INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) wrestling championship, the league office announced on Wednesday.
The preseason poll is determined by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Indianapolis
- Received seven first-place votes and 49 total points.
- Ranked third in National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) D-II Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
- Finished second at GLVC Championship this past year.
- Placed second in NCAA Super Region 4 and sixth in NCAA Championships last season.
- Coached by Jason Warthan, who enters his 14th season after a 10-5 overall and 2-1 GLVC record in 2021-22.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selections Logan Bailey, Dawson Combest, and Derek Blubaugh, as well as Second Team selections Breyden Bailey and Cale Grey.
No. 2 McKendree
- Received one first-place vote and 43 total points.
- Ranked 11th in NWCA D-II Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
- Won fourth GLVC Championship this past season.
- Finished third in NCAA Super Region 4 and ninth in NCAA Championships last season.
- Coached by reigning GLVC Coach of the Year, James Kisgen, who enters his 21st year after a 16-1 overall and 5-0 GLVC record in 2021-22.
- Return GLVC Wrestler of the Year, Ian Kuhle, and fellow First Team All-GLVC selections Christian Mejia and Cory Peterson; Second Team selection Josh Jones; and Third Team selection Brody Norman.
No. 3 Maryville
- Received 36 total points.
- Received votes in NWCA D-II Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
- Finished fourth at GLVC Championship and sixth in NCAA Super Region 4 last season.
- Coached by Mike Denney, who enters his 52nd season after a 6-6 overall and 5-1 GLVC record in 2021-22.
- Return Second Team All-GLVC selections Tyler Stegall and Joey Williams; and Third Team selections Bret Heil, Chase Stegall, and Ryan Herman.
No. 4 Drury
- Received 32 total points.
- Received votes in NWCA D-II Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
- Finished fifth at GLVC Championship this past year.
- Coached by James Reynolds in his seventh season after a 5-8 overall and 3-3 GLVC record in 2021-22.
- Return GLVC Freshman of the Year, Brandon Borlinghaus, fellow Third Team All-GLVC selection Will Kuster, and Second Team selection Peter Kuster.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through eighth was Ouachita Baptist University (23 points), Davenport University (18), William Jewell College (15), and first-year program Quincy University (8).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis |
49 (7) |
| 2. |
McKendree |
43 (1) |
| 3. |
Maryville |
36 |
| 4. |
Drury |
32 |
| 5. |
Ouachita Baptist |
23 |
| 6. |
Davenport |
18 |
| 7. |
William Jewell |
15 |
| 8. |
Quincy |
8 |