MANHEIM, PA - With the start of the 2025-26 season looming, Nebraska-Kearney is the top-ranked team in the preseason edition of the NCAA DII Coaches Rankings, released Thursday by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).

The Lopers, who won the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship last season, amassed 73.0 points behind eight ranked wrestlers, highlighted by Jackson Kinsella holding the #1 spot at 197. 

After UNK, Lander is in the second spot as a team with 68.5 team points. Pitt.-Johnstown (54.0 pts) and Tiffin (49.0 pts) are ranked third and fourth, respectively, while Grand Valley State and UW-Parkside share the five spot with 48.0 points. 

The second-ranked Bearcats of Lander are the lone team to have all 10 wrestlers individually ranked, paced by two-time defending National Champion David Hunsberger in the top spot at 165. Just one team has two number-one ranked wrestlers, with UPJ's Trevon Gray (125) and Isaiah Vance (285) both in the top spot in their respective weight classes.

In addition to Hunsberger at 165, the top-ranked wrestlers at 141, 157 and 174 will also come into the season defending a National title. Johnny Lopez (141) of San Francisco State, Gabe Johnson (157) of Central Oklahoma and Cole Ritter of (174) all made the top of the podium in their respective weight classes a season ago. Augustana's Cael Larson is also back after winning a title at 149 a season ago, but he will be up at 157 in 2025-26. 

The most ranked wrestlers come out of Super Region 3 in this preseason poll, with 31 individuals wrestling for SR3 teams. Super Region 4, however, features the most #1s with three, while Super Region 5 has the most teams ranked in the Top 25 with six. As a conference, Conference Carolinas has the most ranked wrestlers with 26, while the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) has the most top-ranked individuals with three. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has the most ranked teams with five in the Top 25. 

The season opens across NCAA Division II Nov. 1, with the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championships set for March 13-14, 2026, in Sioux Falls, SD.