Three Mocs listed among NCAA wrestling RPI
The NCAA released the second of four coaches’ panel rankings and the debut reveal of the ratings percentage index (RPI) for the 2018-2019 wrestling season this past Thursday.
UTC is represented in the coaches’ panel rankings by junior Chris Debien and sophomore Fabian Gutierrez. Senior Connor Tolley joins Debien and Gutierrez in the RPI listings.
The final rankings are tools used as part of the selection process to determine qualifiers and seeding for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 21-23 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Wrestlers in each weight class are measured by winning percentage, RPI and coaches’ rankings to earn allocation spots for their qualifying tournaments for the championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. The RPI is calculated based on results versus Division I wrestlers and rankings only include wrestlers that have a minimum of 17 results versus Division I opponents.
Debien is No. 32 in the Coaches Panel rankings and No. 21 in the RPI at 141 pounds. Gutierrez is No. 23 in the Coaches Panel and No. 10 in the RPI at 125. He is still battling senior Alonzo Allen for the Mocs’ starting spot at the SoCon Tournament on March 10 in Boone, N.C. Tolley rounds out the group at No. 32 in the heavyweight RPI.
Debien is 22-10 overall and 6-0 in SoCon matches. He was won 15 of his last 20, including a sixth place finish at the Southern Scuffle. Gutierrez was ranked in the Intermat Top-20 earlier in the year and carries a 16-4 record. He was the SoCon Wrestler of the Week after winning the Hokie Open in November.
Tolley has come on strong as of late and is the reigning SoCon Wrestler of the Week. His two wins last weekend helped the Mocs capture a share of the Southern Conference Regular Season Title. He is 16-13 overall.
Chattanooga closes out the 20182019 regular season with a trip to Indiana on Feb. 24.