Penn State is new No. 1 in WIN’s Jan. 4 TPI and Rankings

Photo: Penn State’s Aaron Brooks (top) defeated Arizona State’s Josh Nummer at 184 pounds in December to help the Nittany Lions win all three duals at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals. After holiday tournaments, the Nittany Lions have taken over the top spot in WIN’s Tournament Rankings (TPI). (Photo by Bob Mayeri)

NEWTON, Iowa — It’s a new calendar year and Penn State has taken over the top spot in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 4 Tournament Power Index and Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.

The Nittany Lions, which are 6-0 on the season after winning all three matchups at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals Dec. 20-21, continues to feature four defending national champs, who also are all ranked No. 1: Roman Bravo-Young (133), Nick Lee (141), Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (184). With a total of seven ranked wrestlers, including six in the Top 8 of their weight class, Penn State tallied 107.5 TPI Points.

WIN’s Tournament Power Index predicts approximately how many NCAA points a team could score in Detroit in March at the Division I Championships based on where their individuals are ranked at this point in the season. Excluding bonus points, the TPI is based on numbers associated with individual placements/rankings based on our current rankings below: 20 for 1^st, 16 for 2^nd, 13.5 for 3^rd, 12.5 for 4^th, 10 for 5^th, 9 for 6^th, 6.5 for 7^th and 5.5 for 8^th. Wrestlers ranked 9-12 earn two points each, followed by 1.5 points for wrestlers ranked 13-16 and 1 point for those ranked 17-20.

The following rankings were impacted on events that happened after WIN’s last rankings on Dec. 14. In addition to the Collegiate Duals, a couple of the highest-profile events were the Illinois Matmen Open, held in place of the cancelled Midlands, Dec. 29-30, in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Defending NCAA champ Iowa, which was ranked No. 1, dropped down one spot to No. 2 after the Hawkeyes (82.5 TPI) announced that three-time NCAA champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee had season-ending knee surgery. Overall, the Hawkeyes feature nine ranked wrestlers, including true freshman Drake Ayala, who finished third at the Southern Scuffle and is rated No. 14 and is considered a replacement for Lee at 125 pounds. The Hawkeyes (8-0), who also won all three duals at the Journeymen event, continue to be ranked ahead of Penn State in WIN’s Dual Team Rankings.

The next three teams are separated by four points, led by No. 3 Michigan (69), which welcomed the return of All-Americans and 2020 Olympians Stevan Micic (141) and Myles Amine (184). Coach Sean Bormet’s squad also was strengthened with the transfer of former Rutgers national champion Nick Suriano (125). The Wolverines are followed by Oklahoma State (66.5), featuring top-ranked A.J. Ferrari (197), and Arizona State (65).

The most notable changes in the individual weight classes took place at 125 where Cornell’s Vito Arujau, who was ranked at 133 thus far this season, is the new top-rated wrestler at 125 pounds. Suriano is ranked No. 2 at 125 and expected to start wrestling this month for the Wolverines.

The remaining No. 1 wrestlers held their top spots over the holiday period. They include Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis (149), Iowa State’s David Carr (157), Cal Poly’s Evan Wick (165), and Minnesota’s Gable Steveson (Hwt.).

Overall, there are 11 rated wrestlers who are new to WIN’s rankings. That includes a pair of Southern Scuffle champions in Stanford’s Real Woods (fourth at 141) and Maryland’s Kyle Cochran (eighth at 184). Another notable newcomer to a Top-8 ranking was Wisconsin freshman Dean Hamiti, who moved from No. 17 to No. 7 at 165 after winning the Illinois Matmen Open.

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 4 Tournament Power Index

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 4 Dual Rankings

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 4 Individual Rankings

125 pounds

133 pounds

141 pounds

149 pounds

157 pounds

165 pounds

174 pounds

184 pounds

197 pounds

Heavyweight