TheMat.com North American Women's College Wrestling Poll for has been published for February  2006.

These rankings come out prior to the two big women's college championships for the season. The CIS Championships, which is the Canadian college nationals, will be held at Brock Univ. in St. Catherines, Ontario, March 3-4. The U.S. College Nationals, which will have both a dual meet tournament and an individual tournament, will be held at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky., March 10-11.

Simon Fraser Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, coached by Mike Jones, retains No. 1 position in the poll, with 100 points and all five first place votes. Simon Fraser won the team title at the Canada West Championships in February.

The Univ. of Calgary, from Alberta, Canada, coached by Mitch Ostberg, placed No. 2 in the voting this month. Calgary placed second in the Canada West Championships.

The Univ. of the Cumberlands, drops to No. 3 in the poll this month. The Univ. of the Cumberlands is a NAIA school in Kentucky coached by Kip Flanik. Some members of the Cumberland team competed in the Western Open this month, and a few others wrestled at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.

No. 4 in the poll was Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school coached by Carl Murphree, moving up from the No. 3 spot last month. Some members of the Missouri Valley team competed in the Western Open this month, and a few others wrestled at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.

The Univ. of Saskatchewan, from Saskatchwan, Canada, coached by Todd Hinds, fell one spot to No. 5 in the poll. Saskatchewan placed third in the Canada West Championships.

Rounding out the Top 10 were No. 6 Brock Univ., No. 7 Lakehead Univ., No. 8 the Univ. of Western Ontario, No. 9 the Univ. of Regina and No. 10 Pacific Univ.

A total of 20 teams were ranked, and other teams receiving votes were also recognized. The February 2006 poll can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=894

The team ranking poll is elected by a panel of women's college coaches, three from Canada and two from the United States. Eligible for ranking are college varsity and club women's wrestling programs.

There are eight weight classes ranked in Women's College wrestling. They are the seven international weight classes contested in Senior-level women's wrestling, plus an additional weight class which is recognized by North American women's college programs as their highest weight division (82 kg).

There was only one new No. 1 ranked wrestler in the latest rankings, Terri McNutt of Western Ontario at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

Mary Kelly of the USOEC program at Northern Michigan dropped down to 48 kg/105.5 lbs. after competing up at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. most of the season. Kelly becomes the No. 1 ranked wrestler at her new weight division.

Simon Fraser Univ. had two No. 1 ranked athletes who retained their top ranking: Emily Richardson at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Shayla Turcotte at 80 kg/176 lbs.

Others who retained No. 1 rankings from last month were Brittany Lavadure of Calgary at 55 kg/121 lbs., Alaina  Berube of the Univ. of Cumberlands at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Megan Buydens of Saskatchewan at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Stephany Lee of Missouri Valley College at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

The February 2006 North American Women's College Individual rankings can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=895

The individual rankings are selected by TheMat.com, with assistance from coaches. Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women's varsity or club program, or a member of their college men's wrestling team. 

Women's wrestling is a growing sport in Canada and the United States on the college level. Women's freestyle wrestling was the newest sport in the Summer Olympic Games, making its debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The United States and Canada are among the most successful women's wrestling nations in the world.

Copyright 2006 by USA Wrestling and TheMat.com.