OU Ranked No. 4 in Preseason Poll

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma wrestling team will begin the 2013-14 season as the fourth-ranked squad, according to InterMat's preseason rankings released Tuesday.

The Sooners share the No. 4 spot with conference rival Oklahoma State with a total of 70.5 points. Penn State, three-time defending NCAA Champion, is ranked No. 1 with 100.5 points, Iowa is second (99.0) and Minnesota is third (83.0). Fellow Big 12 team Iowa State sits in eighth (35.0).

Oklahoma returns six All-Americans for the season, and all of them are ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight classes.

Two Sooners will start the year pegged as the No. 1 wrestlers in their weight classes. Defending national champion and two-time All-American Kendric Maple will begin the season as the No. 1 wrestler at 149 pounds. Three-time All-American and 2010 NCAA Champion Andrew Howe is ranked No. 1 at 174.

Redshirt senior Jarrod Patterson will enter the season ranked No. 5 at 125 pounds, while Cody Brewer will begin his redshirt sophomore campaign at No. 6 in the 133-pound weight class. Travis Rutt is also ranked in the top 10, sitting at No. 5 at 197 pounds.

Redshirt senior Nick Lester will start the season ranked No. 13 in the 141-pound weight class.

The Sooners will host their annual Red/White Scrimmage at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in McCasland Field House before beginning the regular season at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, as they host Shorter College at Southmoore High School.

To see InterMat's complete team and individual rankings, visit here.

Players Mentioned

Cody Brewer

Cody Brewer

Andrew Howe

Andrew Howe

Nick Lester

Kendric Maple

Kendric Maple

Jarrod Patterson

Jarrod Patterson

Travis Rutt

Travis Rutt

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics