INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – In the second round of the NCAA Coaches' Panel rankings, nine Mizzou Wrestling grapplers remained ranked in the top-33, announced Thursday by the organization. The rankings are the second of four to be released and will be one tool in determining qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, held March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
To be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must be designated a starter in their respective weight class, compete in five matches against Division I opponents, and have wrestled in the last 30 days.
In addition to the coaches' rankings, wrestlers will be measured by winning percentage and rating percentage index (RPI) in order to earn a spot at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
Mizzou Wrestlers Ranked
| Weight | Rank | Name |
| 125 | 11 | Barlow McGhee |
| 133 | 14 | Zach Synon |
| 141 | 6 | Matt Manley |
| 149 | 3 | Lavion Mayes |
| 157 | 29 | Le'Roy Barnes |
| 165 | 4 | Daniel Lewis |
| 174 | 5 | Blaise Butler |
| 184 | 11 | Willie Miklus |
| 197 | 2 | J'den Cox |
Five Tigers are ranked in the top-six in their respective weight classes, highlighted by redshirt senior 174-pounder Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.), who moved up to the No. 5 slot from No. 8 in the previous ranking. Since the previous rankings were announced, Butler has recorded four wins, including a 3-1 SV-1 victory over then No. 3-ranked Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) on Jan. 22. In Butler's other three wins, he has posted two wins by fall and one by major decision.Mizzou
Junior 197-pounder J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.), redshirt junior 149-pounder Lavion Mayes (Mascoutah, Ill.), redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.), and redshirt junior 141-pounder Matt Manley (Perry, Okla.), all remained locked-in to their previous positions in the top-six at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6, respectively.
Redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Ill.) and redshirt senior 157-pounder Le'Roy Barnes (Belton, Mo.) also stay at their current positions from the previous ranking, checking in at No. 11 and No. 29, respectively. Barnes is 5-3 in dual competition since moving up two weight classes to 157 pounds, with two of his losses coming to wrestlers ranked in the top-10.
Redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Atoona, Iowa) and redshirt junior 133-pounder Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) took slight dips, but stayed in the rankings, coming in at No. 11 and No. 14, respectively.
Mizzou will finish its regular season schedule with two road matchups this weekend, beginning with a dual with Appalachian State at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT tonight. On Sunday, #TigerStyle will face off against No. 3-ranked N.C. State on Sunday, with a top-spot in the NWCA National Duals possibly on the line.
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