MANHEIM, Pa. — The West Liberty University men’s wrestling team will begin the 2025 campaign nationally ranked once again, checking in at No. 19 in the NWCA Division II Preseason Top 25, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced this week.

The Hilltoppers are one of six Mountain East Conference programs represented in the national poll, which is based on tournament power rankings.

West Liberty tallied 26 team points behind six nationally ranked individuals, continuing the program’s long-standing tradition of national prominence.

“Six guys in the national rankings shows we have a lot of potential,” head coach Danny Irwin said. “Especially with Carter Winegardner and Nico Taddy not being in the six. Nico returns after redshirting last year following a stellar freshman campaign.”

Irwin added, “We have high expectations again this season, and us staying focused on our standards for each other will determine how the season will shape up.”

Leading the way for West Liberty is two-time NCAA qualifier Khyvon Grace, ranked No. 2 at 141 pounds, the highest individual ranking for a Hilltopper in this year’s poll.

Grace returns following a breakout 2024 season where he earned All-America honors and reached the national podium.

At 125 pounds, Oak Glen graduate Logan Davis opens the season ranked No. 12, looking to build on a strong sophomore campaign that saw him earn All-MEC honors and post several key dual wins late in the season.

Junior James Armstrong enters ranked No. 10 at 133 pounds, while senior Tony Wood lands at No. 14 at 149, giving the Hilltoppers strength throughout the middle weights.

At 165 pounds, Jordan Watters debuts at No. 12 in the preseason rankings, and heavyweight Parker Bentley rounds out the group at No. 12 at 285 pounds, providing leadership and experience in the upper weight classes.

Nationally, Nebraska-Kearney holds the top team spot, followed by Lander, Pitt-Johnstown, Tiffin, and Grand Valley State rounding out the top five. The Hilltoppers, who finished 10th at last year’s NCAA Championships, will look to build momentum early in the season as they chase another strong postseason run.

Tough Schedule Ahead

West Liberty opens the 2025-26 season on Nov. 1 at the University of Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio, before select Hilltoppers compete later that evening at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Brunswick, New Jersey.

The Hilltoppers’ first home dual is set for Nov. 6, when they host No. 3 Pitt-Johnstown inside the ASRC for Alumni Night, marking one of several matchups against nationally ranked opponents.

The schedule includes high-level competition throughout the year, with West Liberty set to face or compete alongside multiple top-25 programs, including No. 4 Tiffin, No. 16 Ashland, and several nationally ranked teams at the Midwest Classic (Dec. 13-14) in Indianapolis and the NWCA National Duals (Jan. 9-10) in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Other key dates include duals at Lake Erie (Dec. 17) and Fairmont State (Feb. 12), plus a home event on Feb. 6 vs. No. 16 Ashland for Senior Night.

Postseason action begins with the MEC Championships (Jan. 31), followed by the NCAA Division II Super Region III Championships (Feb. 28 in Findlay, Ohio) and the NCAA Division II National Championships (Mar. 13-14) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.