Cumberland Remains Top 10 in NAIA Wrestling Poll

LEBANON, Tenn.--The fifth NAIA Men's Wrestling Coaches' Top 25 was released Thursday, with Cumberland Wrestling checking in at No. 10. The Phoenix remained inside the top 10 with 137 points as the national landscape saw limited movement at the top and notable shifts throughout the middle of the rankings.

Grand View (Iowa) continued to hold the No. 1 position, edging Life (Ga.) by just two points after the Vikings claimed the NWCA National Duals championship with a 37-7 victory over the Running Eagles. Southeastern (Fla.) and Indiana Tech rounded out the unchanged top four, while Oklahoma City climbed into the top five after another strong weekend. Cumberlands (Ky.) posted the largest jump of the poll, rising four spots to No. 9, while Cumberland slipped one position.

Individually, the rankings produced two new No. 1 wrestlers nationally, with Andrew Voiles of Southeastern taking over the top spot at 141 and John Wiley of Oklahoma City moving to No. 1 at 157 after earning NAIA Wrestler of the Week honors.

The Phoenix place eight wrestlers in the individual rankings highlighted by Victor Guzman at No. 1 at 149. Jared Dinh and Sammy Shires are at No. 2 and No. 3 at 141 while Rocco Horvath and Tyler Rowland remain inside the Top 10.

At 125 pounds, Chase Walker climbed three spots to No. 20 in the latest rankings. Walker owns an 8-2 record on the season and is riding a six-match winning streak. Jared Dinh slipped one spit No. 2 nationally. Dinh holds a 3-1 record on the year. Also at 141, Shires remained steady at No. 3 in the poll. Shires is 11-1 on the season and carries a four-match winning streak and had a big first period tech fall last night.

At 149 pounds, Victor Guzman held firm as the No. 1 wrestler in the nation. Guzman is a perfect 11-0 on the season with an 11-match winning streak. He has earned MSC Wrestler of the Week honors one time this season. Ethan Gomez remained ranked No. 20 for the second consecutive rating at 165. Gomez owns a 12-4 record and enters the next stretch of the season on a four-match winning streak.

Anthony Pyron stayed locked in at No. 16 nationally. Pyron holds a 10-2 record on the year and has won six straight matches. Rocco Horvath maintained his position at No. 7 in the country at 184. Horvath is 5-1 on the season and picked up a pinfall last night moving up a weight class.

Rounding out the ranked Phoenix wrestlers, Tyler Rowland held steady at No. 10 at 197 pounds. Rowland is 9-1 on the year and rides a five-match winning streak.

The Phoenix are about to get in the brunt of their conference schedule after defeating Midway yesterday. CU will travel to No. 17 Lindsey Wilson next Tuesday before hitting the Missouri Valley College Invite.

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Players Mentioned

Jared Dinh: 5' 7"; Junior

Ethan Gomez: 5' 4"; Junior

Victor Guzman: 5' 8"; Senior

Rocco Horvath: 5' 9"; Junior

Anthony Pyron: 5' 10"; Junior

Tyler Rowland: 6' 0"; Junior

Sammy Shires: 5' 7"; Junior

Chase Walker: 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jared Dinh
: 5' 7"; Junior

Ethan Gomez
: 5' 4"; Junior

Victor Guzman
: 5' 8"; Senior

Rocco Horvath
: 5' 9"; Junior

Anthony Pyron
: 5' 10"; Junior

Tyler Rowland
: 6' 0"; Junior

Sammy Shires
: 5' 7"; Junior

Chase Walker
: 5' 4"; Freshman