(MANHEIM, Penn. – Jan. 2) – The McKendree University men's wrestling team was ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) second regular season top-25 poll of the 2019-20 regular season. The team and individual wrestler rankings were released earlier Wednesday.

In the firs top-25 poll of the 2019-20 season, the Bearcats were tied for the second-place spot with Nebraska-Kearney. Now, the Bearcats are starting off the new year in the No. 5 position with 56 points.

Below is the regular season team rankings second poll:
1. St. Cloud State – 111 points
2. Pitt- Johnstown – 70 points
3. Notre Dame – 67 points
4. Nebraska-Kearney – 57 points
5. McKendree – 56 points.

In addition to the team rankings, the poll individually ranks the wrestlers, where seven Bearcats made the list.
125-lb. – Marcus Povlick (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North), ranked No. 2
149-lb. – Juwan Edmond (Bellwood, IL), ranked No. 12
157-lb. – Nate Smalling (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West), ranked No. 10
165-lb. – Nick Foster (Belleville, IL/Belleville West), ranked No. 2
174-lb. – Qian'te Wagner (Alton, Ill./Alton), ranked No. 12
197-lb. – Ryan Vasbinder (Grand Rapids, MI/Grandville), ranked No. 2
Heavyweight – Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell Central), ranked No. 10

McKendree's men's and women's programs will be back in action for the 2020 NWCA Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championship. The two-day tournament will be Jan 10 – 11 in Louisville, Ken., at the Kentucky Exposition Center.