KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) has announced its Wrestling Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2022-2023 season. Nebraska Kearney tabbed the top spot with 15 points and three first-place votes. 

Nebraska Kearney, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, was selected to finish first in the MIAA for the second consecutive season. Central Oklahoma, the defending national runners-up, came in second with 14 points and two first-place selections. UCO won the 2022 MIAA title by going 4-0 in league duals including a 18-17 decision over UNK.

Head coach Dalton Jensen must replace five starters, including one national champion and two national runners up, off last year's squad but still has five returning national qualifiers and four returning All-Americans. The returning All-Americans are Omaha junior Billy Higgins (184 lbs.), Kansas redshirt senior Austin Eldredge (174 lbs.), Kearney redshirt senior Lee Herrington (285 lbs.), Kearney redshirt junior Nick James (141 lbs.) and South Carolina redshirt senior Hayden Prince (197 lbs.).

UNK is at home Saturday (Nov. 5) at 11 a.m. for its annual Blue/White intrasquad dual. The event is free and open to the public and will be held in the Health & Sports Center. 

2022-23 MIAA Preseason Wrestling Coaches Poll
1.  Nebraska Kearney [3] – 15 points
2.  Central Oklahoma [2] – 14 points
3.  Fort Hays State – 9 points
4.  Central Missouri – 8 points
5.  Newman – 4 points 


Coaches Are Not Allowed to Vote For Their Own Teams