Wrestling Championship Qualifier Bids Released by NCAA
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The NCAA has announced the qualifier allocations for the 2013 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, to be held in Des Moines, Iowa from March 21-23. The Mid-American Conference received 30 auto-qualifier bids, which tied with the ACC for the third most of any conference in the nation. Those 30 bids will be up for grabs at the upcoming MAC Championship, to be hosted by the University at Buffalo on March 10.
MAC wrestlers were ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the NCAA RPI Ranking or NCAA Coaches Ranking in five of the ten weight classes -- 125: Alan Waters, Missouri (No. 1 RPI and Coaches Rankings); 133: Nathan McCormick, Missouri (No. 2 RPI Ranking); 184: Ben Bennett, Central Michigan (No. 2 Coaches Ranking); 197: Dustin Kilgore, Kent State (No. 1 Coaches and No. 2 RPI Rankings) and 285: Dom Bradley, Missouri (No. 2 Coaches Ranking).
The MAC will take the following number of wrestlers from each weight class:
• 125 – 4 wrestlers
• 133 – 3 wrestlers
• 141 – 1 wrestler
• 149 – 2 wrestlers
• 157 – 3 wrestlers
• 165 – 2 wrestlers
• 174 – 5 wrestlers
• 184 – 4 wrestlers
• 197 – 3 wrestlers
• 285 – 3 wrestlers
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.
After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 40 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 13. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; qualifying event placement; quality wins; results against common opponents; winning percentage; RPI; coaches ranking and the number of matches contested at that weight class.
The MAC wrestling tournament will be on Sunday, March 10 at the University at Buffalo Alumni Arena. Matches begin on three mats at 10 am, running all the way through the championship round at 5:20 pm. Tickets will be $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors and youth. Current students of participating schools with college ID can get in to the event for free. Interested fans can call the University at Buffalo ticket office at 1-877-UB-THERE.
NCAA RPI Rankings: Individual Weight Class
125
No. 1 – Alan Waters, Missouri
No. 9 – Christian Cullinan, Central Michigan
No. 30 – Steve Mitcheff, Kent State
No. 33 – Jared Germaine, Eastern Michigan
133
No. 2 – Nathan McCormick, Missouri
No. 12 – Scott Sentes, Central Michigan
No. 14 – Levi Wolfensperger, Northern Iowa
No. 31 – Mackenzie McGuire, Kent State
141
No. 17 – Joey Lazor, Northern Iowa
No. 26 – Nicholas Hucke, Missouri
149
No. 12 – Drake Houdashelt, Missouri
No. 24 – Andrew Romanchik, Ohio
No. 33 – Donnie Corby, Central Michigan
157
No. 24 – Kyle Bradley, Missouri
No. 28 – Luke Smith, Central Michigan
No. 33 – Spartak Chino, Ohio
165
No. 8 – Mark Lewandowski, Buffalo
No. 18 – Zach Toal, Missouri
No. 31 – Caleb Marsh, Kent State
174
No. 10 – Todd Porter, Missouri
No. 13 – Cody Walters, Ohio
No. 22 – Craig Kelliher, Central Michigan
No. 23 – Sam Wheeler, Kent State
No. 28 – Cody Caldwell, Northern Iowa
184
No. 3 – Ryan Loder, Northern Iowa
No. 9 – Mike Larson, Missouri
No. 11 – Ben Bennett, Central Michigan
No. 12 – Casey Newburg, Kent State
No. 32 – Phillip Joseph, Eastern Michigan
197
No. 2 – Dustin Kilgore, Kent State
No. 11 – Brent Haynes, Missouri
No. 12 – Nick Whitenburg, Eastern Michigan
No. 19 – Phillip Wellington, Ohio
HWT
No. 3 – Dom Bradley, Missouri
No. 12 – Jarod Trice, Central Michigan
No. 15 – Jeremy Johnson, Ohio
NCAA Coaches Rankings: Individual Weight Class
125
No. 1 – Alan Waters, Missouri
No. 9 – Christian Cullinan, Central Michigan
No. 26 – Steve Mitcheff, Kent State
No. 27 – Jared Germaine, Eastern Michigan
133
No. 5 – Nathan McCormick, Missouri
No. 8 – Scott Sentes, Central Michigan
No. 10 – Levi Wolfensperger, Northern Iowa
No. 27 – Mackenzie McGuire, Kent State
141
No. 13 – Joey Lazor, Northern Iowa
No. 30 – Kevin Fanta, Northern Illinois
No. 32 – Nicholas Hucke, Missouri
No. 33 – Scott Mattingly, Central Michigan
149
No. 12 – Drake Houdashelt, Missouri
No. 23 – Donnie Corby, Central Michigan
No. 27 – Bart Reiter, Northern Iowa
157
No. 15 – Kyle Bradley, Missouri
No. 21 – David Bonin, Northern Iowa
No. 29 – Luke Smith, Central Michigan
No. 29 – Aaron Sulzer, Eastern Michigan
No. 31 – Spartak Chino, Ohio
165
No. 14 – Mark Lewandowski, Buffalo
No. 16 – Zach Toal, Missouri
No. 24 – Mike Ottinger, Central Michigan
No. 33 – Caleb Marsh – Kent State
174
No. 10 – Todd Porter, Missouri
No. 17 – Cody Walters, Ohio
No. 18 – John-Martin Cannon, Buffalo
No. 23 – Craig Kelliher, Central Michigan
No. 23 – Cody Caldwell, Northern Iowa
No. 25 – Sam Wheeler, Kent State
184
No. 2 – Ben Bennett, Central Michigan
No. 6 – Ryan Loder, Northern Iowa
No. 12 – Mike Larson, Missouri
No. 15 – Casey Newburg, Kent State
No. 31 – Phillip Joseph, Eastern Michigan
197
No. 1 – Dustin Kilgore, Kent State
No. 12 – Brent Haynes, Missouri
No. 28 – Nick Whitenburg, Eastern Michigan
HWT
No. 2 – Dom Bradley, Missouri
No. 6 – Jarod Trice, Central Michigan
No. 16 – Jeremy Johnson, Ohio