149
18. Tyler Marinelli Gardner Webb Senior 26-8 NQ
19. Larry Early Old Dominion Junior 29-12 NQ
20. Alex Klucker Lock Haven Junior 25-11 NQ

* – transfer

 

165 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Vincenzo Joseph Penn State Junior 25-2 1st
2. Evan Wick Wisconsin Soph. 29-7 3rd
3. Chance Marstellar Lock Haven Senior 45-4 4th
4. David McFadden Virginia Tech Junior 35-2 5th
5. Alex Marinelli Iowa Soph. 19-6 6th
6. Logan Massa Michigan Junior 17-8 NQ, ’17 AA
7. Jon Jay Chavez Cornell Senior 23-6 7th
8. Chandler Rogers Oklahoma State Senior 24-6 8th
9. Isaiah White Nebraska Junior 25-8 NQ
10. Anthony Valencia Arizona State Junior 27-10 NQ
11. Bryce Steiert Northern Iowa Senior redshirted 2-time NQ
12. Branson Ashworth Wyoming Senior 36-6 NQ
13. Te’Shan Campbell Ohio State Senior 19-12 NQ
14. Gordon Wolf Lehigh Senior 20-11 NQ
15. John Van Brill Rutgers Senior 22-14 NQ/157
16. Andrew Fogarty North Dakota State Junior 30-12 NQ
17. Demetrius Romero Utah Valley Junior 26-9 NQ
18. Connor Flynn Missouri Junior 25-9 NQ
19. Bryce Martin Indiana Senior 15-10 NQ
20. Joey Gunther Illinois* Junior 16-9 NQ

* – transfer

 

174 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Zahid Valencia Arizona State Junior 32-0 1st
2. Mark Hall Penn State Junior 32-1 2nd
3. Myles Amine Michigan Junior 26-7 3rd
4. Daniel Lewis Missouri Senior 33-2 4th
5. Jordan Kutler Lehigh Junior 28-6 6th
6. Michael Kemerer Iowa Junior 27-3 4th/157
7. Jacobe Smith Oklahoma State Senior 22-8 8th
8. Taylor Lujan Northern Iowa Junior 30-7 NQ
9. Dylan Lydy Purdue Junior 35-14 NQ
10. Ben Harvey Army Junior 23-11 NQ
11. Johnny Sebastian Northwestern Senior 28-12 NQ
12. Matt Finesilver Duke Soph. 26-11 NQ
13. Brandon Womack Cornell Junior 17-11 NQ
14. Daniel Bullard North Carolina State Soph. 17-11 NQ
15. Kimball Bastian Utah Valley Junior 20-11 NQ
16. Ryan Christensen Wisconsin Senior 25-15 NQ
17. Hunter Bolen Virginia Tech Soph. 21-12 NQ
18. Brandon Krone Minnesota Senior 12-10 NQ
19. Dean Sherry Rider Senior 19-11 NQ
20. Andrew Morgan Campbell Junior 18-9

 

184 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Myles Martin Ohio State Senior 31-3 2nd
2. Emery Parker Illinois Senior 28-4 3rd
3. Taylor Venz Nebraska Soph. 29-9 4th
4. Zack Zavatsky Virginia Tech Senior 31-8 6th
5. Shakur Rasheed Penn State Senior 24-5 7th/197
6. Chip Ness North Carolina Senior 20-12 7th
7. Max Dean Cornell Soph. 31-6 8th
8. Ryan Preisch Lehigh Senior 16-4 NQ
9. Drew Foster Northern Iowa Senior 26-6 NQ
10. Nick Reenan North Carolina State Junior redshirted 2017 NQ/174
11. Nick Gravina Rutgers Senior 19-7 NQ
12. Dakota Geer Oklahoma State* Soph. redshirted 2017 NQ
13. Cash Wilcke Iowa Junior 21-9 NQ/174
14. Canten Marriott Missouri Soph. 26-8 NQ
15. CJ LaFragola Brown Senior 21-10 NQ
16. Martin Mueller South Dakota State Junior 26-8 NQ
17. Kordell Norfleet Arizona State Soph. 12-13 NQ
18. Corey Hazel Lock Haven Junior 24-10 NQ
19. Sam Colbray Iowa State Soph. reserve
20. Kayne MacCallum Oklahoma* Soph. 18-15 NQ

* – transfer

 

197 pounds

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Bo Nickal Penn State Senior 31-0 1st/184
2. Kollin Moore Ohio State Junior 27-4 4th
3. Kyle Conel Kent State Senior 30-11 3rd
4. Jacob Holschlag Northern Iowa Junior 23-12 5th
5. Ben Darmstadt Cornell Soph. 33-4 6th
6. Willie Miklus Iowa State* Senior 25-6 8th
7. Preston Weigel Oklahoma State Senior 11-4 NQ
8. Chris Weiler Lehigh Soph. 17-10 NQ
9. Eric Schultz Nebraska Soph. 20-11 NQ
10. CJ Brunner Purdue Junior 24-11 NQ
11. Patrick Brucki Princeton Soph. 29-10 NQ
12. Nathan Traxler Stanford Soph. 19-12 NQ
13. Rocco Caywood Army Senior 20-14 NQ
14. Corey Griego Oregon State Senior 21-7 NQ
15. Tom Sleigh Virginia Tech* Senior redshirted 3-time NQ
16. Stephen Loiseau Drexel Senior 32-12 NQ
17. Malik McDonald North Carolina State Senior reserve 2017 NQ
18. Jacob Seely Northern Colorado Junior 16-11 NQ
19. Wyatt Koelling Missouri Soph. reserve NQ
20. Greg Bulsak Clarion Soph. 21-9 NQ

* – transfers

 

Heavyweight

Rk. Name School Year ’17-18 W-L ’18 NCAA
1. Sam Stoll Iowa Senior 25-6 5th
2. Nick Nevills Penn State Senior 30-7 7th
3. Youssif Hemida Maryland Senior 30-8 8th
4. Derek White Oklahoma State Senior 25-4 NQ
5. Tanner Hall Arizona State Senior 22-8 NQ
6. Jordan Wood Lehigh Soph. 22-7 NQ
7. Jere Heino Campbell Senior 27-7 NQ
8. Bill Miller Virginia Tech* Senior 18-6 NQ
9. Thomas Haines Lock Haven Senior 20-7 NQ
10. Shawn Streck Purdue Soph. 30-15 NQ
11. Jeramy Sweany Cornell Senior 21-8 NQ
12. Cory Daniel North Carolina Senior 23-9 NQ
13. Conan Jennings Northwestern Senior 25-12 NQ
14. Matt Stencel Central Michigan Soph. 28-15 NQ
15. Jake Gunning Buffalo Senior 17-8 NQ
16. Antonio Pelusi Franklin & Marshall Senior 26-10 NQ
17. A.J. Nevills Fresno State Soph. 26-10 NQ
18. Matt Voss George Mason Senior 24-13 NQ
19. Joey Goodhart Drexel Senior redshirted 2-time NQ
20. Cary Miller App. State Junior 19-9

* – transfer