KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Men's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll has been published for the 2021-22 preseason and Grand View (Iowa) sits atop the standings. Life University (Ga.) and Doane University (Kan.) fill in spots two and three; Southeastern (Fla.) and Baker (Kan.) completed the Top Five.  

Poll Methodology

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
• Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot.
• The top 20 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first place vote, 19 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot
• The postseason poll is determined using the individual and team results from the national championship

 
The MSU-Northern men's wrestling program was picked 18^th in the NAIA National Coaches' poll. The Lights have eight  returning starters and 15 returning wrestlers total. Last season, the Lights finished 11^th at the 2021 NAIA National Tournament.
 
Four of the five key returners are individually ranked in the top 20. Four-time All-American Isaac Bartel is ranked first in 197 lb. weight class. He finished first in 2021, second in 2020 and 2019. As a freshman, he finished third.
 
Nick Kunz is a Two-time All-American, who is ranked 11^th in 133 lb. weight class. Last season, he took 8^th place at NAIA Nationals at 133 lb. weight class. In 2020, Kunz was a National Champion in the 125 lb. weight class.
 
Chase Short was an All-American last season, as he took 7^th place at the NAIA National Championships. In weight class 165, Chase Short is ranked 9^th.
 
Last season, Carl Hansen qualified for the NAIA National Championships. Carl Hansen is ranked 12^th in the 184 lb. weight class.