Wrestling Program Third in National Power Ranking

Friedman’s fanatics should be very pleased by the latest Division 1 wrestling rankings as released by Wrestling International Newsmagazine (W.I.N). In the preseason dual rankings for the 2008-2009 season Cornell is ranked fourth, trailing only midwestern powerhouses Iowa (the defending NCAA Champion), Ohio State and Iowa State. [img_assist|nid=31526|title=To resist is useless|desc=Senior Jordan Leen executes a pin during a Feb. 23, 2008 dual match against Harvard.|link=node|align=left|width=|height=0]
According to W.I.N’s Tournament Power Index (T.P.I), the Red is ranked third, again, only trailing champion Iowa and Iowa State. T.P.I predicts how well a school’s individual wrestlers—each with their own assigned ranking—would finish in the NCAA tournament.
Under the passionate eye of veteran head coach Rob Koll Cornell has eight national qualifiers returning to its squad this year, including six All-Americans and senior NCAA champion Jordan Leen. In addition, the Red has seven wrestlers who are individually ranked in the top ten for their weight class.
Junior Troy Nickerson in ranked fifth in the preseason at 133 pounds. Sophomore Mike Grey ranks fifth in his weight category of 141 pounds.
Leen, at 157 pounds, is ranked first in the nation. Sophomore Mack Lewnes is second in his division at 165 pounds. Senior Steve Anceravage currently holds fourth place at 174 pounds. At 184 pounds junior Josh Arnone is ranked seventh in the country, and at heavyweight senior Zach Hammond also makes the cut with a tenth place ranking.
The only other Ancient Eight team to crack the top-25 of W.I.N’s dual rankings was Penn, ranked 21st.