CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) released the men's wrestling preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday. The University of Dubuque men's wrestling team was picked to finish sixth, the same spot they finished a season ago.
The Spartans return several key wrestlers from a season ago, including all-conference sophomores Brett Back and junior Zane Pannell. Back finished 25-9 and Pannell finished 17-7 in 2024, with both wrestlers placing third in the regional championships last season. Other key wrestlers for the Spartans include senior Tanner Higa and juniors Kale Roth, Alecxander Robeson, Alexander Needham, and Justin Matson.
Jon McGovern will begin his 25th season as the Spartans' head coach and will be assisted by Dennis Hall, Brady Koontz, Will Kelly, and graduate assistant Evan Husko. First-year graduate assistant coach Cam'ron Harper also joins the staff this season.
The Spartans will kick off the 2025-2026 campaign at home on November 1 for the Jim Fox Invite. The Spartans will begin A-R-C play with a home match against Simpson College on November 13 at 7:00 p.m. Following two invites at Luther College (Nov. 15) and Concordia University (Wis.) (Nov. 22) and a road match at UW-Platteville (Dec. 5), the Spartans will compete against Nebraska Wesleyan University on December 12 at 7:00 p.m. and compete in the Prairie Wolf Duals the following morning in Lincoln. Just before Christmas, the Spartans will host Saint John's University and Schreiner University on December 20.
The spring semester will begin with the NWCA Multi-Division National Duals on January 9-10 before hosting an American Rivers Conference Dual pod that will feature Central College, Wartburg College, and Buena Vista University on January 24. Following a road match in Decorah against Luther (Jan. 30), the Spartans will host Loras College on February 5 (7:00 p.m.) and the Brown-Terrell Invite on February 7. The Spartans will close the regular season with a match at Coe College on February 13 at 7:00 p.m.
The postseason will begin with the NCAA Regionals at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque on February 27-28. Wrestlers that advance out of the regional will compete in the NCAA Championships in Cedar Rapids on March 13-14.
2025-2026 A-R-C Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll
1. Wartburg - 64 (8)
2. Coe - 55 (1)
3. Loras - 52
4. Central - 39
5. Luther - 37
6. Univ. of Dubuque - 32
7. Nebraska Wesleyan - 20
8. Simpson - 17
9. Buena Vista - 8
