PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The NCAA released the first coaches' ranking of the 2023-24 season. The coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the seven conferences. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one within the last 30 days.
 
Eight from Rutgers wrestling appear in the coaches' rankings, including six in the top 16 – No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT), No. 7 Dylan Shawver (133), No. 8 John Poznanski (197), No. 11 Mitch Moore (141), No. 13 Jackson Turley (174) and No. 16 Dean Peterson (125).
 
Rutgers in the First NCAA Coaches' Rankings (1/22/2024)
No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT)
No. 7 Dylan Shawver (133)
No. 8 John Poznanski (197)
No. 11 Mitch Moore (141)
No. 13 Jackson Turley (174)
No. 16 Dean Peterson (125)
No. 18 Brian Soldano (184)
No. 27 Andrew Clark (157)
No. 33 Michael Cetta (149)
 
The coaches' ranking is one of several criteria that will be evaluated by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee during the at-large selection and seeding process along with head-to-head competition, quality wins, Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents and win percentage.
 
The 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships take place March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
Rutgers returns to action on Saturday, January 27 when it hosts No. 9 Minnesota at Jersey Mike's Arena. The dual is set for 1 p.m. on Big Ten Plus.