Wrestling ranked No. 24 in fourth NWCA poll; Barcaskey, Davidson ranked as individuals
By Tim Glon
| NWCA Poll |
ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling team is ranked No. 24 in the fourth National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III poll, released Tuesday evening.
The Polar Bears (4-3 overall, 0-2 Ohio Athletic Conference) are making their first appearance in the poll this season. ONU has now been ranked in consecutive seasons and for the sixth time in the past eight seasons under 30th-year head coach Ron Beaschler.
Wartburg (Iowa) is ranked No. 1, Johnson & Wales (R.I.) is second and Augsburg (Minn.) is third.
Individually, junior Clayton Davidson (Kirtland) is ranked No. 9 nationally at 174 pounds and sophomore Nate Barcaskey (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) is ranked No. 7 at heavyweight.
The Polar Bears will return to action on Thursday against Cortland State (N.Y.) in the first round of the NWCA National Duals at Fort Wayne, Ind.
NWCA Poll #4 - Dec. 31, 2017
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Record | Last Week |
| 1. | Wartburg (Iowa) | 8-1 | 2 |
| 2. | Johnson & Wales (R.I.) | 5-0 | 1 |
| 3. | Augsburg (Minn.) | 5-1 | 5 |
| 4. | Ithaca (N.Y.) | 4-1 | 3 |
| 5. | Loras (Iowa) | 8-0 | 4 |
| 6. | Wisconsin-Whitewater | 5-3 | 6 |
| 7. | Wabash (Ind.) | 1-0 | 7 |
| 8. | Baldwin Wallace | 11-1 | 8 |
| 9. | Ferrum (Va.) | 5-1 | 9 |
| 10. | Stevens (N.J.) | 2-1 | 10 |
| 11. | Coe (Iowa) | 3-2 | 11 |
| 12. | Central (Iowa) | 2-1 | 12 |
| 13. | Mount Union | 8-0 | 13 |
| 14. | Messiah (Pa.) | 4-4 | 14 |
| 15. | Wisconsin-LaCrosse | 4-1 | 15 |
| 16. | North Central (Ill.) | 6-0 | 16 |
| 17. | Chicago (Ill.) | 4-0 | 17 |
| 18. | Roger Williams (R.I.) | 5-0 | 18 |
| 19. | WPI (N.Y.) | 6-0 | 19 |
| 20. | Wesleyan (Conn.) | 0-0 | 20 |
| 21. | Centenary (N.J.) | 0-0 | 21 |
| 22. | Waynesburg (Pa.) | 6-3 | 22 |
| 23. | Brockport State (N.Y.) | 1-0 | 23 |
| 24. | Ohio Northern | 4-3 | NR |
| 25. | Coast Guard (Conn.) | 2-1 | NR |