Pennsylvania senior Mike Ottinger wrestles against a University of Missouri wrestler at the MAC wrestling championship in the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center on Sunday, March 6, 2016.
After finishing 11-5 last season and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference, Central Michigan wrestling begins the 2016 season ranked among the conference's elite.
The MAC released its 2016-17 pre-season rankings Friday, with the Chippewas ranked third in the conference. They are slotted behind Northern Iowa and four-time defending MAC champions Missouri, lead by two time defending 197-pound national champion and Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox.
CMU wrestlers were also ranked individually in their weight classes.