Illinois entered last week ranked seventh in the Intermat/NWCA wrestling poll, and after Sunday's 32-4 loss to Iowa, it seemed likely that the Illini would drop a few spots in the poll.  However, the voters appear to have taken into account the sheer strength of Iowa, and the Illini remain the #7 team in the country according to Intermat, now tied with Lehigh for that spot.

No big surprises in the Intermat individual rankings, as Jimmy Kennedy is now behind Iowa's Daniel Dennis, but still ranked #3 at 133.  Mike Poeta (157) remains at #2, John Wise (Hwt) drops a couple of spots to #10, freshman Jordan Blanton (184) drops one spot to #12, and Roger Smith-Bergsrud (165) remains at #18 for the second straight week.  I continue to be a little surprised that Illini junior John Dergo (174) remains unranked, as he is ranked in every other poll that I've seen this week.

As for W.I.N. Magazine, the Illini held steady at #15 in that poll this week.  W.I.N. also releases a tournament power index (TPI) each week, and that ranking has the Illini at #11.  Individually, W.I.N. has Jimmy Kennedy at #4, Mike Poeta #2, Roger Smith-Bergsrud #17, John Dergo #14, Jordan Blanton #13 and John Wise #9.

The Amateur Wrestling News only does individual rankings, and like W.I.N., lists six Illini in their rankings this week.  Kennedy checks in at #4, Poeta at #1, Smith-Bergsrud is #16, Dergo also #16, Blanton #15 and Wise at #8.

d1collegewrestling.net has both team and individual rankings to paruse.  Their team rankings drop the Illini from #7 to #9 this week.  Individually, Jimmy Kennedy ranks #3, Poeta #4, Smith-Bergsrud #20, Dergo #21, Blanton #12, and Wise #10. 

One more poll to add to my list this week, which comes from wrestlingreport.com.  Their team rankings which are supposed to rank tournament strength (rather than dual meet strength) have Illinois at #13 this week.  Their individual rankings are unique, as they rank the top 33 at each weight class, which I believe is how many potential NCAA qualifiers there are at each weight.  As a result, more Illini are listed here.  True freshman B.J. Futrell (125) checks in at #29, Kennedy is at #3, sophomore Ryan Prater (141) squeaks in at #33, Poeta is #5, Smith-Bergsrud is #27, Dergo #14, Blanton #13, Patrick Bond (197) is #25 and Wise is #19.  One useful thing about these rankings is that it gives you an idea of how many NCAA qualifiers each school may have.  For example, if things go according to these rankings, the Illini would have nine of ten starters qualify.  Some other top schools:

Iowa: 9, Ohio State: 9, Iowa State: 10, Missouri: 9, Cornell: 9, Wisconsin: 6, Northwestern: 6, Minnesota: 7, Penn State: 7, Michigan: 8, Nebraska: 8, Boise State: 9.

bmoline@wdws.com