The Ashland University wrestling team is slotted eighth in the country in the Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association poll that was released Friday (Feb. 16) afternoon.
The Eagles are No. 1 in the regional rankings that came out on Tuesday, which projects them as favorites to win the regional tournament slated for Feb. 23 and 24 at Findlay.
Sophomores Christian Price and Bret Romanzak as well as senior Luke Cramer and Jordan Murphy are nationally ranked as individuals.
Price is No. 10 at 174 pounds, one spot higher than he was in the last national rankings released Jan. 18. He's second in the regional poll with a 22-8 record this season, ranking him second on the Eagles in wins.
The 165-pound Romanzak, AU's wins leader with a 31-3 record, stayed put at third nationally and first regionally.
Cramer is also third in the country and first in the region in his 197-pound weight class. He suffered his first loss of the season in a dual against the Oilers on Feb. 7, bringing his record to 17-1 this year.
Murphy is still No. 1 in the region and No. 2 in the country at 184. He is 18-0, giving him hope to become the first wrestler in program history to complete an undefeated season.
Six Eagles are solely ranked in the region: senior Sebastian Vidika (No. 2 at 125), junior Lawrance Dudgeon (No. 4 at 133), senior Bob Mason (No. 4 at 141), senior J.J. Diven (No. 4 at 149), Garrett Hall (No. 6 at 157) and Deaken McCoy (No. 3 at 285).
The top four placers in each weight class at next week's regionals will move on to the NCAA Division II Championships March 9-10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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