The first NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll for the 2010-11 season has been released. Overall five conferences are represented in the top 10 and seven conference represented in the top 25.

The NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll Committee is made up of one coach from each conference. A number one ranking is worth 25 points and a number 25 ranking is worth one point.

After a second place finish at the 2010 NCAA Tournament Cornell University starts the pre-season ranked number 1, by a unanimous vote. They are the first Ivy League team to hold the No. 1 ranking. The Big Red are returning three All-Americans including one National Champion.

Boise State jumps to No. 2 after an 11th place finish at the NCAA Championships last year, while returning two All-Americans and numerous upperclassmen. They are joined by three other Pac-10 Teams in the rankings with Arizona State, Cal Poly and Oregon State.

Oklahoma State is a close third to Boise State in terms of points, while they return three All-Americans. They Big 12 has each of their schools represented in the top 25 to start the season.

Minnesota returns three out of four All-Americans from last year as they lead the Big Ten teams in the poll. They are joined in the top 5 by Wisconsin who placed fourth a year ago, marking their best finish in school history as they return three All-Americans to the mat this year.

The University of Iowa remains in the top 10, after being the unanimous No. 1 for the entire 2009-10 season.

A new poll will be released every Tuesday from now until the week of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament and can be found at:
http://www.nwcaonline.com    

NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll
Rank/School/ Points
1. Cornell, 275 pts.
2. Boise State, 254
3. Oklahoma State, 252
4. Minnesota, 244
5. Wisconsin, 224
6. Penn State, 215
7. Iowa, 214
8. Oklahoma, 197
9. Central Michigan, 191
10. Illinois, 149
11. Missouri, 148
12. Ohio State, 137
13. Virginia Tech, 104
14. Pittsburgh, 102
15. Nebraska, 95
16. Arizona State, 80
17. Lehigh, 78
18. Michigan, 70
19. Northwestern, 65
20. Purdue, 63
21. Rutgers, 58
22. Oregon State, 56
23. Virginia, 54
24. Cal Poly, 46
25. Iowa State, 45

Others Receiving Votes: American, Binghamton, Edinboro, Hofstra, Indiana, Kent State, Maryland, Old Dominion , and Wyoming.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments.   The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling.

The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling