NCAA Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Three Maryland wrestlers remain ranked in the third of four coaches' panel rankings for the 2015-16 season released by the NCAA today. Redshirt seniors Geoffrey Alexander (133) and Lou Mascola (157) in addition to redshirt sophomore Dawson Peck (285) all made the top-33 for their respective weight classes.
Wrestlers in each weight class were measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches' rankings. In order to be eligible for the rankings, 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.
In addition, the NCAA announced qualifier allocations for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for each conference. The Big Ten received the most automatic qualifiers of any conference, earning 71 guaranteed berths across 10 weight classes. To see the full breakdown of qualifier allocations, click here.
Alexander remained inside the top-15 nationally as he was tabbed No. 13 in the country at 133 pounds. He finished his final collegiate regular season 11-2 overall with an 8-1 mark in dual matches. He remains ranked in the top-20 via the latest Internat Wrestling individual rankings, checking in at No. 12 in the 133-pound class on February 23. Alexander is a three-time NCAA qualifier and a 2012 ACC Finalist, and has earned wins over current 9th ranked Eric Montoya (Nebraska), 20th ranked Anthony Giraldo (Rutgers), 15th ranked Rossi Bruno (Michigan) and 32nd ranked Zachary Davis (Navy) and 14th ranked Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin) this season.
Mascola is tied for 26th in the 157-pound poll, and wrapped up the regular season with a 15-8 record while posting a team-best 11 wins in dual matches this year. He won 10 of his first 11 matches to start the season, which included a pin of current 18th ranked Tyler Berger (Nebraska) on December 11. Mascola qualified for his first NCAA Championships last season, where he secured a second round upset of now 5th ranked Cody Pack (South Dakota State).
Peck rounds out the list for the Terps ranked 23rd in the heavyweight class while finishing with a 16-8 overall record on the regular season. He is currently second on the team in pins with eight on the season, which included a tournament-best four falls at the Midlands Championships December 29-30. Peck has gone toe-to-toe with several ranked opponents this season, including a fall over No. 15 Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa) at Midlands.
Maryland will now await the release of the Big Ten Tournament seeds, which will be finalized on Monday, February 29. The Terps will travel to Iowa City, Iowa for the event March 5-6.
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