MANSHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced their preseason team rankings and individual rankings on Monday (Oct. 28) evening. Colorado Mesa found themselves in the top-25 with seven wrestlers ranked in the top-12 of their respective weight classes.
The Mavericks enter the rankings this season in a tie for No. 12 with Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Adams State who has three highly ranked wrestlers. The Mavericks and Grizzlies are the highest ranked RMAC schools and tied for second in NCAA Super Region VI. Nebraska-Kearney at No. 6 is the highest ranked team in the region.
St. Cloud State claimed the top spot in the Preseason NWCA National Rankings with nine ranked wrestlers. The were followed by defending national champions Central Oklahoma and McKendree to round out the top three schools.
The Mavericks return all six of their NCAA National Qualifiers along with a previous two-time National Qualifier also returning to the lineup.
Sophomore
Dayson Torgerson checks into the national rankings at No. 8 at 125 pounds. Torgerson finished the season with a 19-11 record and placed in two tournaments which included the Younes Hospitality UNK Open and the NCAA Super Region VI Tournament. Torgerson, like most of his teammates, finished one match outside of the podium at the National Tournament.
Redshirt junior
Oran Huff opens the season ranked No. 9 at 133 pounds. Huff went 17-12 in his first season with significant action in the starting lineup. He qualified for the NCAA National Tournament a season ago after placing second at the NCAA Super Region VI Tournament.
Ryan Wheeler is a two-time NCAA National Qualifier and earned All-American honors as a freshman returns to the lineup after a one-year hiatus. Wheeler checks into the rankings at No. 7 at 157 pounds and owns a 45-21 career record while picking up the Gregorrian Award as a freshman as the most dominant wrestler at the National Championships his freshman year.
Gus Dalton opens his redshirt junior season at No. 6 at 174 pounds. Dalton finished the season with a 16-10 overall record and qualified for the NCAA National Championship tournament after finishing third at the NCAA Super Region VI Tournament. The Emery, Utah native finished one match shy of earning All-American status at the national tournament.
Senior
Jason Bynarowicz enters his final season as a Maverick ranked No. 9 at 184 pounds. Bynarowicz qualified for the NCAA National Tournament last season after going 23-7 on the season and a third-place finish at the NCAA Super Region VI Tournament. He also placed second at the Younes Hospitality UNK Open and third at the prestigious Midwest Classic.
Fellow senior
Gabriel Carranza checks into the preseason national rankings at No. 12 at 197 pounds. Carranza qualified for the NCAA National Tournament a season ago after placing third at the NCAA Super Region VI Tournament with a 25-9 overall record. The Victorville, Calif. native also placed in three tournaments during the season including a sixth-place finish at the Midwest Classic.
The last Maverick to be ranked in the preseason NWCA Rankings is junior
Tyler Doyle who is ranked No. 7 at 285 pounds. Doyle finished the season with a 26-7 record and finished one match away from the podium at the NCAA National Championships. The Highlands Ranch, Colo. native went undefeated in RMAC Duals.
Colorado Mesa will open the season on Sunday with a select group of freshman and younger wrestlers who will compete in the Mines Rookie Open in Golden. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 10am.
