InterMat Rankings

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - InterMat has released its preseason Dual Meet Rankings, as well as its Tournament Rankings for the 2014-15 season. The Illinois wrestling team comes in at 11th in the Dual Meet Rankings and 14th in the Tournament Rankings.

Big Ten foes Minnesota, Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State are all in the top five of each poll. Each ranking has the Gophers as the top ranked squad, with Ohio State and Iowa coming in at second and third, respectively. Cornell comes in at number four, while Penn State rounds out the top five.

In the rankings for individual weight classes, seven Illini grapplers are ranked in the top 20. Two-time defending national champion Jesse Delgado is the top wrestler at 125 pounds. Zane Richards comes in at sixth in the 133-pound weight class, while Steven Rodrigues is 20th at 141 pounds. At 157 pounds, Isaiah Martinez is tabbed for 11th, and the 165-pound list has Jackson Morse at 12th. Zac Brunson finds himself ranked 13th at 174 pounds to begin the season, while Nikko Reyes is 19th at 184 pounds.

The Illini begin the season this Sunday, Nov. 2 with wrestle-offs at Huff Hall. The first official competition will be the following weekend, as the team welcomes Northern Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville and Rider to Huff Hall for Illini Quad on Sunday, Nov. 9.