NEWTON, Iowa — Defending NCAA Division I champion Penn State is the preseason No. 1 team to start the season according to WIN Magazine’s Preseason Tournament Power Index and Rankings.
The Nittany Lions, who return five NCAA champions who are ranked No. 1 to start the 2017-18 season — Hodge Trophy winner Zain Retherford (149), Jason Nolf (157), Vincenzo Joseph (165), Mark Hall (174) and Bo Nickal (184) — are among eight wrestlers ranked in the Top 20 of their weight classes. Other rated Nittany Lions are Corey Keener (16th at 133 and a transfer from Central Michigan), Matt McCutcheon (seventh at 197) and Nick Nevills (fifth at heavyweight).
Penn State is expected to be challenged by a pair of fellow Big Ten Conference programs: Ohio State and Michigan. Both the Buckeyes and Wolverines have seven individuals in the preseason Top 8 according to WIN’s individual rankings.
Among Ohio State’s top returning wrestlers are two-time NCAA champion Kyle Snyder, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, who just won a second World title, and 2015 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello, who will drop back down to 125 pounds after wrestling at 133 the past two seasons. Also, sophomore Kollin Moore is ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds, while NCAA runner-up Bo Jordan is ranked No. 2 at 174 and 2016 champion Myles Martin is No. 2 at 184. The Buckeyes also got a lift when All-American Joey McKenna — ranked seventh at 141 — transferred from Stanford.
Michigan returns three 2017 All-Americans in Stevan Micic (2nd at 133), Logan Massa (third at 165) and Myles Amine (fourth at 174) and bring back three other Wolverine All-Americans who redshirted last season: Alec Pantaleo (fifth at 157) and Dominic Abounader (fourth at 184) and Adam Coon (second at heavyweight). Former Old Dominion All-American Kevin Beazley has transferred to Michigan is rated fourth at 197.
WIN’s TPI point totals are broken down by the following individual rankings: 1st – 20 (16 AA points + 4 advancement points); 2nd – 16 (12+4); 3rd – 13.5 (10+3.5); 4th – 12.5 (9+3.5); 5th – 10 (7+3); 6th – 9 (6+3); 7th – 6.5 (4+2.5); 8th – 5.5 (3+2.5). Additional points for other rankings include: 9th/12th – 2; 13th/16th – 1.5; 17th-20th – 1. TPI points will be lower than the final actual NCAA tournament points because it does not include bonus points.
Other wrestlers ranked No. 1 at their weights by WIN are defending champion Darian Cruz (125) of Lehigh, national runner-up Seth Gross (133) from South Dakota State and Oklahoma State’s two-time NCAA champ Dean Heil (141).
WIN’s 2017-18 Preseason Tournament Power Index (TPI)
| Rk | School (Top 8) | TPI Pts |
| 1 | Penn State (7) | 118 |
| 2 | Ohio State (7) | 111.5 |
| 3 | Michigan (7) | 93 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State (5) | 75.5 |
| 5 | Missouri (4) | 51.5 |
| 6 | Arizona State (5) | 51 |
| 7 | Lehigh (4) | 50.5 |
| 8t. | Minnesota (4) | 43.5 |
| 8t. | NC State (4) | 43.5 |
| 10 | Iowa (3) | 39.5 |
| 11 | Virginia Tech (3) | 34.5 |
| 12 | Northern Iowa (3) | 32 |
| 13 | South Dakota State (1) | 23 |
| 14 | Illinois (2) | 20 |
| 15 | Oregon State (1) | 18 |
| 16t. | Rutgers (1) | 17.5 |
