ISU Grapplers Ranked Second

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State wrestling enters the upcoming 2007-08 season as the second-ranked team nationally according to W.I.N. Magazine, the publication announced Wednesday. The Cyclones finished second at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Minnesota tops the list after narrowly winning the national title last season and returns four All-Americans. Rounding out the top-five is intrastate rival, Iowa, Cornell and Oklahoma State.

W.I.N. Magazine has stated that the rankings are based on who it feels are currently the best individuals and tournament teams. Teams are not ranked on dual-meet strength.

Seven ISU grapplers are ranked within their respective weight classes, five of which are in the top-10. The country's top recruiting class in 2005, Iowa State's sophomores are listed throughout the rankings after an outstanding season that saw all six qualify for the national tournament as freshmen.

Sophomore Jake Varner is listed as the top wrestler at 184 pounds and is the Cyclones' lone returning All-American. In his first season, Varner sported a 29-7 record with 12 wins by fall. He was the first Iowa State freshman to earn All-America honors, finishing as the 2007 184-pound runner-up, since head coach Cael Sanderson did it in 1999.

After finishing a match shy of earning All-American status last season, sophomores Nick Fanthorpe, Cyler Sanderson and David Zabriskie are each listed as a top-10 wrestler. Both Fanthorpe and Sanderson are ranked eighth at 125 and 149 pounds, respectively. Fanthorpe posted a 27-11 record in his rookie season. Sanderson, a Big 12 Conference runner-up, went 29-11. Defending Big 12 heavyweight champ, Zabriskie, has been tagged sixth. Last year the Branchville, N.J., went 27-8.

Also making the top-10 is 133-pounder Nick Gallick. During his freshman campaign, Gallick went 28-10. Mitch Mueller, who went 18-16 in his freshman season, is ranked 13^th at 141 pounds.

Although he hasn't stepped on the mat yet, redshirt freshman Johnathan Reader cracked into the 165-pound rankings at 17^th. Hailing from Davison, Mich., Reader finished his prep career with a record 234-6 and tied the state record with 54 consecutive pins.

Like any other season, the Big 12 Conference is prominent in the rankings. Just outside of the top-five are Missouri (6) and Nebraska (7), while Oklahoma is ranked 17^th.

Iowa State will open the season Nov. 8 against Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum, followed by the Cyclone Open Nov. 11 at the Lied Recreation-Athletic Center on the Iowa State campus.

Players Mentioned

Nick Fanthorpe

Nick Fanthorpe

Nick Gallick

Nick Gallick

Mitch Mueller

Mitch Mueller

Cyler Sanderson

Cyler Sanderson

Jake Varner

Jake Varner

David Zabriskie

David Zabriskie

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