INDIANAPOLIS – McKendree was voted first in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men’s wrestling preseason coaches’ poll presented by Primo Designs, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The preseason poll is selected 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 34 total points.
- Finished first in the GLVC Championship and third in the NCAA DII National Championships.
- Head coach James Kisgen enters his 25th season at the helm with a 210-96 overall record with the Bearcats.
- Return 184 lb. National Champion and All-American Darion Johnson, as well as 165 lb. All-American Sam Richardson.
No. 2 Grand Valley State
- Received the other two first-place votes and 30 total points.
- Finished the 2025-26 season 9-6 overall and 12th in the NCAA DII National Championships.
- Head coach R.J. Boudro enters his second season.
- Return 285 lb. two-time All-American and national qualifier Carter Blough, along with fellow national qualifiers 133 lb. Jak Keller, 157 lb. Maclain Morency, 184 lb. Bradley Mayse, and 197 lb. Brayden Mirjavadi.
No. 3 Indianapolis
- Received 25 total points.
- Finished 5-8 in the 2025-26 season.
- Head coach Jason Warthan enters his 17th season with the Greyhounds.
- Return 197 lb. GLVC Freshman of the Year and national qualifier Ethan Farnell as well as national qualifiers 125 lb. Nathan Smith, 149 lb. Gavin Garcia, and 157 lb. Michael Ortega.
No. 4 Upper Iowa
- Received 23 total points.
- Finished 7-6 overall and 4-1 in GLVC competition last season.
- Head coach Heath Grimm enters his 27th season at the helm, having seen nine top-11 national finishes with the Peacocks.
- Return 165 lb. Nick Mueller and 141 lb. Tanner Arjes.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through seventh are Maryville (18 points), Quincy (11), and Drury (6).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
2026 GLVC MEN’S WRESTLING PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
School |
Points (first-place votes) |
| 1. |
McKendree |
34 (5) |
| 2. |
Grand Valley State |
30 (2) |
| 3. |
Indianapolis |
25 |
| 4. |
Upper Iowa |
23 |
| 5. |
Maryville |
18 |
| 6. |
Quincy |
11 |
| 7. |
Drury |
6 |