NCAA Wrestling Awards standings: Penn State holds top three positions for most dominant in Division I

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has released updated standings for the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Awards that will be awarded in March at the respective Division I, II and III Wrestling Championships. 

The inaugural NCAA Wrestling Awards were presented at the 2012 wrestling championships. The three awards, given in each division, honor the Most Dominant Wrestler as well as the student-athletes that have accumulated the most falls and the most technical falls throughout the course of the regular and postseasons. 

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: NCAA Standings Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4 | Week 5  | Week 6 

For results to be counted they must come against opponents in the same division (i.e. Division II vs. Division II). Ties in the falls and tech falls categories are broken based on the aggregate time. 

This week features the third release of the Most Dominant Wrestler standings for the 2018-19 season, which features the 17-match minimum to win the award.

2️⃣ challengers that could knock off Diakomihalis at 141... 👀👇

— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling)

No. 1 ranked Penn State holds the top three positions for most dominant in Division I. Bo Nickal is first for the Nittany Lions by producing 5.38 average team points per match, followed by Jason Nolf (5.23) and Vincenzo Joseph (4.95). Iowa 165-pounder Alex Marinelli is fourth with 4.74 points, while Cornell 141-pounder Yianni Diakomihalis is fifth with 4.67 points. 

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St. Cloud State’s Vince Dietz paces Division II with a big lead of 4.71 average team points per match over Pittsburgh-Johnstown 184-pounder Brock Biddle with 4.14 points. Carlos Jacquez of Lindenwood (Missouri) is the only other DII wrestler averaging more than four points with 4.05 per match.

Top spot in the final regular season NWCA DII national polls for our on Feb. 18. Regionals on Feb. 23 for SCSU (20-0, 8-0 NSIC).

— St. Cloud State Wrestling (@SCSUHuskies_WR)

SUNY Oneonta heavyweight James Bethel maintains his position atop Division III with 5.48 team points per match. Waynesburg’s Jake Evans, the all-time leader for most wins in NCAA history, is second for most dominant with 5.39 points, while Wartburg’s Brennen Doebel is third with 5.33.

The Most Dominant Wrestler standings are calculated by adding the total number of points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled. Points per match are awarded as follows. 

STANDINGS AND STATISTICS:  | Wrestling teams ranked

* Fall, forfeit, injury default or DQ = 6 points (-6 points for a loss)

* Tech falls = 5 points (-5 points for a loss)

* Major decision = 4 points (-4 points for a loss)

* Decision = 3 points (-3 points for a loss)

Central Michigan heavyweight Matt Stencel and George Mason 165-pounder Colston DiBlasi each have 16 falls in Division I. Stencel has a dominant lead in aggregate time with an advantage of 25-plus minutes over DiBlasi. Nickal is two falls behind with 14, while Missouri’s Jaydin Eierman has 13.

165 | Colston DiBlasi picks up the fall!!

— George Mason Wrestling (@GMUWrestling)

Lake Erie heavyweight Evan Loughman is the first Division II wrestler with double digit falls holding the national lead with 11. Nicholas Mason of Tiffin is the second with 10 at 197 pounds to hold second place, while Ryan Vasbinder of McKendree and James Laconte of Western Colorado have nine.

Waynesburg heavyweight Jakes Evans is the first wrestler in the country to reach 20 falls to lead Division III with 21. Bethel and Da’mani Burns of JWU (Providence) are on the verge of the 20-fall milestone with 19 and Joseph Rossetti of Williams has 18. 

The standings for tech falls in Division I remain the same this week with Lock Haven’s Kyle Shoop holding the lead with 14, over Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix (12) and Nicholas Piccininni (125).

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Mercyhurst 165-pounder Logan Grass has taken the lead in Division II tech falls with eight, one more than Nebraska-Kearney 125-pounder Josh Portillo. 

No change in Division III tech falls where Messiah 149-pounder Stephen Maloney maintains sole possession of first place with 14, while Jay Albis of JWU (Providence) leads the chasers with 13 in second place. 

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17-match minimum in division required to be ranked.

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