| 16t. | Stanford (2) | 17.5 |
| 18 | Central Michigan (2) | 17 |
| 19 | Wyoming (1) | 16.5 |
| 20t. | Nebraska (1) | 15.5 |
| 20t. | West Virginia (2) | 15.5 |
| 22t. | Buffalo (1) | 13 |
| 22t. | Rider (1) | 13 |
| 24 | Navy (1) | 11.5 |
| 25 | Virginia (1) | 11 |
| 26 | Duke (1) | 10.5 |
| 27 | Princeton (1) | 10 |
| 28t. | Maryland (1) | 9.5 |
| 28t. | Pitt (1) | 9.5 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | 8.5 |
| 31 | Cornell (1) | 8 |
| 32 | Michigan State (1) | 7.5 |
| 33 | North Carolina | 5.5 |
| 34 | Northwestern | 5 |
| 35t. | No. Dakota State | 4.5 |
| 35t. | Penn | 4.5 |
| 37t. | Bucknell | 4 |
| 37t. | CSU Bakersfield | 4 |
| 37t. | Lock Haven | 4 |
| 40t. | Campbell | 3 |
| 40t. | American U | 3 |
| 40t. | Chattanooga | 3 |
| 40t. | Oklahoma | 3 |
| 44t. | Appalachian State | 2.5 |
| 44t. | Columbia | 2.5 |
| 44t. | Northern Colorado | 2.5 |
| 47t. | Binghamton | 2 |
| 47t. | Clarion | 2 |
| 47t. | Northern Illinois | 2 |
| 47t. | Ohio U. | 2 |
| 51t. | Cleveland State | 1.5 |
| 51t. | Purdue | 1.5 |
| 51t. | Utah Valley | 1.5 |
| 54t. | Brown | 1 |
| 54t. | Drexel | 1 |
| 54t. | Eastern Michigan | 1 |
| 54t. | Indiana | 1 |
| 54t. | Iowa State | 1 |
| 54t. | Kent State | 1 |
WIN’s 2017-18 Preseason Individual Rankings
125 pounds
Rk. Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Darian Cruz Lehigh 1st Senior
2 Nathan Tomasello Ohio State 3rd/133 Senior
3 Ethan Lizak Minnesota 2nd Junior
4 Nick Piccininni Oklahoma State 4th Sophomore
5 Jack Mueller Virginia 6th Sophomore
6 Sean Russell Edinboro 7th Junior
7 Zeke Moisey West Virginia dnp Junior
8 Sean Fausz NC State NQ Junior
9 Josh Terao American U. NQ Junior
10 Kyle Akins Buffalo NQ Junior
11 Shakur Laney Ohio U. NQ Junior
12 Brock Hudkins Northern Illinois NQ Sophomore
13 Ronnie Bresser Oregon State RS Junior
14 Gabe Townsell Stanford NQ Sophomore
15 Travis Piotrowski Illinois NQ Sophomore
16 Johnny Jimenez Wisconsin NQ Senior
17 Sean Nickell CSU Bakersfield NQ Junior
18 Noah Gonser Eastern Michigan NQ Sophomore
19 Barlow McGhee Missouri NQ Senior
20 Elijah Oliver Indiana NQ Junior
133 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Seth Gross So. Dakota State 2nd Junior
2 Stevan Micic Michigan 4th Sophomore
3 Kaid Brock Oklahoma State 5th Sophomore
4 Scott Parker Lehigh 8th Junior
5 Bryan Lantry Buffalo NQ Junior
6 Mitch McKee Minnesota NQ Sophomore
7 Dom Forys Pitt NQ Senior
8 Connor Schram Stanford NQ Senior
9 John Erneste Missouri NQ Junior
10 Scott Delvecchio Rutgers NQ Senior
11 Josh Alber Northern Iowa NQ Junior
12 Luke Pletcher Ohio State NQ/141 Sophomore
13 Tyler Goodwin Maryland Injured Senior
14 Nathan Boston Campbell Transfer Junior
15 Ryan Millhof Arizona State Transfer Junior
16 Corey Keener Penn State Transfer Graduate
17 Korbin Myers Edinboro NQ Sophomore
18 Anthony Tutolo Kent State NQ Junior
19 Tariq Wilson NC State RS RS Freshman
20 Cam Sykora No. Dakota State NQ Sophomore
141 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Dean Heil Oklahoma State 1st Senior
2 Kevin Jack NC State 3rd Senior
3 Bryce Meredith Wyoming 4th Senior
4 Jaydin Eierman Missouri 5th Sophomore
5 Anthony Ashnault Rutgers 6th Senior
