MAC Awarded 37 Bids to NCAA Wrestling Championships

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The MAC was awarded 37 automatic bids to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Last year, the conference had 41 allocations, the third most among all NCAA Division I conferences. This year the MAC slipped to fourth in number of bids received.

The Panthers are tied for first in the MAC team rankings and will be hosting the MAC Championships in the McLeod Center March 4-5. The MAC tournament determines the NCAA qualifiers. Allocations by weight:

125 pounds – 5
133 pounds – 6
141 pounds – 2
149 pounds – 5
157 pounds – 2
165 pounds – 3
174 pounds – 3
184 pounds – 3
197 pounds – 5
285 pounds – 3

Four Panthers (Max Thomsen, Bryce Steiert, Taylor Lujan and Drew Foster) moved up in the national rankings, and five of the MAC's top rankings are held by UNI wrestlers:

125 pounds – No. 27 Dylan Peters (MAC: 1)
133 pounds – No. 10 Josh Alber (MAC: 1 / RPI: 6)
149 pounds – No. 8 Max Thomsen (MAC: 3 / RPI: 5)
165 pounds – No. 9 Bryce Steiert (MAC: 1 / RPI: 9)
174 pounds – No. 13 Taylor Lujan (MAC: 1 / RPI: 9)
184 pounds – No. 12 Drew Foster (MAC: 1 / RPI: 3)
197 pounds – No. 29 Jacob Holschlag
285 pounds – JJ Everard (MAC: 2)

MAC TOURNAMENT

Tickets are on sale now for the MAC tournament set for March 4-5, 2017, in the McLeod Center at UNI. Fans can buy an all-session pass for $25 or single day passes for $15. All seating is general admission. Call (319) 273-4849 or go online at UNIPanthers.com.

Wrestling starts 11 a.m. March 4:
•          10:00 a.m.                  Doors open to public
•          10:55 a.m.                  National anthem
•          11:00 a.m.                  Preliminary matches
•          11:50 a.m.                  Introduction
•          12:00 p.m.                  Quarterfinals (3 mats)
•          3:00 p.m.                    Consolation round 1 (1 mat)
                                          Championship semifinals (2 mats)
•          4:45 p.m.                    Consolation round 2 (3 mats)
•          5:30 p.m.                    Ticket sales end

Sunday, March 5, 2017
•          11:00 a.m.                  Doors open to public
•          11:55 a.m.                  National anthem
•          12:00 p.m.                  Consolation semifinals (3 mats)
•          1:05 p.m.                    7th place matches (3 mats)
•          1:45 p.m.                    Championship finals parade and face off introductions
•          2:00 p.m.                    Championship finals, 3rd place matches and 5th place matches (3 mats)

* NCAA qualifying spot matches to follow if necessary

ALLOCATION PROCESS

Each qualifying tournament was awarded spots per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on Division I winning percentage at the weight class, ratings percentage index (RPI) and coaches' ranking. To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 17 Division I matches at a given weight class.

For each wrestler who 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, with automatic qualifying status, 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 to select the remaining 49 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced March 7. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers. The at-large selections will be made based on 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. In order 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.

NCAA TOURNAMENT

The 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships takes place at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, March 16-18.

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