Menlo College Tops Preseason CCC Coaches’ Poll

10/16/2019 8:00:00 AM

CORVALLIS, Ore. – After a top-10 finish at the NAIA Championship, Menlo College was predicted to win the 2019-20 Cascade Collegiate Conference championship.
 
Last year, the CCC sent 49 individuals to the 2019 NAIA Wrestling National Championship, with Menlo producing a national champion in then junior Anthony Orozco at 184 pounds. The Oaks, who picked up eight first-place votes and 140 points, took eighth as a team on the national stage. Orozco is back for his senior year and will look to lead Menlo through another strong year.
 
Defending CCC champion Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University grabbed three first-place votes for 129 points to sit in second in the poll. The Eagles sent 10 wrestlers to nationals and took 11^th as a team.
 
Montana State Northern also earned itself a first-place vote and finished with 124 points to rank third on the poll. University of Providence followed in fourth with 99 points, followed by Southern Oregon University in fifth with 92 points.
 
Eastern Oregon University (84 points), Life Pacific University (67 points), Corban University (54 points), Arizona Christian University (42 points) and Simpson University (37 points) filled in spots six through 10. Warner Pacific University grabbed 33 points for 11^th, while newcomer Vanguard University rounded out the poll with 31 points.
 
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the CCC Championship Meet will be held Feb. 21-22 at Menlo in Atherton, Calif. The 2020 NAIA Championship will be held in Park City, Kan., March 6-7.
 
2019-20 CCC Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Preseason Poll
 
Team (First-place Votes)                                    Points
1. Menlo College (8)                                            140 pts
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (3)       129 pts
3. Montana State Northern (1)                            124 pts
4. University of Providence                                  99 pts
5. Southern Oregon University                            92 pts
6. Eastern Oregon University                              84 pts
7. Life Pacific University                                      67 pts
8. Corban University                                            54 pts
9. Arizona Christian University                            42 pts
10. Simpson University                                        37 pts
11. Warner Pacific University                               33 pts
12. Vanguard University                                       31 pts
 
The NAIA men’s wrestling preseason poll will be released Oct. 31.