Ohio State, which returns a trio of All-Americans in Reece Humphrey (141), Lance Palmer (149) and Mike Pucillo (184), as well as seven NCAA qualifiers from a year ago, is third behind two-time defending national champion Iowa and Iowa State.

The Buckeyes also boast two senior wrestlers - Humphrey and Pucillo - who locked down the No. 1 ranking in their respective weight class. Both 2009 NCAA Championships runners-up, Humphrey and Pucillo claimed the early-season top spot at 141 and 184 pounds, respectively. Pucillo also was the 2008 national champion.

Classmate Palmer, who could become a four-time All-American at Ohio State, also is ranked in the Top 3 at 149 pounds with his No. 3 standing. At 165 pounds, junior Colt Sponseller is No. 8. Sponseller qualified for his first NCAA championships a season ago as a sophomore. Nikko Triggas, a two-time national qualifier, is 14th at 125 pounds. 174-pounder and 2009 NCAA participant Dave Rella holds down the No. 15 spot. Heavyweight Corey Morrison, who also competed on the national stage for the first time in his career last season, is 17th.

Ohio State begins its season Nov. 14 at the Oklahoma Gold Classic in Brockport, N.Y. The Buckeyes open their home schedule the following week Nov. 20 against Lehigh at 7 p.m. in St. John Arena.  

InterMat Team Preseason Rankings (Oct. 23, 2009)
1. Iowa
2. Iowa State
3. Ohio State
4. Cornell
5. Minnesota
6. Oklahoma State
7. Nebraska
8. Missouri
9. Boise State
10. Maryland
11. Wisconsin
12. Edinboro
13. Central Michigan
14. Penn State
15. Indiana
16. American
17. Arizona State
18. Oklahoma
19. Lehigh
20. Virginia
21. Michigan State
22. Harvard
23. Cal Poly
24. Penn
25. Duke

Individual Rankings
125: Nikko Triggas - 14
141: Reece Humphrey - 1
149: Lance Palmer - 3
165: Colt Sponseller - 8
174: Dave Rella - 15
184: Mike Pucillo - 1
285: Corey Morrison - 17