KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five teams from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) were recognized in the NAIA Men's Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll, the national office announced Thursday.
Friends University was ranked inside the Top Ten, coming in at a tie for No. 8. The Falcons enter the 2026-27 season as the reigning KCAC champions. The Falcons were joined in the poll by Ottawa University, the University of Saint Mary, Avila University, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University, all of which were part of the "Receiving Votes" category of the poll.
The next NAIA Men's Wrestling Coaches' Poll is scheduled to be released Thursday, November 19.
2026 NAIA MEN'S WRESTLING PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
| RANK |
INSTITUTION |
POINTS |
| 1 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
243 |
| 2 |
Southern Oregon |
218 |
| T-3 |
Southeastern (Fla.) |
201 |
| T-3 |
Life (Ga.) |
201 |
| 5 |
Providence (Mont.) |
165 |
| 6 |
Oklahoma City |
139 |
| 7 |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
121 |
| T-8 |
Indiana Tech |
116 |
| T-8 |
Friends (Kan.) |
116 |
| T-10 |
Marian (Ind.) |
114 |
| T-10 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
114 |
| 12 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
111 |
| 13 |
Arizona Christian |
102 |
| 14 |
Doane (Neb.) |
91 |
| 15 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
90 |
| 16 |
Morningside (Iowa) |
81 |
| 17 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
80 |
| 18 |
Montana State-Northern |
79 |
| 19 |
Reinhardt (Ga.) |
78 |
| 20 |
Missouri Valley |
74 |
| 21 |
Corban (Ore.) |
65 |
| 22 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
62 |
| 23 |
Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) |
60 |
| 24 |
Andrew (Ga.) |
53 |
| 25 |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
44 |
Receiving Votes: Westcliff 43, William Woods University 42, Cornerstone 41, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 37, Eastern Oregon University (OR) 35, Hastings (Neb.) 34, Ottawa University 34, University of Saint Mary (KS) 33, Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 33, Montreat College 25, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 25, Baker (Kan.) 24, Evergreen State College 22, Missouri Baptist University 21, Texas Wesleyan 21, University of Rio Grande 21, St. Ambrose University 19, Graceland University 18, Georgetown (KY) 17, Briar Cliff (Iowa) 16, Avila 13, Benedictine College 12, Cleary University 11, Concordia (Neb.) 11, Oklahoma Wesleyan 11, Dickinson State (N.D.) 9, Waldorf (Iowa) 9, Brewton-Parker (GA) 9, Simpson (Calif.) 8, Defiance College 7, Pikeville 6, Rochester Christian University 5, St. Thomas University 3, Bismarck State College 3, Midway University 3.
125- Ray Ray Harris, Doane (Neb.)
133- Gabe Gonzales, Grand View (Iowa)
141- Yoshiya Funakoshi, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
149- Elijah Larsen, Grand View (Iowa)
157- Hunter Hobbs, Providence (Mont.)
165- Jasitin Kubwimana, Campbellsville (Ky.)
174- Roman Garcia, Central Methodist (Mo.)
184- Ashston Habiel, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
197- Asher Ruchti, Southern Oregon
285- Kenneth Copley, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small college athletics programs dedicated to character-driven, education-based athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has balanced high-level competition with holistic student-athlete development through its commitment to The Right Way to Play®. Each year more than 87,000 NAIA student-athletes compete in college athletics, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and pursue opportunities to participate in 30 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA | #TheRightWayToPlay
—KCAC—