INDIANAPOLIS – McKendree University was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the choice to win the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) wrestling championship, the league office announced on Thursday.
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 McKendree
- Received five first-place votes and 25 total points
- Earned a share of the GLVC title last season
- Placed second in NCAA Super Region IV and fourth at NCAA Championship this past season
- Coached by reigning GLVC Coach of the Year, James Kisgen, who enters his 23rd year after a 14-4 overall and 5-1 GLVC record in 2023-24
- Return plethora of All-GLVC performers, including three First Team All-GLVC selections (Ronan Schuelke, Joey Semerad, Cory Peterson), one Second Team honoree (Matt Ortiz), and three Third Team representative (Zeke Waltz, Logan Kvien, Tyler Haynes)
No. 2 Indianapolis
- Received one first-place vote and 20 total points
- Finished fourth in GLVC standings this past season
- Placed fifth in NCAA Super Region IV and ninth at NCAA Championship last season
- Coached by Jason Warthan, who enters his 16th season after a 9-8 overall and 3-3 GLVC record in 2023-24
- Return back-to-back GLVC Wrestler of the Year Derek Blubaugh and fellow First Team All-GLVC selection Trey Sizemore, as well as Third Team representative Jackson Hoover
No. 3 Upper Iowa
- Received 18 total points
- Earned a share of the GLVC title last season
- Finished sixth in NCAA Super Region V and 17th at NCAA Championship this past season
- Coached by Heath Grimm, who enters his 25th season after a 9-5 overall and 5-1 GLVC record in 2023-24
- Return First Team All-GLVC honoree Colter Bye and Third Team selection Treyton Ackman
No. 4 Maryville
- Received 13 total points
- Earned a share of the GLVC title last season
- Coached by Charlie Sherertz in his second season after an 8-6 overall and 5-1 GLVC record in 2023-24
- Return First Team All-GLVC selection Ryan Herman and Second Team honoree Jeremiah Larson, along with a pair of Third Team representatives – Cole Ritter and GLVC Freshman of the Year Evan Binder
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth and sixth was Drury University (9 points) and Quincy University (5).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
McKendree |
25 (5) |
| 2. |
Indianapolis |
20 (1) |
| 3. |
Upper Iowa |
18 |
| 4. |
Maryville |
13 |
| 5. |
Drury |
9 |
| 6. |
Quincy |
5 |