6 Tommy Thorn Minnesota 8th Junior
7 Joey McKenna Ohio State NQ Transfer – Junior
8 Javier Gasca III Michigan State NQ Senior
9 Colton McCrystal Nebraska NQ Senior
10 Tyler Smith Bucknell NQ Senior
11 Jared Prince Navy NQ Sophomore
12 Brock Zacherl Clarion NQ Junior
13 Jack Hathaway Oregon State NQ Senior
14 Cole Martin Wisconsin NQ Sophomore
15 Mitch Bengtson No. Dakota State dnp Senior
16 Tyson Dippery Rider Transfer Senior
17 Russell Rohlfing CSU Bakersfield NQ Sophomore
18 Kanen Storr Iowa State RS RS Freshman
19 Mike Longo Oklahoma NQ Senior
20 Kyle Shoop Lock Haven NQ/149 Sophomore
149 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Zain Retherford Penn State 1st Senior
2 Brandon Sorensen Iowa 3rd Senior
3 Micah Jordan Ohio State 4th Junior
4 Max Thomsen Northern Iowa 5th Sophomore
5 Solomon Chishko Virginia Tech 6th Junior
6 Matthew Kolodzik Princeton 7th/141 Sophomore
7 Justin Oliver Central Michigan NQ Junior
8 Jason Tsirtsis Arizona State Transfer Senior
9 Geo Martinez Oklahoma State Transfer Senior
10 Andrew Crone Wisconsin NQ Senior
11 Steve Bleise Minnesota NQ/Transfer Junior
12 Ryan Deakin Northwestern RS RS Freshman
13 Matt Zovistoski Appalachian State NQ Junior
14 Mitch Finesilver Duke RS Junior
15 Alfred Bannister Maryland NQ Junior
16 Troy Heilmann North Carolina NQ Senior
17 Davion Jeffries Oklahoma NQ Junior
18 Eric Barone Illinois NQ Sophomore
19 Jamal Morris NC State NQ/133 Junior
20 Ronnie Perry Lock Haven NQ Senior
157 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Jason Nolf Penn State 1st Junior
2 Joey Lavallee Missouri 2nd Senior
3 Michael Kemerer Iowa 3rd Sophomore
4 Tyler Berger Nebraska 5th Junior
5 Alec Pantaleo Michigan RS Junior
6 Josh Shields Arizona State NQ Sophomore
7 Paul Fox Stanford 7th Junior
8 Jake Short Minnesota NQ Senior
9 Colin Heffernan Central Michigan NQ Senior
10 Richie Lewis Rutgers Injured Graduate
11 Clayton Ream No. Dakota State NQ Senior
12 Cole Walter Lehigh NQ/165 Sophomore
13 Archie Colgan Wyoming NQ Senior
14 May Bethea Penn NQ Senior
15 B.J. Clagon Rider NQ Senior
16 Kyle Langenderfer Illinois NQ Senior
17 Andrew Atkinson Virginia NQ Senior
18 Taleb Rahmani Pitt NQ Sophomore
19 Justin Staudenmayer Brown RS Senior
20 Markus Scheidel Columbia NQ Senior
165 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Vincenzo Joseph Penn State 1st Sophomore
2 Isaiah Martinez Illinois 2nd Senior
3 Logan Massa Michigan 3rd Sophomore
4 Chandler Rogers Oklahoma State 5th Junior
5 Chad Walsh Rider 7th Senior
6 Anthony Valencia Arizona State NQ Sophomore
7 Brandon Womack Cornell 8th Junior
8 Jordan Kutler Lehigh Injured Sophomore
9 David McFadden Virginia Tech RS Sophomore
10 Drew Hughes Michigan State NQ Sophomore
11 Bryce Steiert Northern Iowa NQ Junior
12 Nick Wanzek Minnesota NQ Senior
13 Te Shan Campbell Ohio State NQ Transfer-Junior
14 Branson Ashworth Wyoming NQ Junior
15 Austin Matthews Edinboro NQ Senior
16 Alex Marinelli Iowa RS RS Freshman
17 Yoanse Mejias Oklahoma NQ Senior
18 Jonathan Schleifer Princeton NQ/174 Senior
19 Keilan Torres Northern Colorado NQ Senior
20 Isaiah White Nebraska Transfer Sophomore
174 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Mark Hall Penn State 1st Sophomore
