INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2024 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 five first-place votes and 35 total points.
- Won first-ever GLVC Championship this past year.
- Placed second in NCAA Super Region 4 and seventh in NCAA Championships last season.
- Coached by reigning GLVC Coach of the Year, Jason Warthan, who enters his 15th season after a 13-3 overall and 6-1 GLVC record in 2022-23.
- Return GLVC Wrestler of the Year, Derek Blubaugh, and fellow unanimous First Team All-GLVC selection Logan Bailey; Second Team selection Jackson Hoover; and Third Team selections Aidan Sprague, Ray Rioux, Owen Butler, and Cale Gray.
No. 2 McKendree
- Received two first-place votes and 32 total points.
- Finished second in GLVC standings this past season.
- Finished fourth in NCAA Super Region 4 and 17th in NCAA Championships last season.
- Coached by James Kisgen, who enters his 22nd year after a 13-4 overall and 6-1 GLVC record in 2022-23.
- Return unanimous First Team All-GLVC selections Christian Mejia and Zeke Waltz; Second Team selections Noah Villarreal and Logan Kvien; and Third Team selection Ryan Ripplinger.
No. 3 Upper Iowa
- Received 26 total points.
- Finished fourth in NSIC standings and fifth in NCAA Super Region 5 last season.
- Coached by Heath Grimm, who enters his 24th season after a 10-5 overall and 6-3 NSIC record in 2022-23.
- Return Second Team All-NSIC selections Tate Murty and Chase Luensman.
No. 4 Drury
- Received 19 total points.
- Finished fifth in GLVC standings this past year.
- Coached by James Reynolds in his eighth season after a 4-4 overall and 4-3 GLVC record in 2022-23.
- Return Second Team All-GLVC selections Caden Howard and Will Kuster, and Third Team selection Trevor Christian.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through seventh was Maryville University (18 points), Quincy University (9), and Davenport University (8).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis |
35 (5) |
| 2. |
McKendree |
32 (2) |
| 3. |
Upper Iowa |
26 |
| 4. |
Drury |
19 |
| 5. |
Maryville |
18 |
| 6. |
Quincy |
9 |
| 7. |
Davenport |
8 |