CLEVELAND, Ohio – The 2025-26 wrestling season begins Sunday morning as nine of the 12 Mid-American Conference wrestling teams take the mat for the first time.
Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Kent State will begin their respective schedules next Saturday, Nov. 8.

On Thursday, the MAC announced its 2025-26 MAC Wrestling Preseason Poll and 10 individual weight-class rankings, with George Mason ranked first in the league.
This wrestling season kicks off this Sunday, Nov. 2, and will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. All 12 teams will compete at the 2026 MAC Wrestling Championships on March 6-7 in Buffalo’s Alumni Arena in Buffalo, NY.

For more MAC Wrestling news throughout the season, visit www.GetSomeMaction.com and follow @MACSports on Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook.

Below is the team-by-team preview for the upcoming season in order of the preseason ranking.

George Mason Patriots
The George Mason Wrestling opens the 2025-26 season at the annual Navy Classic, an all-day affair slated for Sunday, Nov. 2, beginning at 10 am.

Teams competing: Drexel, George Mason, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Navy, Binghamton, Bloomsburg, Virginia, Bucknell, Morgan State, American, and Lehigh.
According to the latest NWCA Coaches Poll, the field includes several nationally ranked programs, including #2 Nebraska, #8 Lehigh, #21 Pittsburgh, and Navy (receiving votes).

George Mason will enter 13 wrestlers this year:
125: Gunner Chambers, JB Dragovich, Ben Monn, Malachi Stratton
133: Anthony Lucchiani
149: Kaden Cassidy
157: DJ McGee, Thomas Stofka
165: Evan Maag
174: Logan Messer
184: Malachi DuVall, Jack Kelly
197: Donovan Sprouse

Navy Classic
Individual Tournament
Host: Naval Academy
Venue:  Wesley Brown Field House | Annapolis, Md.
Start Time: 9 am 
Live Stats: FloWrestling
SCHEDULE - SUNDAY, NOV 2:

• 09:00 am - Doors open to public
• 10:00 am - Wrestling begins on 8 mats and continues to completion

Central Michigan Chippewas
The Chippewas open the season on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Michigan State Open.


Lock Haven Bald Eagles
The Lock Haven men's wrestling team looks to continue its historic run of success of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Team Championships, NCAA DI National Qualifiers and more when the 2025-26 season kicks off this weekend.
 
The Bald Eagles are set to compete in the Princeton Open on Sunday, Nov. 2 in New Jersey, starting at 9 a.m.
  
PRINCETON OPEN
Date: Sunday, Nov. 2 (9:00 a.m.)
Host: Princeton University
Location: Princeton, N.J.
Venue: Jadwin Gymnasium
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL (Teams, Brackets & Results)
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
In the preseason InterMat Preseason National Rankings, Strickland is ranked No. 21 at 133, Henson is ranked No. 14 at 141 pounds, Bassett is ranked No. 24 at 174 pounds and Hogan is ranked No. 25 at 197 pounds. Strickland, who redshirted last season, is a two-time national qualifier and a two-time Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion. Henson is a two-time MAC champion and a three-time NCAA Division I national-championship qualifier.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Bald Eagles were picked third in the 2025-26 Mid-American Conference (MAC) preseason coaches' poll, which was released today (Oct. 30). Strickland and Henson are ranked No. 1 at their respective weight classes to start the season. Winners of three of the last four MAC Team Championships, Lock Haven was ranked third with 85 points and were narrowed up by No. 1 George Mason (103 pts) and No. 2 Central Michigan (89.5 pts). In all, nine Bald Eagles are ranked in the top-10 at their respective weight class, with five ranked inside the top-5. Bassett and Hogan are ranked second at 174 and 197, respectively.

NOTABLES 

• MAC Champions two of last three seasons
• Returning MAC Champion Wyatt Henson
• Four Ranked wrestlers: Wyatt Henson #14 (141), Gable Strickland #21 (133), Avery Basset #24 (174), and Tucker Hogan #25 (197)
• Henson's 32 tech falls ranks second in LH history 
• Scott Moore is five wins away from 100 career wins at Lock Haven
• Hogan and Stampoulos (alternate) joined Henson as an NCAA qualifier in 2024-25
• The Bald Eagles finished 14-5 (7-0 MAC) during the regular season in 2024-25, while going a perfect 6-0 in front of the home crowd at Thomas Fieldhouse

Rider Broncs
The Rider wrestling team opens its 2025-26 campaign on Sunday at the Princeton Open, returning three NCAA qualifiers and welcoming two key transfers to an experienced lineup headlined by Tyler Klinsky, Enrique Munguia, and Brock Zurawski.

The Broncs open the season at the Princeton Open before a schedule that features 11 home dates, three of four Big Ten opponents on their home mat, and six Power Four matchups. Highlighting the slate is a January 31 home dual against intrastate rival Rutgers.