2 Bo Jordan Ohio State 2nd Senior
3 Zahid Valencia Arizona State 3rd Sophomore
4 Myles Amine Michigan 4th Sophomore
5 Daniel Lewis Missouri 6th/165 Junior
6 Ryan Preisch Lehigh NQ Junior
7 Jadaen Bernstein Navy NQ Senior
8 Taylor Lujan Northern Iowa NQ Sophomore
9 Ethan Ramos North Carolina NQ Senior
10 CJ Brucki Central Michigan NQ Senior
11 Keaton Subjeck Stanford NQ/165 Senior
12 Ryan Christensen Wisconsin NQ Junior
13 Jacobe Smith Oklahoma State Transfer Senior
14 Jordan Pagano Rutgers NQ Junior
15 Ty Schoffstall Edinboro NQ Senior
16 Kaleb Young Iowa RS RS Freshman
17 Forrest Przybysz Appalachian State RS Senior
18 Josef Johnson Harvard NQ Senior
19 Christopher Pfarr Minnesota NQ Senior
20 David Kocer So. Dakota State NQ Senior
184 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Bo Nickal Penn State 1st Junior
2 Myles Martin Ohio State 5th Junior
3 Pete Renda NC State RS Senior
4 Domenic Abounader Michigan RS Senior
5 Drew Foster Northern Iowa 7th Junior
6 Emery Parker Illinois NQ Junior
7 Zack Zavatsky Virginia Tech NQ Junior
8 Jordan Ellingwood Central Michigan NQ Senior
9 Nick Gravina Rutgers NQ Senior
10 Steven Schneider Binghamton NQ Senior
11 Bryce Carr Chattanooga NQ Senior
12 Michael Coleman Navy NQ Senior
13 Hunter Ritter Wisconsin NQ Sophomore
14 Owen Webster Minnesota Transfer Sophomore
15 Dylan Gabel Northern Colorado NQ Junior
16 Nick Corba Cleveland State NQ Senior
17 Mitch Sliga Northwestern NQ Senior
18 Garrett Hoffman Bucknell NQ Sophomore
19 Joe Heyob Penn NQ Senior
20 Alexander DeCiantis Drexel NQ Senior
197 pounds
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Kollin Moore Ohio State 3rd Sophomore
2 Jared Haught Virginia Tech 4th Senior
3 Preston Weigel Oklahoma State 6th Junior
4 Kevin Beazley Michigan 8th Gr/Transfer
5 Willie Miklus Missouri Injured Senior
6 Jake Smith West Virginia Injured Senior
7 Matt McCutcheon Penn State NQ Senior
8 Mike Macchiavello NC State NQ/184 Senior
9 Nate Rotert So. Dakota State NQ Senior
10 Daniel Chaid North Carolina NQ Senior
11 Frank Mattiace Penn NQ Senior
12 Matt Williams CSU Bakersfield NQ Senior
13 Cash Wilcke Iowa NQ Sophomore
14 Corey Griego Oregon State NQ Junior
15 Ben Honis Cornell NQ Junior
16 Christian Brunner Purdue NQ Sophomore
17 Tom Sleigh Bucknell NQ Senior
18 Steban Cervantes Navy NQ Senior
19 Jeric Kasunic American U NQ Senior
20 Scottie Boykin Chattanooga RS Senior
Heavyweight
Rk Name School 2017 Finish Year
1 Kyle Snyder Ohio State 1st Senior
2 Adam Coon Michigan RS Grad
3 Amarveer Dhesi Oregon State Injured Senior
4 Tanner Hall Arizona State 3rd Junior
5 Nick Nevills Penn State 5th Junior
6 Jacob Kasper Duke 6th Senior
7 Youssif Hemida Maryland NQ Junior
8 Sam Stoll Iowa Injured Junior
9 Ryan Solomon Pitt NQ Senior
10 Nathan Butler Stanford NQ Senior
11 Conan Jennings Northwestern NQ Junior
12 Thomas Haines Lock Haven NQ Junior
13 Jere Heino Campbell NQ Junior
14 Jordan Wood Lehigh RS RS Freshman
15 Dustin Dennison Utah Valley NQ Senior
16 Billy Miller Edinboro NQ Junior
17 Garrett Ryan Columbia NQ Senior
18 Michael Boykin NC State RS Senior
19 Newton Smerchek Central Michigan NQ Senior
20 Jake Gunning Buffalo NQ Junior