NCAA Releases Coaches Panel Rankings, First RPI

02.13.2014 | Men's Wrestling

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – The NCAA released the second of three sets of coaches panel rankings and first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) earlier this afternoon. Iowa State All-American Kyven Gadson is ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds in the coaches panel rankings and No. 7 in the RPI poll.

Gadson, who is the top-ranked 197-pounder in InterMat's individual national rankings, is 19-2 overall this season and 11-0 in dual competition.

All-American Michael Moreno and sophomore Tanner Weatherman are each ranked in the top-10 of the coaches panel rankings at their respective weights. Moreno is ranked No. 9 at 165 pounds and Weatherman is ranked No. 8 at 174 pounds.

Weatherman, who is 20-10 overall on the season, is slotted at No. 4 in the RPI and Moreno, who is 21-6 overall on the season, is slotted at No. 12 in the RPI.

Sophomore Earl Hall and freshman Lelund Weatherspoon are also ranked in the coaches' panel rankings. Hall is No. 27 at 125 pounds and Weatherspoon is No. 31 at 184 pounds.

Hall is also ranked in the RPI, coming in at No. 22. The Homestead, Fla., native is 14-10 on the season with five pins.

Freshman Gabe Moreno, junior Luke Goettl and senior John Nicholson also join their teammates in the RPI poll. Moreno is No. 24 at 141 pounds, Goettl is No. 33 at 149 pounds and Nicholson is No. 26 at 157 pounds.

Wrestlers need at least 17 matches against Division I competition at a given weight class to be eligible for the RPI poll.

The final coaches panel rankings and RPI are two key tools in determining qualifiers for the 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City.