University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
UNC Well-Represented In Latest NCAA Rankings
February 14, 2019 | Wrestling
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA released the second of four coaches' panel rankings and the debut reveal of the ratings percentage index (RPI) for the 2018-19 wrestling season, and 13th-ranked North Carolina is well represented in both lists. The final rankings will be tools used as part of the selection process to determine qualifiers and seeding for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 21-23 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Eight Tar Heels are listed in the initial RPI rankings, including a quartet of top-10 wrestlers. Redshirt freshman Austin O'Connor leads the way as the No. 3 wrestler at 149 pounds, and he is joined by No. 7 A.C. Headlee (141), No. 8 Chip Ness (184) and No. 10 Brandon Whitman (197). No. 12 Cory Daniel (285), No. 13 Devin Kane (174), No. 19 Gary Wayne Harding (133) and No. 25 Joe Heilmann (125) round out the UNC contingent.
O'Connor also leads seven Tar Heels in the second coaches' panel rankings, coming in at No. 5. No. 20 Josh McClure (157) is likely to join his teammates in the RPI rankings once he has amassed enough Division-I matches at the weight after starting the season at 165.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, RPI and coaches' rankings to earn allocation spots for their qualifying tournaments for the championships. The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. The RPI is calculated based on results vs. Division I wrestlers and rankings only include wrestlers that have a minimum of 17 results vs. Division I opponents.
For coaches ranking purposes, they may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible, 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.
Eight Tar Heels are listed in the initial RPI rankings, including a quartet of top-10 wrestlers. Redshirt freshman Austin O'Connor leads the way as the No. 3 wrestler at 149 pounds, and he is joined by No. 7 A.C. Headlee (141), No. 8 Chip Ness (184) and No. 10 Brandon Whitman (197). No. 12 Cory Daniel (285), No. 13 Devin Kane (174), No. 19 Gary Wayne Harding (133) and No. 25 Joe Heilmann (125) round out the UNC contingent.
O'Connor also leads seven Tar Heels in the second coaches' panel rankings, coming in at No. 5. No. 20 Josh McClure (157) is likely to join his teammates in the RPI rankings once he has amassed enough Division-I matches at the weight after starting the season at 165.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, RPI and coaches' rankings to earn allocation spots for their qualifying tournaments for the championships. The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. The RPI is calculated based on results vs. Division I wrestlers and rankings only include wrestlers that have a minimum of 17 results vs. Division I opponents.
For coaches ranking purposes, they may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible, 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.
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