LARAMIE, Wyo. (March 1, 2019) – The NCAA has released qualifier allocations for the 2019 NCAA Championships, as well as the third coaches' panel rankings and second RPI rankings of the year. The Big 12 received the second-most allocations of any conference with 53, while eight Cowboys appeared in both the coaches' panel rankings and RPI.
 
The coaches' rankings and RPI will be used as part of the selection process to determine qualifiers and seeding for the NCAA Championships, set for March 21-23 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
All eight Wyoming wrestlers that appeared in the previous two sets of coaches' rankings remained in this week's release. Included in the coaches rankings are Cole Verner (No. 20, 125 pounds), Montorie Bridges (No. 13, 133 pounds), Sam Turner (No. 19, 141 pounds), Branson Ashworth (No. 9, 165 pounds), Hayden Hastings (No. 22, 174 pounds), Tate Samuelson (No. 16, 184 pounds), Cale Davidson (No. 21, 197 pounds) and Brian Andrews (No. 25, 285 pounds).
 
Eight Cowboys also appear in the RPI, with two Pokes boasting top-10 rankings. Those Cowboys include Verner (No. 16, 125 pounds), Bridges (No. 14, 133 pounds), Turner (No. 22, 141 pounds), Ashworth (No. 13, 165 pounds), Hastings (No. 21, 174 pounds), Samuelson (No. 9, 184 pounds), Davidson (No. 26, 197 pounds) and Andrews (No. 8, 285 pounds).
 
The NCAA announced that the Big 12 will receive 53 total automatic qualifying spots to the national tournament, second only to the Big Ten with 78. Those bids will be up for grabs next week at the Big 12 Championships, beginning Saturday, March 9 in Tulsa, Okla.
 
Each conference tournament was awarded automatic bids per weight class based on current year data.  Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage at the weight class; ratings percentage index (RPI); and coaches' ranking.
 
For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class.  Each conference was awarded a minimum of one automatic bid per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds.  NCAA tournament spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on place-finish.
 
After all of the conference tournaments have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 44 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 12, while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 6 p.m. on March 13.  All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers.  The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; quality wins; coaches' ranking; results against common opponents; RPI; qualifying event placement; and winning percentage.
 
The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. 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.
 
To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 17 Division I matches at a given weight class.
 
Tickets for next week's Big 12 Championships are on sale now.
 
Big 12 Automatic Qualifier Allocations
125 – 5
133 – 5
141 – 6
149 – 7
157 – 1
165 – 6
174 – 5
184 – 5
197 – 7
HWT – 6
 
Cowboys in the Coaches' Panel Rankings
125 – Cole Verner – No. 20
133 – Montorie Bridges – No. 13
141 – Sam Turner – No. 19
165 – Branson Ashworth – No. 9
174 – Hayden Hastings – No. 22
184 – Tate Samuelson – No. 16
197 – Cale Davidson – No. 21
HWT – Brian Andrews – No. 25
 
Cowboys in the RPI Rankings
125 – Cole Verner – No. 16
133 – Montorie Bridges – No. 14
141 – Sam Turner – No. 22
165 – Branson Ashworth – No. 13
174 – Hayden Hastings – No. 21
184 – Tate Samuelson – No. 9
197 – Cale Davidson – No. 26
HWT – Brian Andrews – No. 8