MANHEIM, Penn. – UNI wrestling has been tabbed 17th in National Wrestling Coaches Association’s (NWCA) Division I Coaches poll, as announced by the NWCA on Tuesday.
The Panthers, who are scheduled to commence their 100th anniversary season on Nov. 11 at the Grand View Open, finished the 2022-23 season ranked 17th in the final edition of the NWCA rankings after another top-20 finish at the NCAA Championships and a 7-5 dual record.
Eight of UNI’s 14 dual opponents this upcoming season are ranked in the top-25, including four in the top-ten in No. 3 North Carolina State, No. 4 Missouri, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 8 Ohio State and No. 10 Iowa State. The Panthers are also among five Big 12 programs ranked in the top-25, with the addition of West Virginia who is receiving votes. Oklahoma State (11) and Oklahoma (20) both crack the top-20, while non-conference challenger Wisconsin comes in one spot behind UNI in 18th.
The Panthers return 25 athletes to their 2023-24 roster, including three returning NCAA qualifiers in Parker Keckeisen, Cael Happel and Tyrell Gordon. UNI also added nine new faces to the wrestling room, including six true freshmen and three transfers, including Jack Thomsen (South Dakota State), Drew Fox (NIACC) and Jose Valdez (Northern Illinois).
2023-24 NWCA Division I Coaches Preseason Poll (Points) [First-Place Votes]
- Penn State (350) [14]
- Iowa (311)
- North Carolina State (296)
- Missouri (294)
- Virginia Tech (281)
- Michigan (276)
- Cornell (274)
- Ohio State (262)
- Nebraska (256)
- Iowa State (251)
- Oklahoma State (222)
- South Dakota State (172)
- Arizona State (171)
- Minnesota (163)
- Rutgers (138)
- Pitt (134)
- UNI (120)
- Wisconsin (93)
- Leigh (62)
- Oklahoma (52)
- Oregon State (52)
- Penn (43)
- Illinois (41)
- Northwestern (36)
- North Carolina (32)
RECEIVING VOTES: Appalachian State (19), Lock Haven (19), Purdue (17), West Virginia (17), Michigan State (15), North Dakota State (14), Maryland (11), Campbell (9), Cal Poly (8), Indiana (8), Air Force (7), Columbia (6), Northern Colorado (3)