Top Returners to Watch
- Enrique Munguia (174 lbs) – Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, Munguia finished 22-8 in his first year as a Bronc, including a perfect 7-0 mark in MAC competition en route to his first MAC Championship.
- Tyler Klinsky (125 lbs) – A 2024 NCAA qualifier, Klinsky returns to the lineup after a redshirt season. The graduate student posted an 18-14 record in 2023-24, including 10-3 against MAC opponents.
- Brock Zurawski (197 lbs) –Zurawski is coming off a breakout season that included a MAC title and a memorable first-round upset over No. 7 seed Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa) at the NCAA Championships. Zurawski finished 18-13 a season ago.

Key Additions
- Brendon Abdon (165 lbs) – A transfer from Little Rock, Abdon joins the Broncs after three seasons with the Trojans. Abdon will look to strengthen Rider's middle weights.
- Elijah Griffin (141 lbs) – A 2024 NCAA qualifier from California Baptist, Griffin recorded five ranked wins last season, including an upset of No. 3 Stevo Poulin — the highest-ranked victory in CBU program history. The former No. 22-ranked wrestler adds valuable experience to the Broncs' lineup.

MAC Preseason Rankings
- The Mid-American Conference announced its 2025-26 Preseason Poll Thursday morning, projecting the Broncs to finish fourth, with five wrestlers ranked in the top five of their respective weight classes.
- Leading the way is Zurawski, ranked No. 1 at 197 lbs following his MAC championship performance last season.

National Rankings (FloWrestling) / InterMat
- 125 lbs: No. 26 Tyler Klinsky (Flo) | No. 25 (Inter)
- 165 lbs: No. 28 Brendon Abdon (Flo) | No. 26 (Inter)
- 174 lbs: No. 30 Enrique Munguia (Flo) | No. 29 (Inter)
- 197 lbs: No. 22 Brock Zurawski (Flo) | No. 22 (Inter)

Last Year at the Princeton Open
- Two Broncs reached the podium in last year's event, as Enrique Munguia finished fifth and Steyn De Lange placed sixth.
- Munguia battled back through the consolation bracket, winning five consecutive matches to secure a fifth-place finish.
 

Edinboro Fighting Scots
Preview coming soon...


SIUE Cougars
SIUE wrestling begins the season in Clarion, Pennsylvania, Sunday for the nine-team Clarion Open.

Twenty SIUE wrestlers are slated to compete in the one-day event at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. The list of teams joining SIUE are Air Force, Bellarmine, Buffalo, Clarion, Cornell, Edinboro, Ohio State and Onondaga Community College.

The Mid-American Conference also released its 2025-26 preseason poll along with rankings in individual weight classes.

SIUE is ranked sixth among the 12-team league. George Mason was listed as the preseason favorite.

Caleb Tyus, an NCAA Championships qualifier in 2023 and 2024, is ranked No. 1 in the MAC at 149 pounds. Danny Martinez, a sophomore, is tabbed No. 2 in the MAC at 141 pounds.

The rest of the rankings for SIUE include Drew Davis (4^th at 125), Marcel Lopez (7^th at 133), Eric Almarinez (5^th at 157), Brock Woodcock (10^th at 165), Luke Odom (10^th at 174), Deron Pulliam (6^th at 184), Nick Nosler (6^th at 197) and Bryson Buhk (8^th at 285).


Northern Illinois Huskies
The 2025-26 wrestling season kicks off in just a few days, and the NIU wrestlers host their annual Red-Black dual on October 30. The Red team was victorious, posting a 21-13 final score over the Black team.
 
The NIU wrestling program posted a 7-3 dual match record during the 2024-25 season and had a pair of NCAA Championship qualifiers in Blake West and Landen Johnson. West and Markel Baker went undefeated last season in MAC competition.

The 2025-26 Huskies open the season on November 8 as they compete at the Michigan State Open. Action is slated to get underway at 8:30 a.m. CT in East Lansing, Michigan. The Huskies' home opener is slated for December 19 against Oregon State.


Ohio Bobcats
Nov. 2 / at  Southeast Open / Salem, Va. / Cregger Center / 9 a.m. ET / Southeast Open Tournament Website / Southeast Open Central 

The Ohio wrestling team opens the 2025-26 season on Sunday, Nov. 2 when they head to Salem, Va. for the 2025 Southeast Open. The event is set to begin at 9 a.m. ET inside the Cregger Center on the campus of Roanoke College 

The Bobcats finished last season with an 8-4 overall record and 6-2 in MAC competition, showing steady improvement and resilience throughout the dual slate.

The Bobcats return several proven contributors, including captains Garrett Thompson, Sal Perrine, and Zayne Lehman. All three bring experience, toughness, and consistency to the lineup while setting the tone for a driven roster.

