INDIANAPOLIS – Six South Dakota State University wrestlers, including top-ranked Seth Gross at 133 pounds, appear in the first installment of NCAA coaches’ panel rankings for the 2017-18 season.
The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 15-17 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
A junior from Apple Valley, Minnesota, Gross enters the week with a 15-0 record during the 2017-18 season. He has won eight matches by pin and five more by technical fall. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Gross finished as runner-up in the 133-pound weight class at the 2017 NCAA Championships.
Three other returning national qualifiers for the Jackrabbits also appear in the panel rankings in their respective weight classes. Wagner native David Kocer and Spearfish product Nate Rotert are each ranked ninth at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively, while 157-pounder Luke Zilverberg is tied for 11th.
Rounding out the SDSU contingent are freshman Connor Brown and sophomore Martin Mueller. Brown is ranked 29th in the 125-pound weight class, while Mueller is 23rd at 184 pounds.
Wrestlers in each weight class are measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches’ rankings to earn spots in their qualifying tournaments for the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler who has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.
Photo from www.gojacks.com.
