The defending national champion Golden Gopher wrestling team received the No. 1 overall ranking in both the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat preseason poll and TheWrestlingMall.com poll, each released late Tuesday. After receiving top national ranking in W.I.N. Magazine’s preseason poll last week, the Gophers are now unanimous preseason favorites to win their second straight national title.
Minnesota received all 12 first-place votes in the InterMat poll and 93 total points (35 more than second-ranked Michigan) in TheWrestlingMall.com poll. Eight Gopher individuals were ranked in their respective weight classes, including a No. 1 overall ranking in each poll for 149-pound Dustin Schlatter.
Eight different Gophers were ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes, including returning All-Americans Jayson Ness (fourth at 125 pounds in both polls), Dustin Schlatter (first at 149 pounds in both), C.P. Schlatter (fifth at 157 in both) and Roger Kish (second at 184 in both). In addition, returning NCAA qualifiers Mack Reiter (ranked fourth and third at 133 pounds), Manny Rivera (ninth and sixth at 141), Tyler Safratowich (seventh at 165 in both polls) and Gabe Dretsch (sixth and seventh at 174) were also ranked.
For a complete set of USA Today/NWCA/InterMat rankings, click here. To view TheWrestlingMall.com’s rankings, click here.
The 2007-08 Gophers will seek to gain their fourth national title in the past eight seasons when their regular season opens on Nov. 10 at the 2007 Bison Open, hosted by North Dakota State. The defending national champions return to Williams Arena for their home opener Dec. 2 against Iowa State.
USA Today/NWCA/InterMat Preseason Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
Rank, Team (First Place Votes)
1 Minnesota (12)
2 Oklahoma State
3 Iowa State
4 Iowa
5 Michigan
6 Northwestern
7 Missouri
8 Ohio State
9 Cornell
10 Central Michigan
11 Penn State
12 Wisconsin
13 Hofstra
14 Nebraska
15 Indiana
16 Edinboro
17 Illinois
18 Navy
19 Oklahoma
20 Pittsburgh
21 UT-Chattanooga
22 Harvard
23 Penn
24 American
25 Oregon State
Others receiving votes: Lehigh, Stanford, Cal State-Fullerton, Old Dominion, Boise State, West Virginia, Bloomsburg, UC Davis, Columbia, Rider, Arizona State
Gopher Individuals Ranked in the Top 10
125 Jayson Ness (4th)
133 Mack Reiter (3rd)
141 Manny Rivera (6th)
149 Dustin Schlatter (1st)
157 C.P. Schlatter (5th)
165 Tyler Safratowich (7th)
174 Gabe Dretsch (7th)
184 Roger Kish (2nd)
TheWrestlingMall.com Poll Team Rankings
1. Minnesota
2. Oklahoma State
3. Iowa State
4. Northwestern
5. Missouri
6. Ohio State
7. Nebraska
8. Michigan
9. Iowa
10. Cornell
11. Penn State
12. Wisconsin
13. Illinois
14. Central Michigan
15. Indiana
16. Harvard
17. Pittsburgh
18. Hofstra
19. Edinboro
20. Navy
Gopher Individuals Ranked in the Top 10
125 Jayson Ness (4th)
133 Mack Reiter (4th)
141 Manuel Rivera (6th)
149 Dustin Schlatter (1st)
157 C.P. Schlatter (5th)
165 Tyler Safratowich (7th)
174 Gabe Dretsch (7th)
184 Roger Kish (2nd)
