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

These rankings reflect results from the winter tournament and dual meet schedule in both Canada and the United States. Also considered were the Canadian qualifying events for the CIS Championships, which were held last week. 

The top five teams remained unchanged from the previous poll.

Taking all five first place votes for the second straight poll to hold its No. 1 ranking was the Univ. of Calgary, coached by Mitch Ostberg. The Dinos won the team title at the Canada West Championships, a qualifying event for the CIS Nationals.

Claiming No. 2 was the Univ. of the Cumberlands, a NAIA school in Kentucky coached by Kip Flanik. The Patriots won the NWCA Women's College Duals this year, and have had very strong team efforts in tournaments both North and South of the border.

Ranked No. 3 was Simon Fraser Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, coached by Mike Jones. The Clan placed second in the 2007 Canada West Championships. 

No. 4 in the poll was Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school coached by Carl Murphree, and is a traditional power in U.S. women's college wrestling. 

No. 5 in the poll was the Univ. of Regina, a CIS and NAIA school in Saskatchewan, Canada, coached by Leo McGee. Regina was third in the Canada West Championships.

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

Western Ontario won the team title at the OUA Championships, one of the CIS qualifying events. Brock was second in the OUA Championships and Lakehead was third. The Univ. of Saskatchewan was fourth in the Canada West Championships. Pacific Univ. has had an active and successful season in tournaments and dual meets this year.

A total of 20 teams were ranked, and other teams receiving votes were also recognized. The February 2007 poll can be found at:
 http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=970

The team ranking poll is elected by a panel of women's college coaches. 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).

Five of the eight top-ranked wrestlers claimed No. 1 rankings for the first time this year. They were Jessica Medina of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Andrea Ross of Calgary at 55 kg/121 lbs., Othella Lucas of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 59 kg/130 lbs., Ali Bernard of Regina at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. and Megan Goldsmith of Calgary at 82 kg/180.5 lbs.

The other three No. 1 ranked athletes held onto their top spots: Sara Fulp Allen of Menlo College at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Alaina Berube of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Heather Martin of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 67 kg/158.5 lbs.

The Univ. of the Cumberlands had the most No. 1 athletes with four (Medina, Lucas, Berube, Martin). The Univ. of Calgary had two top-ranked wrestlers (Ross, Goldsmith)

Of the eight top-ranked wrestlers, five attend college in the United States and three attend college in Canada.

The February 2007 North American Women's College Individual rankings can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=971

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.