NEWBERRY — The Newberry College men’s wrestling team has been unanimously predicted to defend their conference title after being voted first in the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference DII Wrestling League Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
The Wolves will be led by first-year head coach and Newberry College Athletic Hall of Fame member Cy Wainwright.
Newberry stood atop the league’s preseason poll with 49 points and all seven first-place votes. Coker was picked second in the poll with 34 points. UNC Pembroke was third with 34 points, Limestone fourth with 33, and Emmanuel fifth with 18. King and Belmont Abbey rounded out the poll, tied with 14 points.
The league will not hold an individual tournament, but will crown a dual champion after each school wrestles each other in a round-robin format.
The Wolves open their 2016 season on Nov. 6 at the Southeast Open.
2016 ECAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Newberry College – 49 (7)
2. Coker College – 34
3. UNC Pembroke – 34
4. Limestone College – 33
5. Emmanuel College – 18
6. King University – 14
7. Belmont Abbey College – 14
First-place votes in parentheses