GREENVILLE, S.C. – Lander University has been selected as the favorite in the 2026-27 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll, announced Thursday. The Bearcats captured the final two South Atlantic Conference Carolinas championships before claiming both the Conference Carolinas West Division and tournament titles in each of the past three seasons, coinciding with the sport's first three years under the sole sponsorship of Conference Carolinas.
The Bearcats received 10-of-15 first-place votes and 191 total points to claim the top spot while UNC Pembroke and Newberry College tied for second with 164 points. UNC Pembroke received one first place vote while Newberry received four first place votes. The University of Montevallo and Belmont Abbey College rounded out the top five with 156 and 152 points, respectively.
King University (149) was sixth in the preseason poll followed by the University of Mount Olive (115), Emmanuel University (96), Ferrum College (82) and Shorter University (80)to round out the top 10. The poll finished with Coker University (73), Allen University (53), Bluefield State University (45), Emory & Henry University (28) Lincoln Memorial University (27).
The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
2026-27 Conference Carolinas
Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll
|
School |
Points (1st Place) |
| 1 |
Lander |
191 (10) |
| t2 |
UNC Pembroke |
164 (1) |
| t2 |
Newberry |
164 (4) |
| 4 |
Montevallo |
156 |
| 5 |
Belmont Abbey |
152 |
| 6 |
King |
149 |
| 7 |
Mount Olive |
115 |
| 8 |
Emmanuel |
96 |
| 9 |
Ferrum |
82 |
| 10 |
Shorter |
80 |
| 11 |
Coker |
73 |
| 12 |
Allen |
53 |
| 13 |
Bluefield State |
45 |
| 14 |
Emory & Henry |
28 |
| 15 |
Lincoln Memorial |
27 |
2026-27 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling
Wrestlers to Watch
Allen
- Dharrin Smith, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia
- Malachi Thomas, Jr., Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Zahmier Bandwin, Jr., Woodstock, Georgia
Belmont Abbey
- Chris Arrington, Sr., 174, Grand Rapids, Michigan (NCAA national qualifier)
- Elijah Carrington, So., 141, Uniondale, New York (All-Conference Carolinas third team; Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, NCAA national qualifier)
- Caleb Moore, Gr., 197, Denver, North Carolina (All-Conference Carolinas first team, NCAA national qualifier)
Bluefield State
- Larry "Ryder" Rhodes, Jr., 125, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Kairyn Hall, Jr., 165, Glen Burnie, Maryland
- Simeon Bryant, So., 285, Owings Mills, Maryland
Coker
- Daiyan Heard, Jr., 133, Norfolk, Virginia
- Zachary Russo, Jr., 157, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Hunter Miller, Jr., 285, Cleveland, North Carolina
Emmanuel
- Braydon Mitchell, Jr., Covington, Georgia (All-Conference Carolinas second team)
- Michael McCarthy, Sr., Melbourne, Florida
- Isiah Davis, Sr., Elberton, Georgia
Emory & Henry
- Sebastian Gabarrete, Sr., 165, Jeffersonton, Virginia
- Evan Alger, Sr., 197, Pulaski, Virginia
- Gavin Warner, Sr., 141, Draper, Virginia
Ferrum
- Ezeliel Keel, So., 125, Herndon, Virginia
- Andres Cortes, Jr., 149, Woodberry, New Jersey (NWCA All-America)
- Josh Daltro, Jr., 174, Jacksonville, Florida (NCWA national finalist)
King
- Adan Estrada, Jr., 141, Zillah, Washington
- Ashtan Hendricks, Sr., 149, Jamestown, Ohio
- Luke Justice, Sr., 197, Thompsons Station, Tennessee
Lander
- Isaac Sheeren, Jr., 197, Houston, Texas (Two-time national qualifier, Two-time All-Conference Carolinas, 2026 Super Region II Champion, 2025 Super Region II Finalist)
- Gianni Maldonado, 165, r-Fr., Tampa, Florida
- RJ Noble, Sr., 157, Plant City, Florida (2026 NCAA national qualifier, 2026 Super Region II Finalist)
Lincoln Memorial
- Kameron Harrell, Fr., Poquoson, Virginia
- James Thaxton, Sr., Crawfordville, Florida
- Blake Allen, So., Knoxville, Tennessee
Montevallo
- Cole Hunt, Sr., 125, Sugar Valley, Georgia, (2025-26 All-Conference Carolinas first team)
- Carson Freeman, Sr., 157, Alabaster, Alabama (2025-26 All-Conference Carolinas third team)
- Cole Tolley, Grad, 197, Tampa, Florida
Mount Olive
- Ben Hernandez, Jr., 141, St. Clemente, California (2026 NCAA Super Region II placer)
- Calab Staub, Sr., 197, Fayetteville, North Carolina
- John Domencic, Jr., 285, Cary, North Carolina
Newberry
- Drake Brasiel, Fr., 165, Aurora, Ohio
- Osmany Martinez, Jr., 141, Habana, Cuba (Two-time Pan American Junior Champion, Three-time Cuban National Junior champion, Gold medal at Central American and Caribbean games, Bronze at the Pan American games)
- Hunter McCullough, Sr., 125, Hahira, Georgia
UNC Pembroke
- James Bankston, Sr., 285, Durham, North Carolina (2026 NCAA All-America)
- Cooper Davis, Jr., 125, Davidson, North Carolina (2026 NWCA Super Region II Rookie of the Year)
- Keegan Roberson, 5th, 157, Chicago, Illinois (2026 All-Conference Carolinas first team)
Shorter
- Brayden Gibson, So., 141, Powder Springs, Georgia
- Jonathan Fogus, So., 157, Rome, Georgia
- Riley Davis, Jr., 184, Rome, Georgia