LITTLE ROCK - The Little Rock wrestling team will compete in their third of four home duals this month on Sunday, January 22, with a noon matchup against Northern Colorado. The Trojans, checking in at #15 in the
NWCA Division I Mid-Major Coaches Poll for the first time in program history, will welcome the challenge from the Bears, ranked #9 in the mid-major poll and receiving votes in the all-encompassing
NWCA Division I Coaches Poll.
"I'm excited to see us fall in the top 15 of the mid-major rankings," said head coach
Neil Erisman. "It's great to see the progress of our program being recognized. It's something to celebrate."
Of Sunday's dual, Coach Erisman added, "Northern Colorado has put together a great squad. Tomorrow will be a battle to the end of every match."
The dual will be streamed online
through Little Rock All-Access and live stats will be available on TrackWrestling. Trojan fans can also follow live tweets via the team page
@LittleRockWRES.
Time for Team Triumphs
Little Rock's first-time ranking in the Mid-Major Coaches Poll, which is released three times per year, acknowledges the team's progression over the past four seasons. The Trojans, sitting at 3-5 on the year, have already surpassed the program's most dual wins in a single season, with seven to go over the next month.
The
NWCA Division I Wrestling Mid-Major Coaches Poll is voted on by one coach from Division I wrestling conferences with mid-major representation. While the Trojans compete in the Pac-12 for wrestling, their all-sports conference is the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). Likewise, the Bears wrestle in the Big 12, but their athletic department as a whole is a part of the Big Sky conference.
More Firsts for the Trojans
Although on year four, the Trojans continuously collect more firsts as the program grows in strength. This month alone, Little Rock
medaled three wrestlers at the Southern Scuffle tournamnet for the first time, placed two Trojans in the national media polls, and have also
landed the same two in the season's first NCAA Coaches Poll, a ranking that contributes to the criteria for advancing to the NCAA national tournament. Those two Trojans are
Triston Wills and
Josiah Hill, coming in at #21 and #32, respectively.
Little Rock also
swept their first dual last weekend, rolling over Lindenwood for a 49-0 victory. The confidence within the team should be at an all-time high as the Trojans work their way through the thick of the season.
That confidence will be crucial against Northern Colorado, a team that has four wrestlers ranked in the NCAA Coaches Poll, including the #1 wrestler in the country at 141 pounds. There will be a ranked matchup at 174 pounds for
Triston Wills, with every ranked win necessary for qualifying for nationals at the end of the year. In addition, both
Jeremiah Reno and
Matty Bianchi have the chance to unseat ranked wrestlers, a feat that is entirely possible given the intensity that the pair has been wrestling at lately. Check out all the probables from each roster below.
Little Rock Probables
125:
Jeremiah Reno, So. (11-5)
133:
Josh Sarpy, R-So. (5-10) or
Jayden Carson, R-Jr. (10-9)
141:
Jaylen Carson, R-Jr. (1-5) or
Brennan Van Hoecke, Fr. (8-3)
149:
Joseph Bianchi, R-Jr. (7-7)
157:
Matty Bianchi, R-Fr. (8-8) or
Austin Keal, R-So. (3-8)
165:
Tyler Brennan, R-Jr. (4-2) or
Brendon Abdon, Fr. (3-5)
174: #21
Triston Wills, R-Jr. (13-5)
184:
Mason Diel, R-Fr. (6-9)
197:
Stephen Little, Fr. (7-3) or
Matthew Weinert, R-Fr. (5-7)
285: #32
Josiah Hill, R-So. (11-7)
(RV) Northern Colorado Probables
125: #10 Stevo Poulin
133: Jace Koelzer or Brady Hankin
141: #1 Andrew Alirez
149: Chris Sandoval or Benji Alanis
157: #30 Vinny Zerban or Nathan Moore
165: Baylor Fernandes
174: #25 Andrew Berreyesa
184: Branson Britten or Andrew Donahue
197: Xavier Vasquez or Remington Peterson
285: Xavier Doolin
Rankings via NCAA Coaches Poll.
For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, make sure to check out
LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWRES on
Facebook,
Instagram, and
Twitter.
#LittleRocksTeam
