Full List of NCAA At-Large Selections

ITHACA, N.Y.—The Big Red wrestling team received two at-large bids to the NCAA Championships it was announced on Wednesday. At 149 pounds sophomore DJ Meagher will wrestle at his first national tournament, while at heavyweight, senior Zach Hammond will compete in his second NCAAs. With the addition of the two bids, the Big Red will send nine wrestlers to St. Louis.

Hammond and Meagher will join Troy Nickerson (125), Mike Grey (133), Jordan Leen (157), Mack Lewnes (165), Steve Anceravage (174), Justin Kerber (184) and Cam Simaz (197) as the Big Red's qualifiers for the NCAA tournament. This marks the third time in school history that the Big Red has sent nine wrestlers to the championships. 

Six schools have qualified nine wrestlers for the tournament, while Iowa State is sending a grappler at all 10 weight classes.

There were 52 at-large selections for the 2009 NCAA wrestling championships to make up a total field of 330 wrestlers. The EIWA received 11 at large bids. The at-large selections were made by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee using the selection criteria without priority order, which consists of head-to-head competition, qualifying event placement, quality wins, results against common opponents, winning percentage, rating percentage index, coaches ranking and number of matches contested at that weight class.

Meagher went 1-2 at the EIWA Tournament and is 14-10 overall this season. At the 2008 EIWAs, he placed sixth and narrowly missed qualifying as a rookie. Meagher was named second-team All-Ivy this season, and was honorable mention as a freshman.

Hammond placed fifth at the EIWAs last weekend when he pinned Penn's Trey McLean in 1:54. The Big Red senior went 4-2 in the tournament and has an 18-12 overall record. In 2007 Hammond placed second at the conference championships to qualify for his first NCAA tournament.

The Big Red will wrestle at the NCAA championships on March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo. at the ScottTrade Center.