COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State wrestling team was tabbed No. 4 by
Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine (WIN) Monday. The current preseason standing only accounts for a team's Tournament Power Index (TPI), which ranks squads based on their number of ranked wrestlers and potential All-Americans (places 1-8).
WIN will announce its first "dual rankings" Nov. 30 at the beginning of the dual season.
The Buckeyes are predicted to crown four All-Americans which is good for 52 points. Iowa stands atop of the rankings with seven potential All-Americans. Iowa State is second (five All-Americans), while Cornell rounds out the Top 3 with four Top 8 placers.
Individually, Ohio State boasts six wrestlers in the Top 20 of their respective weight classes. Leading the charge is senior and 2008 national champion Mike Pucillo at 184 pounds. Three-time All-American Lance Palmer is entering his senior campaign third at 149 pounds.
2009 Big Ten and NCAA runner-up Reece Humphrey is No. 5 at 141 pounds. Humphrey is moving up a weight class from a year ago when he wrestled at 133 pounds.
At 165 pounds, junior Colt Sponseller is slated as the eighth-ranked grappler.
Buckeyes ranked 9-20 include Dave Rella (13th) at 174 pounds and Nikko Triggas (15th) at 125 pounds.
In addition to Ohio State and Iowa, four other Big Ten Conference teams are ranked in the Top 20. Minnesota is No. 5, Wisconsin is tied for 11th, Penn State is 13th and Indiana is 14th.
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 against Lehigh at 7 p.m. in St. John Arena.
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