COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Wrestling was tabbed No. 12 in the first edition of the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Coaches Poll, announced Friday by the organization.

With a majority of Division I programs beginning competition this weekend, the NWCA has begun its annual team rankings. Released weekly, the NWCA Division I Coaches Poll is based on dual meet results throughout the season. Future 2021 NWCA polls will be as follows: Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23.

Mizzou will feature one of the nation's toughest schedules in its abbreviated 2021 campaign. 11 of the Tigers' scheduled opponents are ranked top 25 or receiving votes. Mizzou's premier tri-dual will occur in Ames, Iowa (Jan. 17), as it will face No. 9 Iowa State, No. 11 Arizona State and No. 24 Northern Iowa.

The Tigers' first nationally ranked foe will be in their 2021 home opener, as No. 21 Central Michigan makes its way to the Hearnes Center (Jan. 8).

The NWCA Division I Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, 24 points for a second-place vote, 23 for a third-place vote and so on through to one point for a 25th-place vote. Teams who aren't competing this season aren't included in the voting process.

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