Photo by: Logan Marko
NCAA Releases First Coaches’ Ranking for 2026 Wrestling Championships
Jan 29 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The NCAA has announced the first coaches' ranking for the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
The coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of three coaches in each weight class. 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.
All 10 starters from Rutgers appear in the initial coaches' ranking, including five within in the top 20 – No. 8 Joseph Olivieri (141), No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184), No. 17 Lenny Pinto (174), No. 17 Remy Cotton (197) and No. 18 Hunter Catka (HWT).
Rutgers in the First NCAA Coaches' Rankings (1/29/2026)
125: No. 27 Ayden Smith
133: No. 27 Dylan Shawver
141: No. 8 Joseph Olivieri
149: No. 31 Andrew Clark
157: No. 26 Anthony White
165: No. 22 Andrew Barbosa
174: No. 17 Lenny Pinto
184: No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh
197: No. 17 Remy Cotton
HWT: No. 18 Hunter Catka
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.
A full description of the entire selection process for the 2026 Division I Wrestling Championships is available at ncaa.org.
The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships takes place March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, marking the third time the city will host.
The coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of three coaches in each weight class. 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.
All 10 starters from Rutgers appear in the initial coaches' ranking, including five within in the top 20 – No. 8 Joseph Olivieri (141), No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184), No. 17 Lenny Pinto (174), No. 17 Remy Cotton (197) and No. 18 Hunter Catka (HWT).
Rutgers in the First NCAA Coaches' Rankings (1/29/2026)
125: No. 27 Ayden Smith
133: No. 27 Dylan Shawver
141: No. 8 Joseph Olivieri
149: No. 31 Andrew Clark
157: No. 26 Anthony White
165: No. 22 Andrew Barbosa
174: No. 17 Lenny Pinto
184: No. 15 Shane Cartagena-Walsh
197: No. 17 Remy Cotton
HWT: No. 18 Hunter Catka
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.
A full description of the entire selection process for the 2026 Division I Wrestling Championships is available at ncaa.org.
The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships takes place March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, marking the third time the city will host.
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Wrestling Post Match Press Conference - Michigan
Saturday, January 17
Rutgers Wrestling Preview Show 2025-26
Thursday, October 23
Day in the Life of Head Coach Scott Goodale: Part 3
Thursday, October 23
Scott Goodale Preseason Press Conference
Tuesday, October 21
