TheMat.com North American Women's College Wrestling Poll for has been published for January 2007.  It is the first poll of the new women's college wrestling season.

These rankings reflect results from the Lakehead North American College Duals in Canada, as well as a number of early season tournaments across Canada and the United States.

Taking all five first place votes to claim the early season No.1 was the Univ. of Calgary, coached by Mitch Ostberg. The Dinos won the team title at the Lakehead North American Duals, and had many strong performances in early individual tournaments. Calgary was second at the CIS Canadian Nationals last year.

Claiming No. 2 was the Univ. of the Cumberlands, a NAIA school in Kentucky coached by Kip Flanik. The Patriots were second to Calgary at the Lakehead North American Duals, and have been very successful in early season events.

Ranked No. 3 is Simon Fraser Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, coached by Mike Jones. The Clan won the CIS Nationals last year and finished the year as the top team in North America. 

No. 4 in the poll was Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school coached by Carl Murphree, and No. 5 in the poll was the Univ. of Regina, a CIS and NAIA school in Saskatchewan, Canada, coached by Leo McGee.

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

A total of 20 teams were ranked, and other teams receiving votes were also recognized. The January 2007 poll can be found at:
 http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=945
 

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).

Two wrestlers who finished the 2005-06 college season as No. 1 ranked athletes returned this year and claimed No. 1 rankings in January 2007: Alaina  Berube of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Stephany Lee of Missouri Valley College at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

The Univ. of the Cumberlands is the only team with more than one No. 1 ranked athlete. Joining Berube as a top-ranked wrestler in January is Heather Martin of the Univ. of the Cumberlands. Both Berube and Martin have been among the top-ranked U.S. wrestlers on the Senior level in recent seasons.

Six of the eight top-ranked wrestlers attend college in the United States. Along with Berube, Martin and Lee are Sara Fulp-Allen of Menlo College at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Kapua Torres of the Univ. of Pacific at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Brandy Rosenbrock of Central Michigan Univ. at 55 kg/121 lbs.

The two Canadian women's college wrestlers with No. 1 rankings are Michelle Fazzari of Brock Univ. at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Shayla Turcotte of Simon Fraser Univ. at 82 kg/176 lbs.

The January 2007 North American Women's College Individual rankings can be found at:
 http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=946
 

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 2007 by USA Wrestling and TheMat.com.