The SLIAC 2025 favorite is reigning Champion, the University of the Ozarks. They collected 23 points and three first-place votes from league coaches, edging out the top spot. Head Coach Vinny Barber has four All-Conference wrestlers returning including 165 pound champion Airamis Mendoza. Also back are Third Team All-SLIAC performers Zander Payne and Shelton Chastain, who recorded 27 wins last year, and 174 pound runner-up Gabriel Sheikh. The Eagles add to their depth with the arrival of several newcomers including Reign Creech, Javin Douglas, Iyanuoluwa Akingbolagun, Demetri Teddlie, Mike Gilreath, Elijah Teberis, and Caden Robison.
Eureka College was chosen 2nd with 22 points and two first-place nods. They return six All-Conference wrestlers from last year's SLIAC Championship runner-up team. Trevor Hedges, the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, leads the way for the Red Devils. Hedges was 20-8 last year and captured the league's 125 pound title. Also back is 133 pound champion, Gaige Owens. Thomas Culp, Nathan Berta, Mikie Hartnett, and Jackson Creasy all had solid showings at last year's championship and look to build upong that performance this season. Head Coach Eric Biehl brings in several newcomers that include Isaac Smith, Caleb Ohnesorge, and Jake Kaminski (a Division 1 transfer and bronze world medalist).
Schreiner University was picked 3rd with 21 points after placing 4th at last year's championship. They bring back three Second Team All-Conference wrestlers. Jose Salinas Nava was runner-up at 125 pounds and recorded 12 wins last season. Nawab Singh was runner-up at 197 pounds, tallying 10 wins with Luis Rodriguez finishing second at 285 pounds and added 10 wins on the year.
Westminster College finished with 15 total points, coming in 4th on the poll. They did not provide any team information.
Lyon College was chosen 5th, picking up 11 total points. They welcome in a new head coach in Christopher Wilmington. He walks into a program that finished 5th at last year's SLIAC Championship and returns three All-Conference performers. Jacob Kehrer finished with 11 wins last season and was the runner-up at 133 pounds. Eli Lupton and Liam Selhorst picked up Third Team All-SLIAC honors last year. Look for newcomer Shmuel Tabak on the mat for the Scots.
Fontbonne University tied for 6th on the poll and will have one more go at it on the mats. Head Coach Chad Cook will rely on Jay Strausbaugh to carry the Griffins. The 157 pounder was Second Team All-SLIAC last year and recorded 12 wins overall. Also back are Daniel Bauer, Diego McCormick, Gavin Patterson, Stephen Bell, Riko Camacho, and Bradyn Rawlins.
Blackburn College tied for 6th with five points. They did not provide any team information.