University of Oklahoma Athletics

Darrien Roberts Virginia Duals
Photo by: Keith Lucas/Sideline Media

Seven Sooners Named in Initial Coaches Rankings

January 25, 2022 | Wrestling

NORMAN – The NCAA released its first Division I coaches rankings last week with seven Oklahoma wrestlers making the initial list. These rankings are one of several criteria used to determine at-large bids and seeding for the NCAA tournament at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit Mar. 17-19.Ā 

Joey Prata, Justin Thomas, Joe Grello, Anthony Mantanona, Darrien Roberts, Jake Woodley and Josh Heindselman each made the coaches' rankings in their respective weight classes, putting a Sooners' wrestler in seven of the ten lists. The program had seven NCAA qualifiers last season and have had 629 all-time.Ā 

At 133 and 149 pounds, Tony Madrigal and Mitch Moore did not meet the minimum requirements for the first set of rankings. The next batch is scheduled to be released on Feb. 20 and both will become eligible for consideration if they take the mat before then.Ā 

In the other national rankings, OU has ten wrestlers appearing across the rankings for the seventh time this season. Nine are ranked by FloWrestling with two top-10 distinctions and six honorable mentions. Intermat also ranks nine Sooners.Ā 

Justin Thomas and Anthony Mantanona both moved up in their weight classes as each picked up ranked wins over the weekend. The pair also extended their active win streaks to six and five respectively.Ā 

TheĀ No. 20 Sooners take on No. 10 Iowa State on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in McCasland Field House and then dual against Northern Iowa on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
WR Highlights: NCAA Championships (Day One)
Thursday, March 19
WR Highlights: Big 12 Championship (Day Two)
Saturday, March 07
WR Highlights: Big 12 Championship (Day One)
Friday, March 06
WR Highlights: OU 31, Arizona State 9
Sunday, February 08