Wrestling Earns Highest Ranking Ever in Preseason Poll

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team is ranked 20^th in the preseason Division I rankings, released today by D1Wrestling.net. The ranking is the highest at any time in program history, and it marks the third straight year the Cavaliers have cracked the Top 25.

Five Virginia wrestlers are listed in the individual rankings, highlighted by Chris Henrich (Jr., Lansdale, Pa.), who is No. 2 in the 174-pound class. Henrich earned All-America honors last season and went 40-3. Brent Jones (Sr., Burke, Va.) is ranked ninth at 197 pounds, while Nick Nelson (Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) is 10^th at 141 pounds. Ross Gitomer (Sr., Flemington, N.J.), returning from an injury last season, starts the season ranked No. 17 at 125 pounds, while Matt Bonson (So., Lewistown, Pa.) is 21st at 133 pounds.

Virginia has starters back at eight weight classes from last season, and also returns 2009 redshirts Michael Chaires (So., Scotia, N.Y.) and Shawn Harris (So., Cleveland, Ohio) and Danny Gonsor (So., Cleveland, Ohio) to the mix.

The Cavaliers open the 2009-10 campaign on Nov. 7 when they play host to Anderson and Campbell in a double dual at Memorial Gymnasium.

D1CollegeWrestling.net Preseason Rankings

1. Iowa

2. Iowa State

3. Ohio State

4. Cornell

5. Boise State

6. Maryland

7. Oklahoma State

8. Minnesota

9. Nebraska

10. Edinboro

11. Missouri

12. Central Michigan

13. Wisconsin

14. Oklahoma

15. Indiana

16. Illinois

17. Lehigh

18. Penn State

19. Old Dominion

20. Virginia

21. Virginia Tech

22. Kent State

23. Hofstra

24. Michigan

25. Penn