The University
of Minnesota wrestling team received the top ranking in two more
preseason polls this week, making the Golden Gophers the unanimous
preseason favorite to win the national title. Minnesota garnered all 12
first-place votes in the InterMat/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll and also
is ranked No. 1 in TheWrestlingMall.com (TWM) preseason poll.
The Gophers return nine starters and seven NCAA qualifiers from a team
that ended the 2005-06 regular season as the top-ranked team in the
nation before finishing second to Oklahoma State at the NCAA
Championships.
Led by returning national champions Dustin Schlatter (149) and Cole
Konrad (285), as well as All-Americans Mack Reiter (133) and Roger Kish
(184), the Gophers have nine wrestlers ranked in the top 20 according
to InterMat, while TWM has seven Minnesota wrestlers in the top 20.
Minnesota returns three other NCAA qualifiers, including two-time
qualifier C.P. Schlatter, the defending Big Ten Champion at 157 pounds.
Gabe Dretsch is also two-time NCAA qualifier at 174 pounds, while
Manuel Rivera made his first NCAA appearance last season.
The Golden Gophers also were ranked first in the preseason polls
released earlier this month by RevWrestling.com and Wrestling
International Newsmagazine (W.I.N.).
Minnesota will begin its national title pursuit when it opens the
season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D.
For complete team and individual rankings, visit the following links: