Steveson takes over top spot at heavyweight in WIN’s Jan. 13 ranks

(Photo: Minnesota’s Gable Steveson, who missed much of the first semester this college wrestling season, is now ranked No. 1 at heavyweight in WIN’s Jan. 13 rankings. The young Gopher finished third nationally last season as a true freshman.)

NEWTON, Iowa — Minnesota sophomore Gable Steveson has taken over the top spot at heavyweight in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 13, national rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.

The reason that Steveson, who finished third as a true freshman in last year’s NCAA tournament, moved into the top spot is because Penn State’s Anthony Cassar, the defending national champion, suffered a season-ending injury at the U.S. Senior Nationals, Dec. 22, in Fort Worth, Texas.

In the team race, Iowa remained No. 1 in both WIN’s Dual rankings and Tournament Power Index. The Hawkeyes shut out both Indiana and Purdue on the road last weekend to improve to 6-0 on the season and feature a ranked wrestler at all 10 weights —including nine rated in the Top 8 of their weight class — for 136 TPI points. Iowa’s top-ranked wrestlers remain Spencer Lee (125) and Pat Lugo (149).

Penn State remained No. 2 in both the dual rankings (5-1) and TPI (86.5). The Nittany Lions feature eight ranked wrestlers, including a trio of top-ranked wrestlers in Nick Lee (141), Vincenzo Joseph (165) and Mark Hall (174). Penn State’s new starting heavyweight, freshman Seth Nevills, is ranked No. 13.

NC State (8-0) has moved to No. 3 in the dual rankings, while Wisconsin is now rated No. 3 in the TPI (53). The Wolfpack feature six ranked wrestlers, including brothers Hayden (157) and Trent (197) Hidlay. Wisconsin has six ranked wrestlers, including top-ranked Seth Gross (133).

The other No. 1 wrestlers remain the same: Northwestern’s Ryan Deakin (157), Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia (184) and Ohio State’s Kollin Moore (197).

WIN’s Tournament Power Index is a prediction of accumulated NCAA points of ranked wrestlers on a respective team associated to where they might place at the 2020 NCAA Championships, March 19-21, in Minneapolis, Minn.

WIN’s TPI point totals are broken down by the following individual rankings: 1st – 20 (16 AA points + 4 advancement points); 2nd – 16 (12+4); 3rd – 13.5 (10+3.5); 4th – 12.5 (9+3.5); 5th – 10 (7+3); 6th – 9 (6+3); 7th – 6.5 (4+2.5); 8th – 5.5 (3+2.5). Additional points for other rankings include: 9th/12th – 2; 13th/16th – 1.5; 17th-20th – 1. TPI points will be lower than the final actual NCAA tournament points because it does not include bonus points.

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 13, 2020 Dual Team Rankings

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 13, 2020 Tournament Power Index

WIN Magazine’s Jan. 13, 2020 Individual Rankings

125 pounds

133 pounds                                               

141 pounds

149 pounds           

157 pounds           

165 pounds                                               

174 pounds

184 pounds                                   

197 pounds

Heavyweight