Four Rams ranked in NWCA Poll

Senior 125-pounder Timothy Hood and sophomore 197-pounder Alex Coolidge climbed into the individual rankings, giving Cornell four rated wrestlers in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Poll released Tuesday.

Heading the group is senior Nicholas Loughlin, who has maintained his No. 2 ranking at 157 pounds since late November. Loughlin stands 14-4 on the season and is unbeaten against NCAA Division III foes.

Senior Joe Hambleton dropped one spot to No. 4 at 165. He leads the team in wins with a 20-3 record. Hambleton notched his 100th career victory during a third-place showing at the Citrus Invitational Dec. 29-30. He has won 11 of his last 12 matches.

Hood came in at No. 10 at 125, returning to the poll for the first time since the preseason. He is the reigning Iowa Conference Male Athlete of the Week after claiming the Citrus title last week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Hood is 16-4 with a current seven-match winning streak.

Coolidge made his first appearance in the rankings at No. 10 at 197. He sports a 12-5 record and placing third in the Citrus Invitational.

Cornell (6-2 overall, 1-0 IIAC) slid one spot to No. 6 in the NWCA Team Poll. The Rams are coming off a third-place finish at the Citrus Invitational.

The IIAC has five teams ranked in the top 20, led by Wartburg which held on to the No. 1 spot. Coe is No. 5, Luther No. 11 and Dubuque No. 16.