Thompson remains a driving force for Ohio after an impressive 30-7 record last season, going 10-1 in duals and an undefeated 7-0 in MAC competition. At 174 pounds, he recorded four falls and nine technical falls, earning multiple podium finishes and establishing himself as one of the MAC's top competitors. Perrine, who returns after a season away, is expected to make an immediate impact in the same weight class with his experience and aggressiveness.

At 184 pounds, Lehman provides leadership and a steady presence, while Jeremy Olszko (Northfield, Ohio) is coming off a breakout 22-10 campaign, finishing 9-3 in duals with seven MAC victories.

The Bobcats open the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. for the 2025 Ohio Showcase inside the Convocation Center. The event will see Division I, II, and III dual meets run simultaneously, with the DI mat set to be streamed on ESPN+, with the DII and DIII mats set to be streamed on YouTube. 


Clarion Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagle wrestling team kicks off the new competition season just as it has since 2009, battling in the Clarion Open, scheduled for Sunday, November 2 at Tippin Gymnasium. Wrestling gets underway at 9 a.m.

Most of the Golden Eagles' 40-man squad will see action, including a large contingent of the 19 newcomers to the team. Two of Clarion's three placers from a year ago return – Joey Fischer, third at 133 pounds, competing unattached, and Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, fourth at 157 pounds.

Fischer took fourth at the 2021 Clarion Open wrestling in his first college-level tournament. He was competing as an unattached 125-pounder in that event. Herrera-Rondon started his Golden Eagle career in 2023 at the Clarion Open, finishing as the 157-pound runner-up.

Not only did Herrera-Rondon make his Golden Eagle debut at the 2023 tournament, so did 285-pounder John Meyers, who likewise took second in his weight class.

New Golden Eagle Connor Eck, then wrestling unattached out of Lock Haven, was runner-up at the 2021 Clarion Open. He fell to Clarion 149-pounder Brent Moore in the finals, 3-2.

The last Golden Eagle to claim a knight's helmet, traditionally awarded to the event's victors, was Will Feldkamp at 184 pounds in 2022.

Wrestlers from Air Force, Bellarmine, Buffalo, Cornell, Edinboro, Lock Haven, the Naval Academy Prep School, Ohio State, Pitt, Pitt-Johnstown, Penn State, and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville among others, are scheduled to compete.

All matches will be streamed on FloWrestling, with live brackets available on FloArena.


Buffalo Bulls
Preview coming soon...


Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State will open up the year on the road at the Michigan State Open on Nov. 8. 


Bloomsburg Huskies
The Bloomsburg Huskies earned four top-10 preseason rankings, highlighted by transfer Jace Schafer at No. 3 at 125 pounds. Shafer transferred to Bloomsburg after three seasons at West Virginia, where he was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team and 2025 Winter Academic All-Big 12 team member. He was named an NWCA Scholar All-American following the 2024-25 season. On the mat, Schafer posted a 43-36 overall record with a 17 slate in dual matches. Schafer brings 19 total bonus point wins with him, between eight falls, one tech fall, and 10 major decisions. 

Eric Alderfer is a transfer from Lock Haven and had a 27-28 record overall with the Bald Eagles with four pins, one tech fall, and one major decision during his last season at Lock Haven. Alderfer enters the 2025-26 season ranked No. 8 at 174 pounds. Ethan Ducca is ranked No. 5 at 184 after transferring to Bloomsburg from Wyoming. Ducca posted a record of 9-6 with Wyoming and finished eighth at the Big 12 Tournament in 2024. Before Wyoming, Ducca wrestled at MAC foe Edinboro for three seasons. In 2021, Ducca took fifth at the MAC Tournament and finished his time with the Fighting Scots with a 24-14 overall record. In his career so far, Ducca has five bonus point wins between one fall and tech fall, and three major decisions. 

Rounding out the top-10 rankings for the Huskies is senior William Morrow (Harleysville, Pa./North Penn). Morrow comes into the season ranked 10th at 157 pounds. During his first three seasons at Bloomsburg, Morrow has a 22-50 overall record with a 10-29 slate in dual meets. Morrow has 12 bonus point wins to his credit with three tech falls and nine major decisions. 
 
The 2025-26 season kicks off this Sunday, Nov. 2, and will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. All 12 teams will compete at the 2026 MAC Wrestling Championships on March 6-7 in Buffalo's Alumni Arena in Buffalo, NY.

The Huskies get the season underway on Sunday, November 2, when they travel to Rutgers for the Rutgers Duals. The Huskies face Gardner-Webb at 10:00 a.m., followed by Centenary (N.J.) at 11:30 a.m., before wrapping up the day with Rutgers at 1:00 p.m.