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Wrestling

ODAC Announces Wrestling Preseason Rankings

Four All-Americans, 10 National Qualifiers Ready for New Season

FOREST, Va. --- Welcome to Year Five of ODAC wrestling with the sport's strength at its highest point since returning from a 40-plus year hiatus.

The conference's prominence is unmistakable following a season that saw Roanoke College claim not only the high-profile NWCA/USMC Showcase in January, but lift the Region IV trophy in prelude to a national championship experience that saw three schools – Averett University, Roanoke, Washington and Lee University – send 16 wrestlers to the Division III championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

And still, there is room for new within the league. The University of Lynchburg kicks off its first season of competition with a roster of 33 wrestlers including a handful with previous collegiate experience. The three-man group of coaches in Joey Petrella, Colton Stoneking, and Parker Howell lead the Hornets in their inaugural campaign.

Two established programs also feature new leaders. Jon Woodburn is the new man in charge at Greensboro College, while Southern Virginia University turns to 2014 alumnus Pete Hansen.

Also new for this season is how the ODAC will determine its champion. The ODAC  Wrestling Championships, which will be hosted by Averett in February, will now not only serve as the basis for All-ODAC recognition for the league's wrestlers in each weight class, but the attributed team points will lead to a crowned conference champion.

In the sections below, we take stock of the 2025-26 season and its impacts on the new campaign. Full ODAC top-three individual rankings determined by the ODAC's coaches are among the 2026-27 features.

2026-27 ODAC MEN'S WRESTLING PRESEASON POLL
(#) denotes first place votes received

1. Roanoke College (7)49 pts.
2. Washington and Lee University (1)43 pts.
3. Averett University37 pts.
4. Shenandoah University28 pts.
5. Greensboro College20 pts.
5. University of Lynchburg20 pts.
7. Randolph College14 pts.
8. Southern Virginia University13 pts.
    • Roanoke claimed its fourth straight ODAC regular season title with an unbeaten 6-0 record in official league dual matches.
    • The Maroons, which at one point topped the Division III rankings, won top-prize at the coveted NWCA/USMC Showcase in January and a Region IV title in prelude to the Division III Wrestling Championships.
    • At the ODAC Championships, Roanoke 197-pounder Brock Sullivan earned MOP honors; he is one of five returning weight class champions – Adrian Samano (AU) at 125, Skyler Hickman (WLU) at 141, Liam Flanagan (WLU) at 157, and Carter Stack (WLU) at 285.
    • WLU's Flanagan would go on to earn ODAC Wrestler of the Year honors with Roanoke mentor Nathan Yetzer securing ODAC Coach of the Year laurels and 165-pounder Cade Parent collecting ODAC Rookie of the Year plaudits.
    • Conference wrestlers shined at the regional event with at least one league wrestler qualifying for the national championships in every weight class and a whopping seven claiming weight-class titles…
      • 125 lbs: Mac Cafurello, RC (graduated)
      • 133 lbs: Jude Robson, RC (returns)
      • 141 lbs: Mark Samuel, RC (graduated)
      • 149 lbs: Taylor Smith, RC (returns)
      • 157 lbs: Liam Flanagan, WLU (returns)
      • 184 lbs: Hunter Moore, RC (returns)
      • 285 lbs: Carter Stack, WLU (returns)
    • In total, the ODAC saw 16 wrestlers qualify for the Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That contingent won five All-American awards led by former Roanoke national champion Mark Samuel with a runner-up finish at 141 pounds to cap a stellar career.
    • Four of the those All-Americans are back for another shot at national glory
      • 133 lbs: Jude Robson (RC) finished third
      • 157 lbs: Liam Flanagan (WLU) placed sixth
      • 174 lbs: Xavier Preston (RC) finished eighth
      • 184 lbs: Hunter Moore (RC) placed sixth
    • Six additional national qualifiers return to league rosters in 2026-27
      • Adrian Samano (AU) at 125
      • Skyler Hickman (WLU) at 141
      • Taylor Smith (RC) at 149
      • Cody Parent (RC) at 165
      • Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez (RC) at 197
      • Carter Stack (WLU) at 285

  • ODAC coaches were permitted one nominee at each of the 10 collegiate competition weight classes. The coaches then ranked the nominees to determine a top-three “watch” list for the 2026-27 season.

