Men’s Wrestling Picked Second in SLIAC Preseason Poll

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference released its preseason poll for men's wrestling on Friday. The Red Devils were selected second with 22 points, a single point behind Ozarks, the defending SLIAC champion.

Ozarks received 23 points and three first-place votes, edging out Eureka, which earned 22 points and two first-place votes. Schreiner was picked third with 21 points, while Westminster came in fourth with 15 points, followed by Lyon with 11 points. Fontbonne and Blackburn rounded out the poll, tied for sixth with 5 points each.

Eureka, the SLIAC runner-up from last season, returns five All-SLIAC wrestlers, including first-team selections Trevor Hedges and Gaige Owens. Hedges was also named the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year last season. Nathan Berta and Thomas Culp are back for the Red Devils after being named to the second-team all-conference. Jackson Creasy, who earned third-team honors last year, will also look to improve this season.

Eureka is already off to a strong start, with newcomer Jacob Kaminski earning the first SLIAC Men's Wrestler of the Week award of the new season.

Eureka return to action tomorrow at the Luther Open in Decorah, Iowa. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., and results will be available here.

2024-25 Preseason SLIAC Men's Wrestling Poll (First-Place Votes)

1. Ozarks - 23 (3)

2. Eureka - 22 (2)

3. Schreiner - 21

4. Westminster - 15

5. Lyon - 11

6. Fontbonne - 5

6. Blackburn - 5