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Wrestling | 11/5/2014 5:17:00 AM | Brent Harris Wabash is ranked third nationally in the 2014-15 preseason rankings released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. While appreciative of earning a place in the top-three positions, this Little Giant team has only one spot that on their mind --- finishing as national champions. "I think the number-three ranking says we're doing the right things as a program," Wabash head coach Brian Andersonsaid. "Our expectation this year is to get a qualifier to nationals in all 10 weight classes. If we do that and compete the way I expect us to, we could bring a very special trophy back to this school. We need to stay focused on our efforts week in and week out by making progress individually. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself." Wabash received 28 total points in the preseason poll conducted the NWCA. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was the top selection with 31 points. Messiah College earned 29 points for second. Delaware Valley College sits in fourth with 27 points, followed by Coe College in fifth with 21 points. The Little Giant wrestling team's social media efforts continue to be rewarded, as well. Wabash ranks 22nd in the first NWCA/Elite Level Sports Marketing Best of Brand Rankings. Last year Wabash sent six wrestlers to nationals, including four returning competitors who are listed in the top-10 individual rankings to open the season. Tommy Poynter is ranked ninth at 125 pounds to open the year. Conner Lefever is listed third at 174 pounds. Reece Lefever, who earned All-America honors for the second consecutive season with a fourth-place finish at 157 pounds, is ranked third in that weight class to open the season. Riley Lefever claimed the first national championship for a Wabash wrestler by winning the 184-pound weight class in his freshman season. He earned d3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year honors and is picked number one in the preseason rankings at 184 pounds. "Having four returning wrestlers who competed at nationals sets a great tone for our team," Anderson said. "The other wrestlers on our team realize qualifying for nationals is an attainable goal." Wabash finished ninth overall in the team scoring at last year's national championship meet. Reece Lefever knows this year's preseason ranking is more tribute than reality. "It's cool to be ranked third and receive that type of recognition for what we accomplished last year," Reece Lefever said. "But our goal this year is not to get third, it's to finish first. That's what we're training for this season. We know we wrestle against top-level competition every week. That will help us get ready for nationals this year, as well." Reece's twin brother, Conner, and younger brother, Riley, understand the tone the veteran members of the team need to provide to the team if the Little Giants are going to achieve their goal of ten qualifiers. "I'm trying to lead by example this year," Conner Lefever said. "I'm not the type of guy who talks a lot, but I want to work hard in practice and do the extra things that are necessary to qualify for nationals and earn a place on the podium as a national champion." "Our motto this year is 'One Vision'," Riley Lefever added. "The fact we're ranked third changes nothing. It's definitely a sign of respect for what we accomplished as a team last season, but this is a new season. The coaches have stressed having the veteran wrestlers work with the younger wrestlers to show them the level of effort it takes to earn that place at nationals." Poynter expects nothing to be easy this season as he charts a course to return to nationals and a chance to earn All-America honors and a national title in his senior season. "I need to keep working hard this year just like I did last year," he said. "I'm working to be a good student-athlete here at Wabash, represent the College and our team both academically and on the mat. I feel a tremendous responsibility. I am trying to do all the right things to show hard work and perseverance can help achieve those goals." The path back to nationals starts next Thursday when the Little Giants face Olivet College. The dual meet will take place at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne at 7 p.m. Prior to the official start of the season, the Little Giants will compete in the annual Red-White duals Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Click here to view the article

I am pretty certain that Pepple, Konrath, and Hildebrandt were all seeded.

I didn't make it over to that side on Sunday.

Here are some pictures from this weekend

The cool thing is Red, Rypel, and Hughes all return for next year! Could have three going for a belt. Also you can add in the Lee's(Brayton, Joe, and Nick), guys like Konrath, Reitz, Crary, and so on who can all do well at a tournament like this. More on this later....just got home and need some sleep.

Timberman is probably the first Indiana kid to win the Freakshow

Harvey lost late. Red going for the belt, Pepple, Hughes, and Rypel for third

Forte got hurt in his match and injury defaulted

Pepple, Red, and Hughes in the semis. Rypel the only one left in the consolation

Wrestlers still alive 113 Pepple-Championship 120 Elliot- championship 126 Red- Championship 132 Brayton Lee- Consi 152 Hughes- Championship Forte- Consi 160 Harvey- Consi 182 Rypel- Championship Championship wrestlers need to win one to place, consolation need to win 2

James and Lee aren't here

The season doesn't officially start until November 15th

What does that have to do with anything? Forte lost to two of the top kids in the nation that weekend. The bracket had three nationally ranked individuals on the same side, which meant one got 1st, one 3rd and one would end up 7th. Valencia and Smith met in the quarter-finals. These are NATIONALLY RANKED individuals. There were no nationally ranked wrestlers in Cananaugh's weight. Having success at Cadet 94lbs isn't exactly going to translate into 106lbs. Also he didn't win any cadet styles this past year. He had losses to guys that are not ranked currently and no wins against ranked kids that I saw after a quick glance. He is right where he should be right now, if he does well, he will enter the rankings. It won't be tough with the schedule Penn wrestles.

Forte lost to Joe Smith and Valencia, he was the third best kid there.

He didn't place at Fargo.

Brackets will be on Super32.com probably REALLY late Friday or REALLY early Saturday.

We have never had those records on this website. We have had the career wins and pins records, but NEVER any team records. The individual history will return, just not sure when.

Awesome pin and a little excitement

Posting an instagram picture and video David Taylor and his idol Coach Harper Cool video

ANGOLA, IND.-- Trine wrestlers Mack Green and Brandon Preston are both nationally-ranked in the first National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III rankings. A reigning All-American, Green (Buchanan, Mich./Buchanan) is ranked third in the Heavyweight division. Preston (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) is ranked ninth among 133-lb wrestlers. Each wrestler appeared in the NCAA Division III National Championships last season. Green earned All-American recognition with a fifth-place finish, while Preston finished with a 1-2 record at the national meet. The NWCA ranks the top 10 wrestlers in each class throughout the season. Click Here for NWCA Rankings Green concluded last season with a 33-8 record. That mark was good enough for Green to tie for the third-highest win total in a season in school-history. The senior placed first at both the Mid-States Tournament and Trine University Invitational. A 5-2 performance in the National Championships capped off his junior season with All-America honors. Defending-National Champion James Buss of Loras College, and reigning third-place finisher Zach Roseberry of Delaware Valley are the only two wrestlers ranked ahead of Green. Preston battled through injuries and was still able to earn a National Championship berth last season, as he concluded the year with a 25-15 record. Included in that record were five wins by pin, two by tech fall and five by major decision. Preston has appeared in the National Championships at both the 125-lb and 133-lb weight classes. Also included among last season's highlights for Preston was a first-place finish in the Ohio Northern Invitational, and a second-place finish at the Mid-States Tournament. Trine opens the season Saturday, Nov. 8 at Muskegon (Mich.) Community College's Ben McMullen Open. The Thunder will host the Trine Invitational Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. Click here to view the article