Greenville, SC – Bluefield State University men's wrestling has been slotted 13^th in the 2026-27 Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll, announced by the conference on Thursday.

Lander looks to capture a sixth consecutive title as the preseason favorite with 191 points. UNC Pembroke and Newberry tied for second with 164 points each, followed by Montevallo in fourth with 156 points and Belmont Abbey rounding out the top five with 152 points.

King (149), Mount Olive (115), Emmanuel (96), Ferrum (82), and Shorter (80) fill out the top 10. Coker (73) and Allen (53) came in ahead of Bluefield State (45), while Emory & Henry (28) and Lincoln Memorial (27) complete the preseason poll.

2026-27 Conference Carolinas
Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll
1.   Lander 191 (10)
2.   T – UNC Pembroke 164 (1)
2.   T – Newberry 164 (4)
4.   Montevallo 156
5.   Belmont Abbey 152
6.   King 149
7.   Mount Olive 115
8.   Emmanuel 96
9.   Ferrum 82
10. Shorter 80
11. Coker 73
12. Allen 53
13. Bluefield State 45
14. Emory & Henry 28
15. Lincoln Memorial 27
 
2026-27 Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling
Wrestlers to Watch
Allen

• Dharrin Smith, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia
• Malachi Thomas, Jr., Rock Hill, South Carolina
• Zahmier Bandwin, Jr., Woodstock, Georgia

Belmont Abbey

• Chris Arrington, Sr., 174, Grand Rapids, Michigan (NCAA national qualifier)
• Elijah Carrington, So., 141, Uniondale, New York (All-Conference Carolinas third team; Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, NCAA national qualifier)
• Caleb Moore, Gr., 197, Denver, North Carolina (All-Conference Carolinas first team, NCAA national qualifier)

Bluefield State

• Larry "Ryder" Rhodes, Jr., 125, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Kairyn Hall, Jr., 165, Glen Burnie, Maryland
• Simeon Bryant, So., 285, Owings Mills, Maryland

Coker

• Daiyan Heard, Jr., 133, Norfolk, Virginia
• Zachary Russo, Jr., 157, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Hunter Miller, Jr., 285, Cleveland, North Carolina

Emmanuel

• Braydon Mitchell, Jr., Covington, Georgia (All-Conference Carolinas second team)
• Michael McCarthy, Sr., Melbourne, Florida
• Isiah Davis, Sr., Elberton, Georgia

Emory & Henry

• Sebastian Gabarrete, Sr., 165, Jeffersonton, Virginia
• Evan Alger, Sr., 197, Pulaski, Virginia
• Gavin Warner, Sr., 141, Draper, Virginia

Ferrum

• Ezeliel Keel, So., 125, Herndon, Virginia
• Andres Cortes, Jr., 149, Woodberry, New Jersey (NWCA All-America)
• Josh Daltro, Jr., 174, Jacksonville, Florida (NCWA national finalist)

King

• Adan Estrada, Jr., 141, Zillah, Washington
• Ashtan Hendricks, Sr., 149, Jamestown, Ohio
• Luke Justice, Sr., 197, Thompsons Station, Tennessee

Lander

• Isaac Sheeren, Jr., 197, Houston, Texas (Two-time national qualifier, Two-time All-Conference Carolinas, 2026 Super Region II Champion, 2025 Super Region II Finalist)
• Gianni Maldonado, 165, r-Fr., Tampa, Florida
• RJ Noble, Sr., 157, Plant City, Florida (2026 NCAA national qualifier, 2026 Super Region II Finalist)

Lincoln Memorial

• Kameron Harrell, Fr., Poquoson, Virginia
• James Thaxton, Sr., Crawfordville, Florida
• Blake Allen, So., Knoxville, Tennessee

Montevallo

• Cole Hunt, Sr., 125, Sugar Valley, Georgia, (2025-26 All-Conference Carolinas first team)
• Carson Freeman, Sr., 157, Alabaster, Alabama (2025-26 All-Conference Carolinas third team)
• Cole Tolley, Grad, 197, Tampa, Florida

Mount Olive

• Ben Hernandez, Jr., 141, St. Clemente, California (2026 NCAA Super Region II placer)
• Calab Staub, Sr., 197,
• John Domencic, Jr., 285, Cary, North Carolina

Newberry

• Drake Brasiel, Fr., 165, Aurora, Ohio
• Osmany Martinez, Jr., 141, Habana, Cuba (Two-time Pan American Junior Champion, Three-time Cuban National Junior champion, Gold medal at Central American and Caribbean games, Bronze at the Pan American games)
• Hunter McCullough, Sr., 125, Hahira, Georgia

UNC Pembroke

• James Bankston, Sr., 285, Durham, North Carolina (2026 NCAA All-America)
• Cooper Davis, Jr., 125, Davidson, North Carolina (2026 NWCA Super Region II Rookie of the Year)
• Keegan Roberson, 5th, 157, Chicago, Illinois (2026 All-Conference Carolinas first team)

Shorter

• Brayden Gibson, So., 141, Powder Springs, Georgia
• Jonathan Fogus, So., 157, Rome, Georgia
• Riley Davis, Jr., 184, Rome, Georgia