CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sophomore DeAndre Nassar of the Cleveland State University wrestling team finds himself nationally ranked for the first time in his collegiate career as the regular season draws to a close.
Nassar was listed in the first NCAA coaches ranking that was released late this week in conjunction with the announcement of the conference pre-allocation allotments.
Nassar checked in at No. 33 in the rankings at 184 pounds. He was the fourth-highest ranked wrestler in the Mid-American Conference at his weight.
Nassar is off to a team-best 5-1 start in this shortened season. His only loss of the campaign came in a sudden-victory session to David Key of Navy, who checked in at No. 18 in the rankings.
The NCAA coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. For the first ranking, wrestlers must have two Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one coming within the last 30 days.
Nassar placed seventh at the 2020 MAC Championships as a true freshman after having entered the event unseeded. He was the highest placing freshman at his weight and finished the season with 21 wins overall.
Nassar and the Vikings will close the regular season this Sunday, Feb. 14, at Ohio.