2020-2021 NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll – No. 3
 
Kansas City, MO – Austin Franco saw a boost in his ranking, moving the team up two spots as well in the third season poll. The Patriots men's wrestling team now ranks at the edge of the top-ten at number-11, as announced by the NAIA office on Thursday.
 
Franco moved to number-four in the NAIA at 125 pounds. Aaron Johnson also saw the highest ranking among Patriots at fourth too as a heavyweight. Both weight classes are crowded with MSC competition as four of the top-five slots belong to conference contenders.
 
Tomorrow, January 8, the Patriots will travel to Indianapolis for their first duals of the year. Along with host Marian – tied for 13th – Cumberlands will also see a top-ten foe in the form of number-five Indiana Tech. The duals will begin at 10 am; fans are limited to Marian fans only and live streaming will be available through the MU Knights TV on YouTube.
 
Now a top wrestler in the country, Franco is likely to match-up with #17 Ty Haskins against Marian, who is 2-0 on the year. Johnson, meanwhile, will likely rematch #10 Ethan Bunce of Marian. Earlier this season at the Patriot Open, Johnson took down Bunce in a 7-2 decision.
 
Patriots are led by Bryce Nickel at 141, who remained at #15 in the polls. The Warriors have a pair of potential foes both ranked individually, #6 Connor Gimson and #9 Kyle Kantola. Nickel will also likely be challenged by #11 Blake Mulkey of Marian, who defeated Nickel in a fierce 6-5 decision at the Patriot Open.
 
Chasen Brown remained at 18th in the polls as a 149 pounder. He defeated Mason Miranda of Marian earlier this season in a 4-2 decision at the Patriot Open, however the Knights also have ranked #9 Bailey Moore at their disposal.
 
Both Jacob McNutt and Weston Milnes hold steady at 14th and 17th respectively at 157 pounds. The timeshare will likely showcase a match against Nick Gates, #15 for Indiana Tech, this weekend in Indy. Also a potential key match-up will be against sixth-ranked Kevin Almond of Midway next week, with whom Milnes went toe-to-toe with in a 10-8 decision loss in the Patriot Open finals.
 
Returning wrestler Jarod Swank remains ranked 12th at 174 pounds. Indiana Tech, meanwhile, has Kolby Ferris, 10th-ranked, as a possible man in the line-up.
 
Six MSC Schools were once again noted in the NAIA Coaches Poll, led by Life University in the number two spot. Three more conference schools received votes for at least one wrestler being ranked for their weight class. Leading for the third straight poll this season is the reigning national champion, Grand View (IA).
 
The next poll is scheduled for Thursday, January 21. In addition to the Marian Duals, the Patriots will also travel to Midway for their MSC opener on Thursday. A week later, they open their home season with a match-up with top-ten ranked Cumberland on January 20.
 
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