Five Gardner-Webb Wrestlers Ranked In Latest RPI Update, Four In Coaches' Ranking
February 11, 2016 | Wrestling
NCAA Coaches' Ranking & RPI Update (PDF) | @GWUWrestling
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Gardner-Webb was well represented in the most recent NCAA Wrestling Coaches' Ranking and RPI Update released by the organization Thursday afternoon, with two men breaking into the RPI top-15 in their respective weight classes.
Chris Vassar (New Cumberland, Pa. / Cedar Cliff HS) is ranked No. 12 in the latest RPI update at 149 pounds and was ranked No. 32 in the Coaches' Ranking. The redshirt sophomore has excelled this season, going 8-2 with three pins at his new weight. Vassar is 13-4 overall, with a 5-2 mark this season at 157 pounds.
Hunter Gamble (McDonough, Ga. / Union Grove HS) is ranked No. 15 in the RPI at 184 pounds and is in the midst of a fabulous season after moving up midway through the 2015 season. A 2013 NCAA qualifier at 174 pounds, Gamble has gone 16-5 at 184 pounds this season, with a perfect 7-0 mark against SoCon competition and a 10-3 record in duals. Gamble was ranked No. 33 in the Coaches' Ranking this week.
Boyce Cornwell (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) remains one of the most improved wrestlers nationally in 2016 and moved to No. 22 in the RPI at 285 pounds. The redshirt junior is in his first season at the sport's highest weight and has excelled – forging a 18-5 mark (11-2 dual) and a 6-2 record in SoCon matches. Cornwell, who was the lone GWU wrestler to appear in the initial Coaches' Ranking, remained No. 33 on that list.
Tyler Ziegler (Cincinnati, Ohio / Moeller HS) is ranked No. 28 in the 133-pound RPI listing, with a steady, 15-6 overall mark (6-1 SoCon). Ziegler is 11-2 this season in duals and is one of only two seniors in the starting lineup for the fast-rising Runnin' Bulldogs.
Another senior, Cortez Starkes (Greenville, S.C. / Greenville HS), is ranked No. 32 in the RPI update and No. 33 in the Coaches' Ranking. Starkes is off to a strong 16-9 season with a 6-1 conference record and nine wins in dual competition.
A surprise omission from the rankings was 165-pounder Austin Trott (Kingsland, Ga. / Camden County HS). Trott has three wins over opponents ranked in the current top-33 and has come on strong – forging an 11-5 record on the season with a 4-0 mark against SoCon foes and a 5-1 record in duals. Trott was an NCAA qualifier at the same weight class as a redshirt freshman in 2014.
Gardner-Webb (8-5, 6-1 SoCon) wrapped up at least a share of the 2016 SoCon title with its Wednesday night win over Davidson and will take on a pair of very tough non-conference foes this Saturday in Paul Porter Arena – Cleveland State and No. 22 Ohio.
The Vikings and Bobcats will start Saturday's action at 11:00 am against each other, followed by GWU vs. Cleveland State at approximately 12:30 and GWU and nationally-ranked Ohio at approximately 2:00 pm.
