RE: Missouri wrestling preseason team rankings

Posted on: October 18, 2016 at 21:44:48 CT

Looking at Intermats individual ranking, I think there are 3 wrestlers that are probably ranked at their max-- Cox (1st), Mayes 3rd (Rutherford and Sorenson 1,2) and Lewis 3rd (Martinez and Jordan). Not saying Mayes and Lewis can't finish higher, but not likely.

I think the other 5 ranked wrestlers have a real opportunity to move up the charts. Miklus 7th (beat #4 Dudley last year and is 2-time AA), Manley (8th) was ranked 5th at end of year until injury, Lavalee (11th) with extra year should be stronger, Eierman (11th) with his experience even as a RF could be another Daniel Lewis and move up rankings all year, and McGhee, who showed great improvement last year.

The two unrankeds Wisman and Myers (174 and HWT) both showed signs last year in redshirt seasons and while not as good as Eierman's reshirt year, I think 1 or both could crack the top 20 this year at some point.

That being said, I think there is reason for optimism and room to move up from the #5 ranking in tourneys. They will be very tough in Duals because of their high rankings up and down the lineup. Should be a lot of fun to watch this year.