KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For the second time in five seasons, Campbellsville University will start its wrestling season as the top-ranked team in the NAIA Top 20 Coaches Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. CU was also No. 1 to start the 2007 season and was No. 2 preseason in 2010.
"It's just a ranking but, it's good recognition for our university and the wrestling program," CU head coach
Franky James said. "This is not the first time we have been highly ranked, but I think this team is a little different than some of the others we have had. They are a special group."
Campbellsville has 11 Tigers ranked in the Top 12 of their respective weight classes, led by second-ranked grapplers Tim Thurston (133), Tommy Pretty (141) and Jamelle Jones (197). Each of them also lead the East Region rankings, along with Josh Ashbrook, ranked No. 3 nationally at 175, and Nick Waldrop, ranked No. 4 nationally at 157.
Other Tigers ranked among the Top 12 per class are TD Thurston (7th, 125), Tyler Alsip (6th, 133), Connor Young (8th, 149), Matt Milton (11th, 149), Allen Scruggs (5th, 184) and Spencer Adams (5th, 197).
"These guys really push each other and support one another. I think they will keep getting better as the season progresses," James said. "I also think we have several guys not in the rankings yet that will be on the podium in March."
Campbellsville received 94 points in the poll, leading Southern Oregon by nine points. Midland University, Grand View and Great Falls round out the Top 5.
All five wrestling teams in the Mid-South Conference eligible for the postseason are receiving votes in the poll. Lindsey Wilson College is ranked No. 8, University of the Cumberlands is ranked No. 13, Shorter is No. 16 and Cumberland University (Tenn.) is No. 21.
Campbellsville will open the season Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti, Mich.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the Qualifying Groups. The first regular-season poll will be announced Dec. 23.
|
Rank |
School |
Total Team Points |
|
1 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
94 |
|
2 |
Southern Oregon |
85 |
|
3 |
Midland (Neb.) |
67.5 |
|
4 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
63.5 |
|
5 |
Great Falls (Mont.) |
62.5 |
|
6 |
Montana State-Northern |
61.5 |
|
7 |
Missouri Valley |
58.5 |
|
8 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
58 |
|
9 |
Morningside (Iowa) |
49 |
|
10 |
Oklahoma City |
44 |
|
11 |
William Penn (Iowa) |
29 |
|
12 |
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) |
24 |
|
13 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
17 |
|
14 |
Menlo (Calif.) |
15.5 |
|
14 |
Baker (Kan.) |
15.5 |
|
16 |
Shorter (Ga.) |
14.5 |
|
17 |
Jamestown (N.D.) |
11.5 |
|
18 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
9 |
|
19 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
7.5 |
|
20 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
6.5 |
Others receiving votes: Cumberland (Tenn.) 5; York (Neb.) 2.5; Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 2; Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 2; Wayland Baptist (Texas) 1.5.
Top-Ranked Individuals | Individual Rankings (PDF)
125 - Mitchell Lofstedt, Southern Oregon
133 - Matt Katusin, Midland (Neb.)
141 - Anthony Varnell, Great Falls (Mont.)
149 - Eric Burgey, William Penn (Iowa)
157 - Tommy Norton/Hooper, Southern Oregon
165 - Noah Hatton, Great Falls (Mont.)
174 - Joseph Sievert, Morningside (Iowa)
184 - Derek Rottenberg, Southern Oregon
197 - Evan Hinebauch, Montana State-Northern
HWT - Leviticus Roberson, Midland (Neb.)
