All Seven GLVC Wrestling Programs Recognized in NWCA DII Coaches Poll
seven Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) programs have been recognized in the season’s first installment of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday afternoon by the NWCA. McKendree University leads the Conference contingent at No. 4, University of Indianapolis is 11th, and new associate member Ouachita Baptist University moved into a tie for 21st after receiving votes in the preseason poll.
Additionally, Truman State University is the first program to receive votes outside the top 25 poll, while Drury University is the fourth team on the outside looking in. Bellarmine University picked up votes for the first time in its brief three-year history of the program, while Maryville University also garnered votes in this week’s poll.
This is the first time in Conference history that every league program has been recognized in a weekly poll.
Also of note, Lindenwood University, which will join the GLVC as a full-time member in 2019-20, is currently ranked 10th.
Individually, UIndy paced all GLVC programs with five wrestlers ranked in the top 12 of their respective weight classes, while McKendree trailed with four. A total of 15 GLVC wrestlers have been ranked across nine of the 10 weight classes, including three standouts with a No. 2 ranking, as well as three individuals in each of the 149- and 197-pound classes. At 149, McKendree’s Isaiah Kemper is fourth, Drury’s Blake Clevenger is sixth, and Bellarmine’s Gage Branson is eighth, who becomes the first Knight to ever earn a national ranking. At 197, Truman’s Sam Reeves is fourth, Drury’s Jared Rennick is 11th and Maryville’s Ethan Sheretz is 12th. Two grapplers are ranked at 157, including Ouachita Baptist’s Tyler Mann at No. 2 and UIndy’s Heath Lange at No. 11. Another two are found at 174 in McKendree’s Nick Foster at No. 2 and No. 9 Cayden Whitaker of UIndy.
The remaining ranked wrestlers are as follows: 125 – No. 5 Marcus Povlick (MCK); 133 – No. 12 Ana Abduljelil (UINDY); 165 – No. 2 Brock Wingbermuehle (MCK); 184 – No. 4 Brody Connor (UINDY); HWT – No. 4 Dylan Faulkenberg (UINDY).