Manheim, Pennsylvania — Sold out Rec Hall was the place to be on Saturday night as No. 1 Penn State remained unbeaten with a 19-18 victory over No. 2 Ohio State. Even without the services of returning NCAA champion Jason Nolf at 157 pounds, the Nittany Lions pulled out the victory and earned a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. The win was sparked by the performance of Penn State 197-pounder Anthony Cassar, who upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Kollin Moore.
The team victory solidified Penn State’s standing as the nation’s No. 1 team as they garnered all 16 first-place votes in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. The Nittany Lions improved to 12-0 and join third-ranked Missouri (13-0) as the nation’s last two unbeaten teams in Division I.
Ohio State (12-1) remained second this week.
Utah Valley University, which launched its Division I wrestling program in 2003, moved into the Top 25 for the first time in school history. The Wolverines improved to 8-3 on the season and knocked off traditional Big 12 power Oklahoma by criteria.
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The top 15 teams stayed put as only minor shifts within the Big Ten caused movement. Wyoming from the Big 12 made the biggest move this week, jumping five spots to No. 17. The Cowboys improved to 10-4 after a win over visiting Oklahoma.
In ranked action this past week, No. 4 Michigan (9-2) topped No. 15 Nebraska 24-10, while No. 5 Oklahoma State (10-2) also beat No. 23 Northern Iowa 24-10. Seventh-ranked Iowa improved to 11-2 after a 34-7 win over then-No. 18 Minnesota and a 33-2 win over then-No. 17 Northwestern. Virginia Tech (13-2) remained unbeaten in the ACC with a home win over then-No. 25 North Carolina 21-9.
No. 10 Cornell (9-2) survived a scare from No. 23 Lock Haven, but the Big Red pulled out a 20-18 road win. No. 14 Illinois improved to 7-3 after weekend wins over unranked Indiana and then-No. 19 Rutgers.
Rider fell out of the Top 25 after falling to a pair of unranked teams — Clarion 18-17 and Drexel 18-14.
The USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Points are 25 for each first-place vote, 24 for second, 23 for third all the way to a 25th-place vote is one point.
Future Poll Dates: February 13, February 20, February, 27.
RankTeam (First)RecordPointsConferencePrevious1Penn State (16)12-0400Big Ten12Ohio State12-1381Big Ten23Missouri17-0371MAC34Michigan9-2349Big Ten45Oklahoma State10-2333Big 1256NC State13-1316ACC67Iowa11-2314Big Ten78Arizona State10-2287Pac-1289Virginia Tech13-2273ACC910Cornell9-2252EIWA1011Lehigh9-3237EIWA1112South Dakota State11-2231Big 121213Northern Iowa5-4203Big 121314Illinois7-3195Big Ten1415Nebraska8-4172Big Ten1516Central Michigan7-4161MAC1617Wyoming10-4127Big 122218Rutgers6-6107Big Ten1919Northwestern8-4103Big Ten1720Wisconsin6-298Big Ten2021Minnesota7-895Big Ten1822Purdue8-660Big Ten2423Lock Haven11-349EWL2324North Carolina8-934ACC2525Utah Valley8-319Big 12NR
Others Receiving Votes: Rider 11, Drexel 8, Appalachian State 6, Navy 4, Edinboro 3, American 1
Dropped out: No. 21 Rider.