Hartmann, Kerr-Brown Garner Preseason Rankings

DURHAM, N.C.—A pair of Blue Devils will begin the 2014-15 wrestling season ranked among the best according to InterMat's preseason Division I wrestling rankings released today. Redshirt senior Immanuel Kerr-Brown and redshirt junior Conner Hartmann both garnered top 20 billings in their respective weight classes.

Hartmann leads the way at No. 5 at 197 pounds following his All-American finish in 2014. The Port Orchard, Wash., native is coming off of a career-best 27-11 campaign and looks to build on his fifth-place finish at NCAA Championships a year ago. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Hartmann is 47-22 for his career and is the highest ranked ACC wrestler at 197 pounds.

Hartmann will likely dual against three other wrestlers among the top 25 in No. 12 Nick Bonaccorsi of Pittsburg, Zach Nye of Virginia at No. 14 and 17th-ranked Max Huntley of Michigan.

Kerr-Brown, a 2014 NCAA qualifier at 157 pounds, earned the No. 20 spot. The Rome, Ga., native turned in a phenomenal junior campaign with a career-best 26-13 record en route to earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. Kerr-Brown took third at ACC Championships and advanced to the second day of competition at NCAA Championships. He is 57-43 for his career and is among three ACC wrestlers represented in the rankings at 157 pounds.

Minnesota tops the team rankings with Ohio State coming it at No. 2. Duke is scheduled to go up against six of the top 25 teams in InterMat's Tournament rankings, including No. 10 Nebraska at home Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.

Duke officially gets its season underway Nov. 9 at the Hokie Open.

#GoDuke