Wrestling Tabbed No.10 In Preseason Poll

Oct. 31, 2000

EAST LANSING, MICH. - The Michigan State wrestling program is listed at No. 10 in the annual Intermat preseason poll. The top 10 ranking is the Spartans second in two years. The Big Ten again rules collegiate wrestling as 10 of the conferences 11 teams are listed in the top 25. Iowa and Minnesota sit atop the polls, ranked No. 1 and No. 2.

The Spartans sport seven wrestlers featured in the top 20 of their weight classes. Pat McNamara (133) is listed at fourth, while teammates Mike Castillo (141) and Matt Lamb (Hwt.) hold the 5th and 8th place rankings at their weights. Chris Williams (125) is listed at 15th, last year's freshmen sensations Karl Nadolsky (149) and Gray Maynard (157) begin their sophomore seasons listed at 15th and 11th respectively. Coming off a redshirt season, Nik Fekete is ranked at 16th at 197 pounds.

The Big Ten also released their preview of the 2000-2001 season, pegging the Spartans at No. 5 in the conference. The conference poll reflects that of Intermat's in that, Iowa is listed at No.1, followed by Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan rounding out the top four.

The Spartan team will enter into its first competition of this season on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Eastern Michigan Open. The grapplers will compete unattached at the tournament, which is to be held at Bowen Field House, Ypsilanti, Mich. The team will be featured for the hometown crowd on Nov. 11 with their annual Green and White scrimmage.

Intermat's Top 25

1. Iowa2. Minnesota3. Iowa State4. Oklahoma State5. Illinois6. Oklahoma7. Michigan8. Lehigh9. Nebraska10. Michigan State11. Boise State12. Lock Haven13. Edinboro14. Arizona State15. Northern Iowa16. Hofstra17. Pennsylvania18. Ohio State19. Oregon State20. Pittsburgh21. Wisconsin22. Virginia Tech23. Purdue24. Indiana25. Penn State

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