Kansas City, Mo. - Five members of the Central Methodist University women's wrestling team are ranked in the Top-20 of their respective weight classes, and as a team, Central continues to receive votes in the NAIA Women's Wrestling Coaches' Top-20 Poll per the national office announcement Thursday afternoon. 

Sophomore Giovanna Loza is currently ranked No. 15 in the 123-pound weight class, while Autumn Barela is ranked No. 16 at 130-pounds. Nevaeh Cassidy (17th/143), Rachel Rodawald (20th/155), and Yahaira Vargas (20th/191) are also ranked nationally. Loza is also the top ranked CMU wrestler in the Heart, currently ranked No. 3 in her respective weight class.

In addition to Central receiving votes, five other Heart teams were also featured in the Top-20 poll including; No. 3 Grand View, No. 10 Baker, No. 11 Missouri Valley College, and (RV) William Penn. 

Poll Methodology

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
• Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot.
• The top 20 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first place vote, 19 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
• The postseason poll is determined using the individual and team results from the national championship

CMU is next set to compete in the Viking Open hosted by Grand View University on Saturday, Feb. 6 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Des Moines, Iowa.

To view the complete Top-20 poll, please click here. 

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