    • 125 POUNDS
      1. Adrian Samano, AU
      2. Isaic Paulino, RC
      3. Tony Urso, WLU
    • 133 POUNDS
      1. Jude Robson, RC
      2. Anthony Orlando III, AU
      3. Eli Pendergrass, GBRO
    • 141 POUNDS
      1. Skyler Hickman, WLU
      2. Jonah Paulino, RC
      3. Jaton Wellington, SVU
    • 149 POUNDS
      1. Giosue Hickman, WLU
      2. Matthew Garland, RAND
      3. Christopher Foster, LYN
    • 157 POUNDS
      1. Liam Flanagan, WLU
      2. Taylor Smith, RC
      3. Cooper Comer, AU
    • 165 POUNDS
      1. Cade Parent, RC
      2. Carter Shupert, AU
      3. Noah Danforth, WLU
    • 174 POUNDS
      1. Xavier Preston, RC
      2. Tanner Giatras, SVU
      3. Michael Byrne, LYN
    • 184 POUNDS
      1. Hunter Moore, RC
      2. Jacob Wright, WLU
      3. Jacob Reigel, LYN
    • 197 POUNDS
      1. Brock Sullivan, RC
      2. Kweku Arthur-Mensah, WLU
      3. Hank Svedin, SVU
    • 285 POUNDS
      1. Carter Stack, WLU
      2. Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez, RC
      3. Marc Richardson, VWU

  • The NWCA released its annual preseason rankings on Friday with the ODAC well represented in the NWCA Team Tournament Top-25 as well as its individual national and regional rankings.

    NWC Links: Division III Preseason Rankings

    • ODAC IN THE NWCA TEAM TOURNAMENT TOP-25 POLL
      • Roanoke: 3rd (53.5 pts.)
      • Washington and Lee: T-8th (25.0 pts.)
    • ODAC IN THE NWCA INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RANKINGS
      • 125: Adrian Samano, AU (10th)
      • 133: Jude Robson, RC (2nd)
      • 141: Skyler Hickman, WLU (3rd); Jonah Paulino, RC (13th)
      • 149: None
      • 157: Liam Flanagan, WLU (2nd); Taylor Smith, RC (4th)
      • 165: Cade Parent, RC (3rd)
      • 174: Xavier Preston, RC (4th)
      • 184: Hunter Moore, RC (3rd)
      • 197: None
      • 285: Carter Stack, WLU (8th); Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez, RC (9th)
    • ODAC IN NWCA INDIVIDUAL REGION 4 RANKINGS
      • 125: Adrian Samano, AU (1st); Isiac Paulino, RC (3rd)
      • 133: Jude Robson, RC (1st); Anthony Orlando III, AU (3rd); Calvin Wiedemer, WLU (6th)
      • 141: Skyler Hickman, WLU (1st); Jonah Paulino, RC (3rd); Jaton Wellington, SVU (6th)
      • 149: Matt Garland, RAND (6th)
      • 157: Liam Flanagan, WLU (1st); Taylor Smith, RC (2nd)
      • 165: Cade Parent, RC (1st); Carter Shupert, AU (5th); TJ Piluso, RAND (6th)
      • 174: Xavier Preston, RC (2nd); 
      • 184: Hunter Moore, RC (1st); Jacob Wright, WLU (2nd)
      • 197: Brock Sullivan, RC (4th); Kweku Arthur-Mensah, WLU (5th)
      • 285: Carter Stack, WLU (2nd); Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez, RC (3rd)
    • ODAC schools will again compete in a robust schedule of dual and invitational events.
    • Each league school will face each other in an official ODAC dual match.
    • The ODAC Wrestling Championships will be hosted by Averett University on Saturday, February 13 at the E. Stuart James Grant Center in Danville, Va.
    • The NCAA Region IV Championships are set for Friday and Saturday, February 26-27 at a venue to be determined.
    • The NCAA Division III Championships will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis.