LINK TO NSIC PRESEASON POLL
MINOT, N.D. – The NSIC released its preseason coaches' poll for men's wrestling on Thursday, and the Beavers will head into the new season poised to exceed the expectations of their foes.
Picked as an underdog, Minot State was selected 9
th in the 2025-26 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll.
"We lost six of our 10 Super Region participants, so our lineup is going to look a lot different this season," Minot State's head coach
Evan Forde said. "We are going to be transitioning from being a very experienced team to a very youthful team. We are very excited about our freshman class, and we will likely be counting on several of them to jump right into the lineup this season."
Minot State opens its season with its annual intersquad duals on Sunday, October 26, at 2 p.m. at the MSU Dome, then opens the season in earnest on Sunday, November 2, at the Jimmie Open tournament hosted by Jamestown.
The league also announced its Preseason Wrestler of the Year and Wrestlers to Watch this season, and Beaver senior
Ryan Hrcka was named the Wrestler to Watch for Minot State.
Hrcka went 14-17 last season, wrestling at 157 pounds, and competed for the Beavers at the NCAA Division II Super Region V Tournament for a second straight season. In three years on the mats at Minot State, Hrcka has 37-31 career record.
"Ryan has been in our lineup his whole career here, and he is a leader on our team," Forde said. "I think he had a great off-season, so I'm really excited to see what he can do this year. We expect big things from him."
Augustana senior Cael Larson, the NCAA National Champion at 149 pounds last season, was named the NSIC Preseason Wrestler of the Year.
He leads a Vikings team picked No. 2 in the Coaches' Poll behind two-time defending champion St. Cloud State, which was picked to repeat as NSIC Champions this season. The Huskies received 96 points and 7 first-place votes. Augustana received 91 points and 3 first-place votes.
Parkside (Wis.) was picked 3
rd in the poll with 84 points and 1 first-place vote.
Mary was picked 4
th in the poll with 71 points, then Minnesota State, Mankato was 5
th with 66 points, Northern State was picked 6
th with 57 points, Minnesota State Moorhead was picked 7
th with 44 points, Sioux Falls was picked 8
th with 32 points, Minot State was picked 9
th with 30 points, Southwest Minnesota State was picked 10
th with 24 points, and Jamestown was picked 11
th with 10 points.
2025-26 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll
| RANK |
TEAM |
POLLS |
| 1 |
St. Cloud State (7) |
96 |
| 2 |
Augustana (3) |
91 |
| 3 |
Parkside (1) |
84 |
| 4 |
Mary |
71 |
| 5 |
Minnesota State, Mankato |
66 |
| 6 |
Northern State |
57 |
| 7 |
Minnesota State Moorhead |
44 |
| 8 |
Sioux Falls |
32 |
| 9 |
Minot State |
30 |
| 10 |
SW Minnesota State |
24 |
| 11 |
Jamestown |
10 |
