Six Bulls Earn Place in MAC Preseason Rankings
10/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
CLEVELAND, OH - The Mid-American Conference wrestling coaches announced the preseason weight class individual rankings in conjunction with the league office today. The rankings will be released on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the season, with one additional ranking system (two total) in January and February.
Based on the individual rankings, Kent State is expected to win the 2012 conference championship and end the ten year consecutive run by the Central Michigan Chippewas as MAC defending champions. The preseason rankings are voted on by the league's head coaches in an open forum.
Six Buffalo wrestlers made the list, led by Mark Lewandowski's top ranking at 157 pounds. The team was picked to finish fifth in the conference. Sean Walton was picked third at 125 pounds, Kevin Smith was picked second at his new weight of 141 and Brett Correll was tabbed as third-best in the heavyweight division. Two new starters also received rankings, with true freshman Blake Roulo ranked fourth at 149 and redshirt freshman Matt Dehney ranked fourth at 165.
The Bulls kick off the 2011-12 season Nov. 6 with the annual UB Open, starting at 10 am.
2011-12 MAC Rankings:
125 – 1. Nic Bedelyon (KSU); 2. Gabe Ramos (OU); 3. Sean Walton (UB); 4. Nick Smith (NIU).
133 – 1. Christian Cullinan (CMU); 2. Andrew Novak (EMU); 3. Steve Mitcheff (KSU); 4. Rob Jilliard (NIU).
141 – 1. Scott Mattingly (CMU); 2. Kevin Smith (UB); 3. Tyler Small (KSU); 4. Kevin Fanta (NIU).
149 – 1. Brad Squire (OU); 2. Marcel Clopton (KSU); 3. Jared Porter (CMU); 4. Blake Roulo (UB).
157 – 1. Mark Lewandowski (UB); t2. Aaron Sulzer (EMU); t2. Donnie Corby (CMU); 4. Mallie Shuster (KSU).
165 – 1. Ross Tice (KSU); 2. Chris Eggert (EMU); 3. Matt Mougin (NIU); t4. Anthony Pace (CMU); t4. Matt Dehney (UB).
174 – 1. Nick Purdue (OU); 2. Brad Johnson (KSU) 3. Phillip Joseph (EMU); 4. Caleb Busson (NIU).
184 – 1. Ben Bennett (CMU); 2. Brad Dieckhaus (NIU); 3. Casey Newberg (KSU); 4. Ryan Garringer (OU).
197 –1. Keith Witt (KSU); t2. Chad Friend (OU); t2. Nick Wittenberg (EMU); 4. Mike Lukowski (NIU).
HWT – 1. Brandon Barlow (KSU); 2. Jeremy Johnson (OU); 3. Brett Correll (UB); 4. Peter Sturgeon (CMU).
2011-12 MAC Preseason Poll
1. Kent State (29)
2. Central Michigan (18)
3. Ohio (17.5)
4. Eastern Michigan (13)
5. Buffalo (12.5)
6. Northern Illinois (10)
