This marks the fourth year the SLIAC has sponsored a men's wrestling championship. The 2026-27 season begins on Wednesday, November 4th leading up to the conference championship on Saturday, February 13th. Eight teams will compete as members of the SLIAC this season with the University of Ozarks as the three-time reigning champion. Below is a team-by-team look at each of the program's for the upcoming season.
BLACKBURN COLLEGE - HEAD COACH TIM MCGUIRE
The Beavers are coming off the program's first year and a 7th place showing at the conference championship. Remington Hiser will look to build on his strong season, recording 12 of his 13 wins by pin; which ranked in the top five of the conference. Keaton Wilhelm is also back as is Tyler Tarallo, who combined for 10 wins. Transfers Keygan Jennings and Scotty Cuff bring more experience to the young program while several freshman (Hunter Hodge, Jeremiah Lawrence, Drayven Hamm, Marquell Shelton, Rylyn Owens, Justin Powell, and Caleb Zirkelbach) help build out the lineup depth.
EUREKA COLLEGE - HEAD COACH ERIC BIEHL
The Red Devils placed 3rd at last year's conference championship and head coach Eric Biehl is expecting that experience to pay dividends for the program. Sargent Maubach (174) took gold at last year's championship and finished the season second on the team with 13 wins. Trevor Hedges (141) is a two-time All-Conference performer and totaled 11 wins last season. The program also brings back Isaac Smith (125) who was on a 10-2 run to start the year before suffering an injury. Darian Holloway, an Illinois state placer at 285, is one to keep an eye on.
HUNTINGDON COLLEGE - MATT OLIVER
Head Coach Matt Oliver will have an experienced program that should compete for a conference title. The Hawks return First Team All-Conference wrestler Damion Jones, who won 28 matches at 157 pounds, the third most in the SLIAC. Kevin Shaw II (197) was just one off his teammates win total and returns after a silver medal last season. Other runner-ups coming back are Brock Gross (141), Corbin Falgout (165), and Thomas Seglio (165). The Hawks depth continues with an incoming class that features two-time state champion Parker Van Noy (125) and Georgia state champion RJ Rivera (141). Adam Hardeman (125), Cooper Hall (133), George Hunter (174), and Kourtlan Kendrick (197) had stand out prep careers while Davin Lundquist (149) is a transfer that placed at regionals last year.
LYON COLLEGE - HEAD COACH SHELDEN STRUBLE
Head Coach Shelden Struble takes over a Scot program that finished 6th at last year's championship. Caleb McCollum (157) will help anchor the program that is joined by newcomers Thomas Pluhar (125), Avery Fengel (149), and Mark Gabbie (285).
MCMURRY UNIVERSITY - HEAD COACH ANDY GARZA
First-year head coach Andy Garza takes over a program that returns five wrestlers from last year's team while bringing in 21 freshmen. Aaron Michaels (125) and Tyler Gardner (165) tied for the team lead with two wins last season. The large incoming class boasts four high school state qualifiers in Liam Ralston (184), Taeo Wall (125), Omar Olivares (184), and Aiden McKinnie (174).
UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS - HEAD COACH NATHANEAL RANKIN
The Eagles return plenty of experienced wrestlers with seven medalists coming back. Javin Douglas, a two-time gold medalist, is back at 133 pounds after totaling 29 wins last season. Zander Payne (141) and Jadaan Anderson (197) also notched first-place finishes last year while Tripp Price (184) and Carter Taylor (133) were runners-up. Reign Creech (125) is back after missing last season with an injury. New faces to keep an eye on are transfer Cash Bray (174) and freshmen Davian McConnell (125), Ryan Haskell (141), Mycah Martin (149), Marcus Ceasar (157), and Malcom Aranda (165).
SCHREINER UNIVERSITY - HEAD COACH JASON RODRIGUEZ
The Mountaineers had their highest championship finish last year since joining the SLIAC, placing 3rd. They will look for 141 pound champion Ashton Keller to led the team after he went 23-7 with 17 pins last year. Jayden Copeland (133) and Bryan Martinez (285) each tallied seven wins ago while Henry Kubelka (184) and Adam Lancaster (157) add to the team depth. Transfer Maddox Quinonez (197) and freshman Rudy Velasquez (165) should make an immediate impact for the program.
WESTMINSTER COLLEGE - HEAD COACH KEN GAWRONSKI
The Blue Jays have a lot to replace from a team that finished 5th last year including the conference's all-time pin leader Michael Roberts. Head Coach Ken Gawronski will look to Levi Casey to take charge after he took bronze at last year's championship. Casey, who wrestled at 174 last season, will drop down in weight this season after totaling 7 wins. A strong incoming freshman class will work its way into the lineup. Brandon Brewer was the 125-pound state champion in Missouri while David Ruvalcab was runner-up at 149 pounds in Arkansas. Evan McCarty will compete at heavyweight and was a state placer in Colorado.