The NCAA has announced the second coaches ranking for the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
The coaches rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. For the second ranking, wrestlers must have three Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one within the last 30 days. For the final coaches ranking that will be utilized during the at-large selection and seeding process, wrestlers will need a minimum of four Division I matches in the weight class.
Eight different schools are represented by the 10 wrestlers ranked at the top of the weight classes. Debuting at the top position this week are Daton Fix of Oklahoma State at 133 pounds and Ryan Deakin of Northwestern at 157 after not having enough matches to qualify for the first ranking. Shane Griffith of Stanford is the new top-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds moving up from his ranking of No. 3 in the first release two weeks ago.
Remaining at the top spot for the second release of rankings are the Iowa trio of Spencer Lee at 125 pounds, Jaydin Eierman at 141 and Michael Kemerer at 174 as the only school with multiple top-ranked wrestlers. Joining them are Sammy Sasso of Ohio State (149), Hunter Bolen of Virginia Tech (184), Eric Shultz of Nebraska (197) and Gable Steveson of Minnesota (heavyweight).
The coaches ranking is one of several criteria that will be evaluated by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee during the at-large selection and seeding along with head-to-head competition, quality wins, conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents and win percentage.