Rutgers Wrestling Opens Season Ranked No. 12 in USA Today/NWCACoaches Poll

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Rutgers Wrestling Opens Season Ranked No. 12 in USA Today/NWCACoaches Poll
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Contact: Bradly Derechailo (office: 732-647-5034; e-mail: bd219@scarletknights.com                                                                                                             
Rutgers Wrestling Opens Season Ranked No. 12 in USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll
Preseason ranking ties for the highest in program history
Preseason USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 31, 2017) – For the second consecutive year, Rutgers wrestling is the No. 12 team in the nation, according to the USA Today/National Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday afternoon. The No. 12 position to begin a season ties the highest ranking in program history, as the Scarlet Knights also appeared at No. 12 to start 2016-17.

RU (12-5, 6-3) closed out last season tied for 12th in the final NWCA Coaches Poll, as the program recorded a 6-3 mark in Big Ten Conference action. The six Big Ten victories were the most for Rutgers since it joined the conference in 2014, while the Scarlet Knights also finished  a perfect 6-0 at the RAC last season.

The Big Ten leads the country with nine programs ranked in the preseason top-25. According to the preseason rankings, nine 2017-18 opponents are ranked, which includes No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 6 Minnesota, No. 7 Iowa, No. 14 Illinois, No. 15 Nebraska, No. 18 Wisconsin, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 22 North Carolina. Penn State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa and North Carolina will all appear at the RAC during the 2017-18 season.
The Scarlet Knights' roster features eight wrestlers with NCAA Championships experience, including six who competed at the 2017 NCAA Championships in St. Louis (Scott DelVecchio, Anthony Ashnault, John Van Brill, Jordan Pagano, Nicholas Gravina and Matthew Correnti). The team also returns 2016 NCAA qualifier, fifth-year senior 157-pounder Richie Lewis, while sophomore 125-pounder Nick Suriano, a 2017 NCAA Championships qualifier, will make his RU debut after transferring from Penn State.

Rutgers opens the dual season Saturday, Nov. 4, when it hosts Maryland at High Point Solutions Stadium at Noon ET. The match is part of a doubleheader with the football team, which also plays the Terrapins at 3:30 p.m.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers wrestling, follow the program on Twitter (@RUWrestling) and Instagram (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.

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