2018-19 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling Preview and Wrestlers to Watch
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The 2018-19 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling preseason poll has been released. Newberry College will enter the season as the favorite to win the first-ever South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling Championship, according to South Atlantic Conference and Conference Carolinas coaches.
The team with the best head-to-head record against conference opponents in dual matches will be crowned the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas champion.
1. Newberry College: The Wolves tallied six first-place votes for their total of 60 points to be crowned the early season favorite in 2018-19 by league coaches.
Newberry went 12-6 overall record last season.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Austin Neal (So.) - 125
- Austin Palmer (Jr.) - 157
- Isiah Royal (So.) - 141
2. Limestone College: The Saints rank second in the poll with 54 points and one first-place vote from league coaches.
Limestone posted a 11-7 overall record last season.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Daniel Bland (Jr.) - 285
- John Burger (So.) - 141
- Matt Rose (Jr.) - 149
3. King University: The Tornado racked up 45 points from league coaches to ranked third in the poll.
King turned in a 6-7 overall record last season.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Kody Eichlin (Sr.) - 184
- Landon Goforth (Jr.) - 149
- Elijah Seay (Jr.) - 197
4. Belmont Abbey College: The Crusaders rank fourth after posting 41 points from league coaches.
Belmont Abbey went 6-8 overall last season.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Troy Gregor (Sr.) - 141
- Greg Hilliard (Jr.) -165
- Mike Siwiec (Jr.) - 285
5. Emmanuel College: The Lions placed fifth in the preseason poll after earning 40 points from league coaches.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Emery Cline (Sr.) - 133
- Chase Forrester (Fr.) - 165
6. Coker College: The Cobras earned 39 points from league coaches to rank sixth in the preseason poll.
Coker registered a 5-11 record a season ago.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Zane Corey (Jr.)
- Bret Shurina (Jr.) - 157
- John Watts (Fr.)
7. Queens University of Charlotte: The Royals closed out the preseason poll in seventh-place after earning 36 points from league coaches.
Queens went an even 8-8 overall last season.
Wrestlers to Watch:
- Noah Curreri (So.) - 184
- Devinaire Hayes (So.) - 141
- Melvin Rubio (So.) - 125
2018-19 Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll
| School (first-place votes) |
Total |
| 1. Newberry (6) |
60 |
| 2. Limestone (1) |
54 |
| 3. King |
45 |
| 4. Belmont Abbey |
41 |
| 5. Emmanuel |
40 |
| 6. Coker |
39 |
| 7. Queens |
36 |
Conference Carolinas is a NCAA Division II athletics conference made up of 11 teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. These institutions consist of: Barton College, Belmont Abbey, Converse College, Emmanuel College, Erskine College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, University of Mount Olive, North Greenville University, and Southern Wesleyan University.