In October 2025, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its latest rankings as part of the Tournament Power Index (TPI). This ranking system is essential for understanding how college wrestling teams are performing, especially in relation to the NCAA tournament.
The TPI is structured around individual wrestler placements rather than team dual meets. It gives points based on where wrestlers finish in the NCAA tournament, which allows for a clear breakdown of team potential. For example, finishing in 1st place earns a team 16 points, while 2nd place brings in 12 points, and so forth down to 1 point for a 10th place finish. It’s important to note that this ranking doesn’t factor in bonus points or advances in rounds, which can bring the final NCAA tournament points higher.
Region by region, wrestling coaches are keeping a close eye on the athletes. The representatives for Region 1 include Cody Griswold from Elmira and Paulina Biega from Sacred Heart. In Region 2, Cindy Calixto of Alvernia is joined by Anibal Nieves from East Stroudsburg. Region 3 features Jessica Casperson of Southern Virginia and Breonnah Neal from Frostburg State.
Moving to Region 4, Cliff Cushard of Adrian and Joe Norton from North Central are making waves. In Region 5, we find Clarissa Chun from Iowa and Jake Wozniak of UW-Stevens Point. Finally, Region 6 is represented by Travis Mercado from Colorado Mesa and Frank Yattoni of Lindenwood.
Understanding these rankings and the athletes behind them gives insight into how teams might perform in upcoming competitions. With the NCAA wrestling season on the horizon, teams and fans alike are eagerly anticipating how these rankings will shift as wrestlers take to the mats with the goal of becoming champions.
