MANHEIM, Pa. – Fifth-year wrestler Logan Berger will open the 2026-27 season with a No. 12 national ranking at 165 pounds from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), which announced its preseason team and individual rankings on Thursday. The Eagles are receiving votes in the top 25 team poll as a program.

Berger, a native of Hartsville, South Carolina, is dropping down from the 174-pound weight he has competed at over the past several seasons. Berger competed at regionals for CSC at 174 during each of the past three seasons, but will use his final year of eligibility at 165 and has the preseason respect of coaches at that weight.

Berger's No. 12 ranking earns Chadron State 2.0 points in the NWCA's team rankings, which are calculated based on adding up individual ranking points for each program. Adams State is the only ranked RMAC team in the Top 25, at No. 20, while five league programs (Western Colorado, Colorado Mesa, New Mexico Highlands, CSU Pueblo and CSC) are in the "receiving votes" category.

Chadron State is set to host two teams on its dual schedule ranked within the top 10 nationally – No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney, the two-time defending national champions, and No. 6 Minnesota State. Glenville State is the preseason No. 1 team in the country.

The Eagles open their season of competition at the DWU Open on Saturday, November 7 before the season-opening UNK dual in the Chicoine Center on November 12.