CLEVELAND -- Old Dominion wrestlers Seldon Wright (165), Jack Dechow (184) and Kevin Beazley (197) cracked the top four in the December edition of the Mid-American Conference rankings, as was announced by the MAC office this week. ODU is ranked sixth as a team ahead of Eastern Michigan, Buffalo and Kent State.
Ranked No. 2 at 197 behind only two-time NCAA Champion J'Den Cox of Missouri, Kevin Beazley is off to an 8-1 start this season. The redshirt junior from Howell, Michigan is 3-1 in dual meets, which includes a 2-1 record against MAC foes. Beazley is also 3-1 on the year against top-20 ranked wrestlers.
Fifth-year senior Jack Dechow checks in at No. 3 at 184 with an 8-2 record on the season. The Richmond, Illinois native has a 3-1 mark in dual meet action. Dechow owns a top-10 win over Missouri's Willie Miklus.
At 165, Seldon Wright is ranked fourth in his weight class in the conference and carries a 6-3 record. The sophomore from Chesapeake is 2-2 in dual meets and already owns two wins over top-20 ranked competitors.
As a team, ODU is ranked sixth in the MAC ahead of Eastern Michigan, Buffalo and Kent State. The Monarchs are 1-3 in dual meets and 1-2 in MAC matches, as they picked up a win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 29.
For the full release from the MAC website, click here.
2016-17 MAC December Wrestling Rankings
1. Missouri (30)
2. Northern Iowa (20.5)
3. Central Michigan (18.0)
4. Northern Illinois (8)
5. Ohio (7)
6. Old Dominion (6)
7. Eastern Michigan (5.5)
8. Buffalo (4)
9. Kent State (1)
2016-17 MAC December Weight Class Rankings:
125 – 1. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa, Senior); 2. Barlow McGhee (Missouri, Junior); 3. Brent Fleetwood (Central Michigan, Junior); 4. Shakur Laney (Ohio, Sophomore).
133 – 1. Jaydin Eierman (Missouri, R-Freshman); 2. Corey Keener (Central Michigan, Senior); 3. Josh Alber (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 4. Cameron Kelly (Ohio, Sophomore).
141 – 1. Matt Manley (Missouri, Senior); 2. Kyle Springer (Eastern Michigan, Junior); 3. Noah Forrider (Ohio, Junior); 4. Jake Hodges (Northern Iowa, Junior).
149 – 1. Lavion Mayes (Missouri, Senior); 2. Justin Oliver (Central Michigan, Sophomore); 3. Steve Bleise (Northern Illinois, Sophomore); 4. Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa, R-Freshman).
157 – 1. Joey Lavalle (Missouri, Junior); 2. Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan, Junior); 3. Caden McWhirter (Northern Illinois, R-Freshman); 4. Casey Sparkman (Kent State, Sophomore).
165 – 1. Daniel Lewis (Missouri, Sophomore); 2. Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 3. Austin Reese (Ohio, Sophomore); 4. Seldon Wright (Old Dominion, Sophomore).
174 – 1. Taylor Lujan (Northern Iowa, R-Freshman); 2. C.J. Brucki (Central Michigan, Junior); 3. Trace Engelkes (Northern Illinois, Senior); 4. Dylan Wisman (Missouri, R-Freshman).
184 – 1. Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan, Junior); 2. Drew Foster (Northern Iowa, Sophomore); 3. Jack Dechow (Old Dominion, Senior); 4. Willie Miklus (Missouri, Junior).
197 – 1. J’den Cox (Missouri, Senior); 2. Kevin Beazley (Old Dominion, Junior); 3. Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois, Senior); 4. Bailey Faust (Ohio, R-Freshman).
HWT – 1. Jake Gunning (Buffalo, Sophomore); t-2. JJ Everard (Northern Iowa, Senior); t-2. Gage Hutchison (Eastern Michigan, Junior); 4. Austin Myers (Missouri, R-Freshman).