The Mid-American Conference coaches put out their first February rankings last week and once again, Missouri and UNI top the poll. Central Michigan comes in third, while Ohio and Old Dominion round out the top five.
The Panthers and Tigers dominate the conference rankings as they combine for nine of the number one spots in the poll. UNI holds four spots (125, 133, 174, and 184) while Missouri holds five (141, 149, 157, 165, and 197). Ohio’s heavyweight, Zach Parker, is the only non-cat to hold a number one spot in the poll.
Both UNI and Missouri are undefeated in conference duals and will wrestle for the regular season conference title in Columbia next Sunday afternoon. 133 and 165 pounds will feature the #1 vs #2 conference wrestler in Columbia, while 149 will feature #1 vs #3. 174 will be #1 vs #4. We’ll have a full preview of that dual coming up later this week.
The entire MAC poll can be found below, including the individual and team rankings.
2017 MAC February Weight Class Rankings:
125 – 1. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa, Senior); 2. Shakur Laney (Ohio, Sophomore); 3. Noah Gonser (Eastern Michigan, Redshirt Freshman); 4. Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan, Junior).
133 – 1. Josh Alber (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 2. John Erneste (Missouri, Sophomore); 3. Cameron Kelly (Ohio, Sophomore); 4. Bryan Lantry (Buffalo, Sophomore).
141 – 1. Jaydin Eierman (Missouri, R-Freshman); 2. Noah Forrider (Ohio, Junior); 3. Kyle Springer (Eastern Michigan, Junior); 4. Kevin Budock (Old Dominion, Freshman).
149 – 1. Lavion Mayes (Missouri, Senior); 2. Justin Oliver (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 3. Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa, R-Freshman); 4. Steve Bleise (Northern Illinois, Sophomore).
157 – 1. Joey Lavalle (Missouri, Junior); 2. Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan, Junior); 3. Caden McWhirter (Northern Illinois, R-Freshman); t-4. Casey Sparkman (Kent State, Sophomore); t-4. Cullen Cummings (Ohio, Junior).
165 – 1. Daniel Lewis (Missouri, Sophomore); 2. Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 3. Seldon Wright (Old Dominion, Sophomore); 4. Tyler Rill (Buffalo, Senior).
174 – 1. Taylor Lujan (Northern Iowa, R-Freshman); 2. C.J. Brucki (Central Michigan, Junior); 3. Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois, Senior); 4. Dylan Wisman (Missouri, Redshirt Freshman).
184 – 1. Drew Foster (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 2. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion, Senior); 3. Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. Brett Perry (Buffalo, Sophomore).
197 – 1. J’den Cox (Missouri, Senior); 2. Austin Severn (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Kevin Beazley (Old Dominion, Junior); 4. Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois, Senior).
HWT – 1. Zack Parker (Ohio, Sophomore); 2. Gage Hutchison (Eastern Michigan, Junior); 3. Austin Myers (Missouri, Redshirt Freshman); 4. JJ Everard (Northern Iowa, Senior).
2017 MAC February Wrestling Rankings
1. Missouri (26.0)
2. Northern Iowa (22.0)
3. Central Michigan (15.0)
4. Ohio (12.5)
5. Old Dominion (8.0)
6. Eastern Michigan (7.0)
7. Northern Illinois (6.0)
8. Buffalo (3.0)
9. Kent State (0.5)
[…] has half their squad ranked number one in the most recent MAC coaches poll, which wouldn’t bode well for UNI, except that the Panthers have four members of their squad […]