The NCAA West Regional Tournament has been allocated 17 automatic qualifying spots for the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships, as announced by the NCAA today. Participants in the West Regional include all seven members of the Western Wrestling Conference.

Also on Thursday, the NCAA released the final Coaches' Panel Rankings and Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2011-12 season. Air Force junior Cole VonOhlen is rated third in the Coaches' Panel Rankings and 11th in the RPI at 149 pounds, while junior Clayton Gable is ranked 31st in the RPI at 174 pounds.

Each qualifying tournament was awarded spots per weight class based on current year data. Each wrestler was measured on the following: Division I winning percentage; rating percentage index (RPI); and coaches ranking.

For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his qualifying tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class.  Each qualifying tournament, with automatic qualifying status, was awarded a minimum of one wrestler per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds.  NCAA tournament spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at the tournament based solely on place-finish.

The breakdown of the 17 automatic bids per weight class for the West Regional/WWC Championships, are as follows: 125 pounds (2), 133 (2), 141 (1), 149 (2), 157 (3), 165 (2), 174 (1), 184 (2), 197 (1) and Heavyweight (1).

After all of the qualifying events have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 40 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 7. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers.  The at-large selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition; qualifying event placement; quality wins; results against common opponents; winning percentage; RPI; coaches ranking and the number of matches contested at that weight class.

Junior Clayton Gable was one of two Air Force wrestlers to earn an individual title at the All-Academy Championships on Sunday, helping push the Falcons to a second-place finish. In addition, Gable was named by the coaches as the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler for his performance.

Gable entered the tournament as the fourth-seed at 174 pounds, competing in a weight class which featured three wrestlers who were ranked in the initial coaches' panel rankings. After scoring a fall in his first match of the day, Gable shut out top-seeded Matthew Brock of VMI, rated 31st in the coaches' rankings, in a 9-0 major decision. In the championship match, Gable battled to a 6-4 decision over The Citadel's Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, ranked 18th by the coaches.

The preliminary brackets for the 2012 All-Academy Championships, sponsored by USAA, are now available. The event, whichis being held in Clune Arena, begins Sunday, Feb. 5 at 10:00 a.m., with doors opening at 9:00. The finals are slated to start at 5:00 p.m. and will be streamed live at goairforcefalcons.com

All 10 of Air Force's wrestlers are seeded, led by top seeds Carter McElhany (141) and Cole VonOhlen (141). Josh Kreimier (157), Greg Isley (184) and Josh Mohr (197) are each seeded second in their respective weight classes, while Greg Rinker (125) and Jared Erickson (HWT) are both seeded third. Rounding out the group are Dylan Hyder (133), Colby Kluesner (165) and Clayton Gable (174), who are each seeded fourth.

To view the full brackets, click here.

Junior wrestling co-captain Cole VonOhlen is rated third at 149 pounds in the first of three coaches' panel rankings, released today by the NCAA.

The final rankings will be one of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Other tools used in national championship selection include winning percentage and ratings percentage index (RPI).

VonOhlen, a two-time NCAA qualifier at 141 pounds, currently leads the Falcons with a 23-2 mark on the season.

To view the complete rankings, click here.

In its most recent team tournament-strength rankings, Intermat Wrestling rates Air Force 37th in the nation. The tournament-strength rankings are based on projected team scoring at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

The Falcons' rating ranks third in the Western Wrestling Conference, behind Wyoming (16) and Northern Iowa (35). Meanwhile, Air Force rates ahead of service academy rivals Navy (T41) and Army (T58).

Air Force is led by junior Cole VonOhlen, who is currently ranked seventh by Intermat at 149 pounds.