The seedings for the 2011 NCAA wrestling championships were released on Wednesday; nine Iowa wrestlers have been placed in the top 12 of their weights.

Big Ten champion Matt McDonough leads the Hawkeyes with a second seed at 125 pounds. Arizona State’s Anthony Robles took the top seed, and McDonough’s Big Ten finals opponent, Northwestern’s Brandon Precin, is seeded third.

Both Montell Marion (141) and Luke Lofthouse (197) are seeded fifth, and Tony Ramos (133) and Derek St. John (157) received sixth seeds. Lofthouse and St. John were runner-ups, and Ramos finished third and Marion fourth at Big Tens.

Big Ten heavyweight champion Blake Rasing is seeded seventh, and 174-pounder Ethen Lofthouse (third place at Big Tens) sits at a nine seed.

Both Aaron Janssen (165) and Grant Gambrall (184) received 11th seeds. Janssen also finished third at Big Tens, and Gambrall took home fifth place.

The NCAA championships will begin on March 17 in Philadelphia and conclude on March 19.

— by J.T. Bugos