INDIANAPOLIS – McKendree was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men’s 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.
- Ranked No. 13 in National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Preseason Poll.
- Earned sixth GLVC crown last season as the No. 2 seed, the most in the league since the sport became sponsored in 2017.
- Finished runner-up at NCAA Super Regional IV and 14th at NCAA Championship last year.
- Coached by six-time GLVC Coach of the Year, James Kisgen, who enters his 24th year after a 7-6 overall and 3-2 GLVC record in 2024-25.
- Return GLVC Wrestler of the Year – Logan Kvien (197 lbs) – along with three other First Team All-GLVC selections: Jason Strope (125), Ronan Schuelke (141), and Cale Hoskinson (157).
No. 2 Upper Iowa
- Received 19 total points.
- Tied for No. 22 in NWCA Preseason Poll.
- Finished atop GLVC standings last season and advanced to the conference’s championship match before falling to McKendree.
- Placed sixth at Super Regional V and 30th at NCAA Championship last season.
- Coached by Heath Grimm, who enters his 26th season after a 12-4 overall and 5-1 GLVC record in 2024-25.
- Return plethora of All-GLVC talent from last season, led by Second Team All-GLVC honorees Ethen Doty (149) and Lawson Losee (174).
- Jackson Heaston (125), Collin Altensey (157), and Geoffrey Freeman (197) also return after landing on the Third Team in 2024-25.
No. 3 Indianapolis
- Received one first-place vote and 17 total points.
- Garnered 16 votes to finish just outside top 25 in NWCA Preseason Poll.
- Tied for second in GLVC standings last season.
- Finished fourth at Super Regional IV and 11th at NCAA Championship last year.
- Coached by Jason Warthan, who enters his 17th season after a 4-6 overall and 3-2 GLVC record in 2024-25.
- Return Second Team All-GLVC honoree in the 285-lb class, Cale Gray.
No. 4 Maryville
- Received 15 total points.
- Tied for No. 22 in NWCA Preseason Poll.
- Finished tied for second in GLVC standings last season.
- Placed fifth at Super Regional IV and ninth at NCAA Championship last year.
- Coached by Charlie Sherertz in his third campaign after a 4-8 overall and 3-2 GLVC record in 2024-25.
- Return Second Team All-GLVC selection Dalton Litzsinger (184) and Third Team honoree Cole Ritter (174).
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth and sixth was Drury (9 points) and Quincy (5).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
McKendree |
25 (5) |
| 2. |
Upper Iowa |
19 |
| 3. |
Indianapolis |
17 (1) |
| 4. |
Maryville |
15 |
| 5. |
Drury |
9 |
| 6. |
Quincy |
5 |