Penn State coach Cael Sanderson saw the e-mails. He opened them and glanced at the information for a few seconds. He then moved onto something else. What e-mails the entailed had many others in college wrestling buzzing Thursday. The NCAA announced qualifier allotments for next month’s national tournament in Omaha, Neb. For now, the Big Ten is guaranteed 56 of 284 automatic qualifiers. The number of Big Ten qualifiers could swell when 46 at-large selections are announced after the NCAA wrestling committee meets March 10 in Indianapolis. The Big Ten’s allotment of automatic qualifiers is five less than last season. “That’s a little less than I would have guessed,” Sanderson said. “I don’t know historically what the number has been at. It just shows you have to get in there and compete. The conference has its consequences, good or bad.”

This marks the second year for the NCAA’s current qualifying system. Winning percentage and RPI and coaches rankings determine a conference’s qualifiers per weight. The previous system handed the Big Ten seven qualifiers at all 10 weights plus two at-large selections. Advertisement This year’s automatic qualifiers ranges from four at 157 to eight at 149. The conference receives five qualifiers at 133, 141, 165, 184 and heavyweight, six at 125 and 174, and seven at 197. “It’s frustrating a little bit because you feel like it’s taking away from the Big Ten a little bit,” said 165- pounder Dan Vallimont, who has qualified for nationals under both systems. “At the same time, it’s giving smaller conferences and other wrestlers an opportunity, so it’s good in the long run.” All 10 weight class will include 33-wrestler brackets. Seven Penn State wrestlers — Brad Pataky at 125, Adam Lynch at 141, Frank Molinaro at 149, Cyler Sanderson at 157, Vallimont at 165, David Erwin at 184 and heavyweight Cameron Wade — were in the top 33 of the RPI and coaches rankings released Thursday.

The Nittany Lions qualify for the NCAA Championships through the Big Ten tournament which begins next Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. Six Penn State wrestlers qualified for last year’s NCAA Championships, including Molinaro, who earned All-American honors after receiving an at-large berth at 149. The Big Ten received the most automatic qualifiers for this year’s tournament. The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (41), Big 12 (37) and Pac-10 (33) also received more than 30 qualifiers. The Eastern Wrestling League, which received three qualifiers per weight under the previous system, only has 19 automatic spots in this year’s NCAA tournament.

Sanderson, who started his coaching career at Iowa State, has mixed views on the current system. “I don’t know if it’s the best thing for the sport just because some of the conferences aren’t getting as many kids as they would have,” Sanderson said. “The Big Ten and Big 12 are going to have a higher percentage of qualifiers, so those qualifiers have to come from elsewhere. They are coming from the other conferences. “That’s the tough part. As far as getting the best individuals there, this is probably the fairest way to do it.”

Thanks to Guy Cipriano and the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article