MINOT, N.D. – A new wrestling season is set to get underway for Minot State under the guidance of new head coach Gresh Jones, but before the Beavers hit the mat for their annual Intersquad Duals this weekend, the NSIC released its 2026-27 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday, and the league's coaches picked Minot State to finish 9th this winter.

The Beavers picked up 24 points in the preseason poll.

Minot State hosts its annual exhibition Intersquad Duals at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the MSU Dome, with the men's and women's wrestling teams both in action. The Beaver men's team then opens the season in earnest at the Jimmie Invitational hosted by Jamestown next Sunday, November 1.

Next Sunday's tournament at Jamestown will be a homecoming for the Beavers' first-year head coach, as well, as Jones led the Jimmies wrestling program for the past two seasons.

"With this being my first year here at Minot State, I am so excited to continue to build on this team's success and help build this team to jump another level on and off the mats," Jones said, looking ahead to the Beavers' upcoming season. "We have nine transfers and five incoming freshmen, and one new full-time assistant coach, who are new to this program! Watching everyone help each other and continue to build each other up and push each other physically and mentally has been a great sight to see!

"We are on the right path, and I am so excited for the future of Beaver wrestling."

Minot State will be on the road for much of the remainder of this semester, with the Beavers next home event on Friday, December 11, when they host Dickinson State for an exhibition match. The Beavers then close out the 2026 calendar year hosting Jamestown in an NSIC dual on Saturday, December 12, at 2 p.m.

The Beavers will host four more NSIC duals in the spring semester as Minnesota State Moorhead visits the MSU Dome on January 14, Minnesota State is in town on January 23, Parkside is at the MSU Dome on January 30, and the home slate concludes with "Senior Night" against Northern State on February 4.

The Beavers will face the NSIC's top two picks at home, as Parkside was selected to win the NSIC regular-season title by the coaches with 93 points and 5 first-place votes, while Minnesota State was picked second with 89 points and 2 first-place votes.

St. Cloud State was picked third with 82 points and 2 first-place votes, and Augustana was picked fourth with 75 points and 2 first-place votes.

The University of Mary was picked fifth with 70 points, followed by Northern State in sixth with 56 points, MSU Moorhead in seventh with 42 points, Sioux Falls in eighth with 41 points, Minot State in ninth with 24 points, Southwest Minnesota State in 10^th with 20 points, and Jamestown in 11^th with 13 points.

The NSIC also announced its Preseason Wrestler of the Year and highlighted a Wrestler to Watch for each team, with sophomore Kekoa Ogawa being named the Beavers' Wrestler to Watch this season.

A sophomore from Livermore, California, Ogawa went 6-5 with 5 pins in non-varsity matches last season, and is slated to compete at 141 pounds for Minot State this winter.

"Kekoa spent all summer training in Japan to improve his craft, and it has shown this first month of school and wrestling," Coach Jones said. "He is looking confident and composed on the mat, and we as a staff are loving what we are seeing from him.

"Kekoa is what most coaches would call a goofball! He is very outgoing, fun to be around (loves to dance), works his tail off every day, and is well respected by his teammates. Kekoa red-shirted last year, so we are really excited to see him in NSIC action this year!"

The University of Mary's Jacob Strausbaugh was voted the Preseason Wrestler of the Year by the NSIC coaches. The sophomore from Soldotna, Alaska, is slated to wrestle at 149 pounds for the Marauders and is back after winning the NCAA Division II National Championship at 133 pounds as a true freshman last season.
 

2026-27 NSIC Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	Team (1st-place votes in parentheses)	Points
1	Parkside (5)	93
2	Minnesota State (2)	89
3	St. Cloud State (2)	82
4	Augustana (2)	75
5	Mary	70
6	Northern State	56
7	Minnesota State Moorhead	42
8	Sioux Falls	41
9	Minot State	24
10	Southwest Minnesota State	20
11	Jamestown	13