CORVALLIS, Ore. – After a year hiatus of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Men’s Wrestling Championship, presented by U.S. Bank, the conference championship is back on schedule. Menlo College was picked to take the trophy as the conference released the 2021-22 Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Preseason Poll Wednesday.
The Oaks picked up seven first-place votes for 131 points and look to defend their 2020 CCC championship. Menlo finished runner-up at the 2019-20 NAIA Championship and had five All-Americans, including Jacob Mendoza (junior, 133 pounds) who returns to the lineup.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University follows the Oaks with two first-place votes for 120 points to sit in second on the poll. The Eagles return a strong lineup, including 157-pounder Beau Blackham, who was an All-American at last year’s NAIA Championship.
Montana State-Northern also had two first-place votes and sits behind the Eagles by just six points at 114. The Lights come off an 11
th-place finish at the 2021 NAIA National Championship and return two national champs: Isaac Bartel (2021 197-pound champion) and Nick Kunz (2020 125-pound champion).
Vanguard grabbed 101 points, followed closely by Eastern Oregon University with 98 points to round out the top-five. The University of Providence earned 90 points (sixth), while Southern Oregon University had 84 points, including one first-place vote, to sit in seventh.
Corban University picked up 56 points for eighth, Arizona Christian University grabbed 45 points for ninth, and Simpson University tallied 40 points to round out the top-10. Life Pacific University (33 points) and Warner Pacific University (17 points) filled in the final two spots, respectively.
2021-22 CCC Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Menlo College (7) 131
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2) 120
3. Montana State-Northern (2) 114
4. Vanguard University 101
5. Eastern Oregon University 98
6. University of Providence 90
7. Southern Oregon University (1) 84
8. Corban University 56
9. Arizona Christian University 45
10. Simpson University 40
11. Life Pacific University 33
12. Warner Pacific University 17