(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Jan. 6) – The McKendree University men's wrestling program was picked to win the 2021 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship, released in the Conference's preseason poll. The annual poll was voted on by the league coaches and ranks all seven teams.

*portions of this release were taken from the GLVC official release.

The Bearcats received 34 points and four first-place points atop the 2021 preseason poll. GLVC rival Lindenwood sits right behind with 33 points and three first-place votes. The University of Indianapolis (24 pts.), Maryville (23 pts.), and Drury (15pts.) round out the top-5.

2021 GLVC WRESTLING PRESEASON POLL
Rank School – Points (First-Place Votes)
No.1 McKendree – 34 (4)
No.2 Lindenwood – 33 (3)
No.3 Indianapolis – 24
No.4 Maryville – 23
No.5 Drury – 15
No.6 Davenport – 10
No.7 Ouachita Baptist – 8

Three-time GLVC Coach of the Year James Kisgen returns for his 18th season at McKendree, as the Bearcats look to battle for their fourth-straight Conference title. McKendree claimed its second consecutive regional crown in March. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bearcats were unable to compete at the 2020 NCAA Division II Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Kisgen's team was also recently ranked No.5 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) preseason NCAA Division II Coaches Ranking, with four individually ranked wrestlers.

Eight of the league's 10 All-GLVC First-Team selections a year ago return, headlined by GLVC Wrestler of the Year Ryan Vasbinder (Wyoming, MI/Grandville) and Freshman of the Year Dawson Combest (157) of Indianapolis. In all, 16 of 29 All-Conference members from 2020 are back to the mat this season, including six Super Region 4 champions. Also returning are three James R. Spalding Sportsmanship honorees: Drury's Peter Kuster, Lindenwood's Austin Stofer, and Ouachita Baptist's Robert Otero.

Eighteen from the GLVC earned NWCA All-America accolades after the national championships, with 12 set to return in 2021.
The GLVC Championship will be determined by similar fashion as 2020, with each team competing in three dual meets throughout the season. McKendree went 6-0 last winter to win its third-consecutive title.

Conference competition begins Sunday, Jan. 10, as Ouachita Baptist hosts Drury and Indianapolis in Arkadelphia, Ark., while Lindenwood welcomes Davenport, Maryville, and McKendree to St. Charles, Mo.