CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference released its 2015 preseason wrestling rankings on Thursday, as the top four individuals at each weight class were tabulated by the league’s coaches. Four Old Dominion wrestlers were ranked within the top four in the conference, which includes three Monarchs who were selected No. 1 in their respective weight classes. As a team, ODU and Northern Iowa were projected in a tie for third place with 15 votes.
The preseason team rankings were decided based on the number of first through fourth-place votes that were earned in the individual voting system. A first-place vote was worth four team points; a second-place vote earned three team points; third-seeded votes were worth two team points, while a fourth-place tally earned one point in the team ranking system.
Selected No. 1 in their weight classes were All-Americans Chris Mecate at 141, Alexander Richardson at 149 and Jack Dechow at 184. With their first place ranking, each earned four points toward ODU’s total team votes.
Brandon Jeske was ranked No. 2 behind only Northern Iowa’s 2014 All-American Dylan Peters at 125, which earned the Monarchs an additional three votes toward the team total.
The MAC will release one set of rankings each month, with two polls being released in January and February.
The Monarch wrestlers will hit the mats for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. for the annual Blue-Silver Intrasquad. That weekend, ODU will participate in its first tournament of the year at the Clarion Open on Sunday, Nov. 1, and Alexander Richardson will represent Old Dominion at the 50th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic, which will be broadcast live on ESPNU that same evening at 5 p.m.
2015-16 MAC Weight Class Rankings:
125 – 1. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa, Junior); 2. Brandon Jeske (Old Dominion, Junior); 3. Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 4. Barlow McGhee (Missouri, Sophomore).
133 – 1. Zach Synon (Missouri, Junior); 2. Mack McGuire (Kent State, Senior); 3. Corey Keener (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. KeVon Powell (Ohio, Senior).
141 – 1. Chris Mecate (Old Dominion, Senior); 2. Zach Horan (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Lavion Mayes (Missouri, Junior); 4. Jake Hodges (Northern Iowa, Sophomore).
149 – 1. Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion, Senior); 2. Joey Lavallee (Missouri, Junior); 3. Tywan Claxton (Ohio, Senior); 4. Mike DePalma (Kent State, Senior).
157 – 1. Ian Miller (Kent State, Senior); 2. Lucas Smith (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Spartak Chino (Ohio, Senior); 4. Jarrett Jensen (Northern Iowa, Senior).
165 – 1. Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa, Junior); 2. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (Northern Illinois, Junior); 3. Jordan Wohlfert (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. Daniel Lewis (Missouri, Redshirt Freshman).
174 – 1. Cody Walters (Ohio, Senior); 2. Blaise Butler (Missouri, Senior); 3. Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan, Senior); 4. Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois, Junior).
184 – 1. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion, Junior); 2. Willie Miklus (Missouri, Sophomore); 3. Andrew Romanchik (Ohio, Senior); 4. Cody Caldwell (Northern Iowa, Senior).
197 – 1. J'Den Cox (Missouri, Junior); 2. Phil Wellington (Ohio, Senior); 3. Anthony Abro (Eastern Michigan, Senior); 4. Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois, Junior).
HWT – 1. Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa, Senior); 2. Mimmo Lytle (Kent State, Junior); 3. Jesse Webb (Ohio, Sophomore); 4. Gage Hutchison (Eastern Michigan, Sophomore).
2015-16 MAC Preseason Poll
1. Missouri (21.0)
2. Ohio (16.0)
t3. Northern Iowa (15.0)
t3. Old Dominion (15.0)
5. Central Michigan (14.0)
6. Kent State (11.0)
7. Northern Illinois (5.0)
8. Eastern Michigan (3.0)
9. Buffalo (0.0)