Penn State favored in Big Ten Wrestling Championships

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Penn State is ranked as the Big Ten's top tournament team by Amateur Wrestling News, Division I College Wrestling, InterMat, The Open Mat, Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, and Wrestling Report.

64 NCAA Tournament spots will be up for grabs at the Big Ten Tournament, by far the most of any conference. The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association is second with 45 and the Big 12 is third with 33.

Each qualifying tournament was awarded spots per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage; Rating Percentage Index (RPI); and coaches ranking. For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his qualifying tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class.

Each qualifying tournament was awarded a minimum of one wrestler per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA tournament spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on place-finish.

After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 48 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 9. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; qualifying event placement; quality wins; results against common opponents; winning percentage; RPI; coaches ranking and the number of matches contested at that weight class.

The number of Big Ten automatic qualifiers (Penn State's wrestler with RPI rank)

• 125: 5 (Brad Pataky, unranked)
• 133: 8 (Andrew Long, unranked)
• 141: 6 (#2 Andrew Alton)
• 149: 8 (#4 Frank Molinaro)
• 157: 6 (#1 David Taylor)
• 165: 5 (James Vollrath or Jake Kemerer, unranked)
• 174: 8 (#2 Ed Ruth)
• 184: 6 (#11 Quentin Wright)
• 197: 6 (Nick Ruggear, unranked)
• 285: 6 (#4 Cameron Wade)

Neither Pataky nor Long had enough bouts to qualify for the NCAA's RPI rankings.

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