Seven Wrestlers Land In First NCAA Coaches' Rankings

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Seven North Carolina wrestlers were ranked in the first NCAA Coaches' Rankings for the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, announced Thursday morning.

Spencer Moore (No. 12 at 125), Ethan Oakley (No. 12 at 133), Jayden Scott (No. 19 at 141), Lachlan McNeil (No. 5 at 149), Sonny Santiago (No. 20 at 157), Joshua Ogunsanya (No. 18 at 174) and Gavin Kane (No. 21 at 184) were among the Tar Heel representation.

The coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of 16 coaches in each weight class, with two head coaches from each of the eight conferences.

With an overall record of 12-4, Moore has five dual wins on the year thus far. The Crittenden, Ky. product has been named the ACC's Wrestler of the Week twice this season, holding two top-15 wins to his resume.

In his first season in Chapel Hill, Oakley holds 14 wins to his resume this season, six of which have come in duals. A transfer from Appalachian State, Oakley began ACC action with back-to-back wins, a decision over Dillon Campbell of Virginia Tech and a decision last Friday against Duke's Raymond Adams.

Scott, a redshirt-sophomore, has nine wins on the year, three of which are bonus-point victories. The Henrietta, N.Y. product began the 2024-25 campaign with five-straight wins, as well as a defeat over No. 9 Mosha Schwartz of Oklahoma at Southern Scuffle.

A two-time All-America for the Tar Heels, McNeil is tied with Oakley for a team-best 14 wins on the campaign, eight of which have come with bonus points. Bumping up to 149 pounds prior to the year, McNeil has faced seven ranked wrestlers during the year.

Earning his first NCAA Championship berth a year ago, Santiago has seven wins this season, four of which have come in dual action. The Tar Heel 157-pounder collected his first ranked win on the year against Illinois' 20^th-ranked Jason Kraisser in November, a 10-3 decision.

A transfer from Columbia, Ogunsanya has seven wins on the year, including a 2-0 mark in ACC duals. Ogunsanya made his Carolina debut at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals in December, collecting two wins in his first Tar Heel action. The Illinois native made his Carmichael Arena debut against Virginia Tech two weeks ago, collecting a 7-5 decision against 13^th-ranked Lennox Wolak.

Kane, a 2023 All-America, has 13 wins on the season and eight dual wins during the year. The Milton, Ga. product has four ranked victories during the campaign, highlighted by a top-10 win against Illinois' Edmond Ruth.

Players Mentioned

Gavin Kane

Lachlan McNeil

Spencer Moore

Ethan Oakley

Joshua Ogunsanya

Sonny Santiago

Jayden Scott

Related Videos