MANHEIM, Pa. – Led by a No. 1 overall ranking for
Keegan Gehlhausen, Chadron State men's wrestling placed three individual wrestlers on the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) preseason rankings, as well as a spot in the team poll.
Fresh off a national runner-up finish and with three-time national champion Ty McGeary out of collegiate eligibility, Gehlhausen will enter the 2025-26 season as the nation's top-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds while returner
Quade Smith and transfer
Caleb Chaves were each ranked No. 14 at 125 pounds and 141 pounds, respectively.
On the strength of those three individuals, the Eagles received 22 team points and are ranked 24
th overall in the NWCA Preseason Team Rankings. The rankings are a tournament power index ranking, not based on a team's dual strength. Individuals receive points on a scale (1ST=20PTS, 2ND=16PTS, 3RD=13PTS, 4TH=12PTS, 5TH=10PTS, 6TH=9PTS, 7TH=7PTS, 8TH=6PTS, 9TH=4PTS, 10TH=3PTS., 11th=2.5 pts, 12th=2 pts, 13th=1.5 pts, 14th=1 pt, 15th=0.5 p) and those ranking points are added to determine the team score.
Chadron State is one of three ranked RMAC teams in the top 25, along with No. 17 Adams State and No. 18 Colorado Mesa. Colorado School of Mines and New Mexico Highlands are receiving votes.
Gehlhausen, a redshirt senior out of Pinedale, Wyoming, was recently named a Preseason All-RMAC selection after his march to the national championship bout last spring. Along with his runner-up finish, Gehlhausen was First Team All-RMAC after going 7-0 in conference dual bouts and took home the Super Region 6 title. Gehlhausen also won the 184-pound weight class at the UNK Open and placed fifth in it at the Midwest Classic.
Quade Smith returns to the Eagles lineup after a redshirt year last season. Smith finished in fourth place at regionals at 125 pounds in 2023-24, one win away from a berth at nationals, and spent time ranked within the top 10 nationally. Smith took a 15-6 record into the regional tournament.
Caleb Chaves finds himself in the rankings in his debut season at Chadron State after graduate transferring from Gannon University. Chaves was a 141-pound national qualifier last season for the Golden Knights, finishing third in Super Regional One and going 1-2 at the national tournament. He is a two-time Second Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) selection.
Chadron State opens its season on November 8 at the Dakota Wesleyan University Open in Mitchell, South Dakota. CSC's first set of duals will be against Otero JC and Fort Hays State, both on November 15, while the Eagles' home and RMAC dual opener will be January 9 against Colorado School of Mines.
