Cumberland Ranked No. 9 in NAIA Men’s Wrestling Preseason Poll

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University wrestling will open the 2025-26 campaign ranked No. 9 in the NAIA Men's Wrestling Preseason Top 25, the national office announced Thursday.

Defending national champion Grand View (Iowa) takes the top spot with 225 points and four wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes. Life (Ga.) follows at No. 2 with 190 points, while Southeastern (Fla.), Indiana Tech, and Campbellsville (Ky.) round out the top five. Cumberlands (Ky.) joins Cumberland as the other Mid-South Conference program in the top 10, checking in at No. 8.

Cumberland returns a strong veteran core with eight wrestlers featured in the national individual rankings, led by two-time All-American Jared Dinh, who opens the season ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds. Dinh placed fifth at last year's NAIA National Championships.

Joining Dinh in the same weight class, two-time All-American Sammy Shires begins the year ranked No. 4 at 141 pounds after earning national honors at 133 in both 2023 and 2024.

At 149 pounds, Victor Guzman, a 2025 All-American who finished third at nationals, comes in ranked No. 3, giving the Phoenix three top-five wrestlers in the lower weights.

Ethan Gomez (No. 12 at 165), Anthony Pyron (No. 24 at 174), Rocco Horvath (No. 7 at 184), and Tyler Rowland (No. 8 at 197) also appear in the rankings. Horvath is a two-time Mid-South Conference Champion and national qualifier, while Rowland captured the 2025 MSC title at 197. Ellis Haney rounds out Cumberland's ranked wrestlers at No. 23 in the 125-pound class.

Head Coach James Hicks enters his 10th season at the helm with a lineup that combines proven national experience and depth across multiple weights. The Phoenix look to build on last year's strong postseason showing that featured two All-Americans and a top-15 team finish at the NAIA National Championships.

Cumberland opens the 2025-26 season on Saturday, November 1 at the Pepsi Patriot Open in Williamsburg, Ky.

Print Friendly Version