(LEBANON, Ill. – Jan. 3) – The No.5 McKendree University men's wrestling program is set to begin their 2021 season at Kentucky Wesleyan College on Tuesday, Jan. 5, in Owensboro, KY.

James Kisgen's team was recently ranked No.5 (55 pts.) in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) preseason NCAA Division II Coaches Rankings. They poll also ranked the top-10 men from each weight division, where four Bearcats graced the list. Senior Ryan Vasbinder (Wyoming, MI/Grandville) was ranked No.1 (197-lbs.), redshirt-senior Daniel Filipek (Warrenton, MO/Warrenton) was ranked No.5 (185-lbs.), junior Joshua Jones (Chicago Heights, IL/Marian Catholic) was ranked No.2 (174-lbs.), and Graduate Student Nate Smalling (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) was ranked No.6 (157-lbs.).

McKendree concluded the 2019-20 season with a 13-2 overall record and going 6-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition. The Bearcats won their third-consecutive GLVC Wrestling Championship title. There, Kisgen was named Coach of the Year, Vasbinder was named Wrestler of the Year, and eight Bearcats were named GLVC All-Conference.

The Bearcats also secured their second-consecutive NCAA Division II Super Regional title. There, four Bearcats were crowned Regional Champions of their weight classes and eight individuals qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not able to compete in the NCA Division II National Championship.

The Panthers closed out their 2019-20 season 4-13 overall and 2-3 in Great Midwest Atlantic Conference (GMAC) competition. in just their third year as a program, the Panthers recorded their first wins and first GMAC wins in program history.

The Bearcats are scheduled to dual the Panthers at 6:30 PM in the Woodward Health and Recreation Center.