Powered with a trio of top-ranked wrestlers and seven others scattered throughout the ranks, Notre Dame (8-0) has earned the No. 1 ranking for the 13th-consecutive poll. Of the top-five squads, Grand View (10-4) boasts the most ranked individuals with 12. Both Lindenwood (4-2) and McKendree (14-2) landed eight grapplers on the poll, while Campbellsville (12-4) has 10 ranked wrestlers.
Brett Freeman of Notre Dame took over at 141 pounds, Embry-Riddle’s (Ariz.) Tyler Chang moved to the top at 157 pounds and Andrew Sanchez of McKendree (Ill.) climbed to No. 1 at 197 pounds. Freeman and Sanchez garner their first No. 1 ranking of their senior campaign.
Freeman had won 19-straight bouts dating back to Dec. 11, but medically forfeited to teammate Marty Carlson at the Greyhound Open hosted by NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis on Feb. 6. Prior to the tournament, he topped previously top-ranked Tommy Pretty of Campbellsville with a 6-5 setback at the Campbellsville Duals on Jan. 29. Freeman’s record stands at 23-3.
Chang remains undefeated at 32-0 and is one of six nationally-ranked grapplers that have 30-or more wins to their credit this season. Of his 32 victories, 27 have resulted in bonus points, including an NAIA best three-way tie for most pins with 14. He has registered two falls in less than a minute, with a 21 and 42-second stick.
Sanchez entered the Greyhound Open ranked second and upset previously top-ranked Derek Foore of Notre Dame for the 197-pound title with a 6-1 decision. Sanchez (29-1) dealt the defending national champion his first loss of the season and his first as a Falcon. Foore had been 22-0 this season and 49-0 over the last two years combined. Sanchez, a two-time All-American, regains the top billing for the first time since being listed No. 1 on Dec. 22, 2009.
Four of the top-ranked wrestlers have suffered just one loss: Tim Thurston of Campbellsville (16-1), Lindenwood’s 174-pounder Chris Chionuma (31-1), Sanchez and Notre Dame heavyweight Orlando Scales (24-1). A trio of No. 1s has three losses and two others have lost four bouts.
The 2011 NAIA Wrestling Qualifying Group Tournaments will take place Feb. 19 at four on-campus locations around the country. To follow all of the Qualifying Group Tournaments, click here. The final poll of the 2010 – 11 season will be released on Feb. 22, followed by the announcement of qualifiers for the 2011 NAIA Wrestling National Championships. The 54th annual event will take place March 3 – 5 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Rank School Name Total Team Points
1 Notre Dame (Ohio) 133.5
2 Grand View (Iowa) 101.5
3 Lindenwood (Mo.) 81
4 McKendree (Ill.) 79
5 Campbellsville (Ky.) 73.5
6 Great Falls (Mont.) 66
7 Missouri Valley 61
8 Montana State-Northern 52
9 Menlo (Calif.) 45
10 Southern Oregon 44.5
11 Cumberland (Tenn.) 36
12 Morningside (Iowa) 32.5
13 Dickinson State (N.D.) 29.5
14 Oklahoma City 27
15 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 22.5
16 Shorter (Ga.) 13.5
17 Waldorf (Iowa) 13
17 Midland (Neb.) 13
19 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 12.5
20 Baker (Kan.) 12
Others receiving points: Hastings (Neb.) 11.5; Minot State (N.D.) 9; Missouri Baptist 9; William Penn (Iowa) 9; Jamestown (N.D.) 8.5; Northwestern (Iowa) 6.5; Simon Fraser (B.C.) 4.5; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 2.5; Cumberlands (Ky.) 1.5.
Top-Ranked Individuals
125 – Jason Moorhouse, Menlo (Calif.)
133 – Tim Thurston, Campbellsville (Ky.)
141 – Brett Freeman, Notre Dame (Ohio)
149 – Jeffrey Pelton, Notre Dame (Ohio)
157 – Tyler Chang, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
165 – Joseph Sievert, Morningside (Iowa)
174 – Chris Chionuma, Lindenwood (Mo.)
184 – Michael French, Great Falls (Mont.)
197 – Andrew Sanchez, McKendree (Ill.)
HWT – Orlando Scales, Notre Dame (Ohio)
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