National Duals Champion Minnesota is the new No. 1

The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers moved to the top of the NWCA/USA Today Division I Coaches Poll following their team championship at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.

The Gophers avenged two earlier season losses last weekend by defeating No. 4 Iowa and former No. 1 Oklahoma State, on their way to the Mat Mayhem Title.

Oklahoma State had previously held the No. 1 spot for six straight weeks this season.

Rounding out this week’s Top 10 are: Minnesota, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Illinois, Cornell, Ohio State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Missouri.

Purdue joins the Top 25 this week.

The NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll Committee is made up of one coach from each conference. A number one ranking is worth 25 points and a number 25 ranking is worth one point.

This poll is based on a dual meet ranking.

A new poll will be released every Tuesday from now until the week of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament and can be found at www.nwcaonline.com.

NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll

Rank

School

Total

Prev. Rank

Record

1

Minnesota

249

3

14-3

2

Penn State

236

2

13-1

3

Oklahoma State

232

1

17-2

4

Iowa

221

4

14-4

5

Illinois

208

5

16-4

6

Cornell

197

T6

11-1

7

Ohio State

194

T6

13-4

8

Nebraska

176

8

15-4

9

Pittsburgh

160

9

14-2

10

Missouri

157

10

13-4

11

Wyoming

150

11

10-3

12

Oklahoma

143

12

13-5

13

Kent State

128

13

14-5

14

Michigan

125

14

6-6

15

Lehigh

112

15

12-5

16

Oregon State

99

16

10-3

17

Maryland

91

17

15-1

18

Northwestern

77

18

11-4

19

Binghamton

71

19

15-4

20

Virginia

70

21

11-1

T21

Edinboro

35

20

9-4

T21

Virginia Tech

35

22

8-6

23

Hofstra

32

24

12-3

24

Old Dominion

14

23

13-10

25

Purdue

12

NR

10-10

Others Receiving Votes: American, Central Michigan, Chattanooga, West Virginia.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling.

The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling.