RELATED CLICKS:
NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings

GREELEY, Colo. - As announced Thursday by the NCAA, the University of Northern Colorado has three wrestlers named in the first of three coaches' panel rankings for the 2009-10 wrestling season. 

Senior Tony Mustari, senior Kenny Hashimoto and junior Justin Gaethje are all ranked among the top 32 in their respective weights.

The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2010 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The Western Wrestling Conference has 19 wrestlers ranked in the first rankings.

"It is a great step for our program and the WWC," said Head Coach Ben Cherrington. "It's an indication that we are getting better and earning respect across the country."

Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches' rankings to earn spots for the 2010 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches across the nation. Each qualifying tournament has five coaches rank the top 33 wrestlers in two weight classes. For ranking purposes, coaches must select a wrestler as a starter at a designated weight class. In addition, coaches may only select one wrestler per weight class.

Mustari is a three-time NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds and is listed at 29^th in first rankings and one of four Western Wrestling Conference grapplers to be ranked among the top 32.

Hashimoto advanced to the NCAA Championship in his freshman and sophomore seasons and is searching for his third trip and is ranked 20^th among the rankings. Air Force's Cole VonOhlen is ranked just ahead of Hashimoto at 18^th and two other WWC wrestlers are ranked.

Gaethje, who leads the team with 20 wins in 2009-10, is the top-ranked wrestler among the WWC, at 19^th and he is one of two ranked from the league.

"All three of our wrestlers have done a great job this year despite our very brutal schedule," stated Cherrington. "They are very deserving of those rankings."

This year's NCAA West Regional Tournament will take place March 6 in Brookings, S.D. and is hosted by South Dakota State University.

Northern Colorado is currently 0-2 in WWC duals and faces Northern Iowa on Friday at 7:00 p.m. (Central).