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Wallace Moves Up to No. 21 in NCAA Rankings; Barket Remains No. 23
2/26/2026 11:44:00 AM | Wrestling
DURHAM, N.C. — With the regular season complete and the postseason set to open next weekend, the NCAA released its third edition of the coaches' rankings Thursday ahead of the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship. Duke's Aidan Wallace and Connor Barket are currently listed No. 21 and No. 23, respectively.Â
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In the 174-pound class, Wallace jumped six spots to No. 21 overall, while Barket remained at No. 23 at heavyweight.Â
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The coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of three coaches in each weight class. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered, with at least one within the last 30 days.
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Wallace, who hails from Mahwah, New Jersey, reached his highest ranking of the season at No. 21 as he has collected a 26-4 record on the year. He went 17-3 in dual matches and 5-1 in ACC action in 2025-26. Wallace has won eight out of his last 10 bouts. Wallace's 26 wins on the year ranks tied for third on Duke's single-season record charts.Â
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A native of West Lafayette, Indiana, Barket remained No. 23 in the NCAA rankings with a 20-5 ledger. His 20 wins on the year ranks seventh in the Blue Devil single-season record book. Barket is looking for his second appearance in the NCAA Championship and is currently 14-3 in dual match action.Â
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The coaches' ranking is one of several criteria that will be evaluated by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee during the at-large selection and seeding process along with head-to-head competition, quality wins, Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents and win percentage.
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The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Duke will next travel to Blacksburg, Virginia for the ACC Championship, which will be contested Sunday, March 8.Â
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To stay up to date with Blue Devils wrestling, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWRES".
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#GoDuke
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In the 174-pound class, Wallace jumped six spots to No. 21 overall, while Barket remained at No. 23 at heavyweight.Â
Â
The coaches' rankings are determined by a vote of three coaches in each weight class. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered, with at least one within the last 30 days.
Â
Wallace, who hails from Mahwah, New Jersey, reached his highest ranking of the season at No. 21 as he has collected a 26-4 record on the year. He went 17-3 in dual matches and 5-1 in ACC action in 2025-26. Wallace has won eight out of his last 10 bouts. Wallace's 26 wins on the year ranks tied for third on Duke's single-season record charts.Â
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A native of West Lafayette, Indiana, Barket remained No. 23 in the NCAA rankings with a 20-5 ledger. His 20 wins on the year ranks seventh in the Blue Devil single-season record book. Barket is looking for his second appearance in the NCAA Championship and is currently 14-3 in dual match action.Â
Â
The coaches' ranking is one of several criteria that will be evaluated by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee during the at-large selection and seeding process along with head-to-head competition, quality wins, Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents and win percentage.
Â
The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Â
Duke will next travel to Blacksburg, Virginia for the ACC Championship, which will be contested Sunday, March 8.Â
Â
To stay up to date with Blue Devils wrestling, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWRES".
Â
#GoDuke
Â
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