ITHACA, N.Y. - The NCAA released its qualifier allocations per conference, updated coaches' panel rankings, and RPI for the 2020 NCAA Championships on Thursday, Feb. 27. Six Cornell wrestlers appeared in the latest NCAA coaches' panel rankings, and five members of the Big Red appear in the latest edition of the NCAA RPI.
Ben Darmstadt (#4 - 197 pounds),
Chas Tucker (#4 - 133 pounds),
Noah Baughman (#32 - 141 pounds),
Hunter Richard (#31 - 149 pounds),
Brandon Womack (#25 - 174 pounds) and
Jonathan Loew (#29 - 184 pounds) all received rankings via the coaches panel, while all but Darmstadt qualified for the RPI. The EIWA received 44 qualification spots, the third most of any conference.
Full NCAA Qualifications Allocations Release
Each qualifying conference tournament was awarded automatic bids per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; ratings percentage index (RPI); and coaches' panel ranking. The aforementioned criteria, in addition to head-to-head competition, quality wins, results against common opponents and qualifying tournament placement are all part of the evaluation process for selection and seeding the committee uses for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each conference was awarded a minimum of one automatic bid 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.
2020 NCAA Wrestling Championships Conference Allocations
| Conference |
125 |
133 |
141 |
149 |
157 |
165 |
174 |
184 |
197 |
HWT |
Total |
| ACC |
3 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
35 |
| Big 12 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
54 |
| Big Ten |
8 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
7 |
79 |
| EIWA |
7 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
44 |
| MAC |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
41 |
| Pac-12 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
16 |
| SOCON |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
| Total Qualifiers |
28 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
28 |
27 |
29 |
28 |
27 |
29 |
283 |
After all of the conference tournaments have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the 47 remaining at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on Tuesday, March 10, while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; quality wins; coaches' ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage.
The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.
To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 15 Division I matches at their designated weight class. Forfeits and medical forfeits are excluded from the 15 match count. Injury defaults do count towards the 15 match minimum since the match had started.
The 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships take place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., March 19-21.
