COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa University sits atop the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Wrestling Preseason Poll, announced Tuesday, along with the Preseason All-RMAC Teams.

Adams State’s Isaiah Gamez and Colorado State University Pueblo’s Eddie Bowman, the reigning Wrestler of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively, return to the mat for the 2025-26 season. The RMAC’s preseason team is determined by placing returning players in order of head coaches’ voting from the league’s 2024-25 All-RMAC Teams.
 

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2025-26 Men's Wrestling Preseason Coaches’ Poll
PL	Team	1sts	2nds	3rds	Points
1.	Colorado Mesa	3	3	-	33
2.	Adams State	3	-	2	28
3.	Colorado School of Mines	1	1	3	26
4.	Western Colorado	-	1	2	22
5.	Chadron State	-	2	-	21
6.	CSU Pueblo				10
7.	New Mexico Highlands				7
Notes: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their team. 6 points for a 1st place vote, 5 for a 2nd, etc. 36 points maximum in men's wrestling.

The Mavericks were three points away from sweeping the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. collecting 33 out of the 36 possible points. Led by head coach Mike Mendoza, the Mavericks went 9-2 overall last season, including a 5-2 conference record. Their strong performance in 2024-25 propelled Colorado Mesa to a second-place finish at the NCAA Super Region VI tournament and 17th place at the NCAA Championships.   

Adams State claimed the No. 2 spot in the preseason coaches’ poll, earning 28 points along with three first-place votes. Colorado School of Mines followed closely in third place, tallying 26 points and securing the final first-place vote. Rounding out the poll were Western Colorado (22 points), Chadron State (21), CSU Pueblo (20), and New Mexico Highlands (7).

Last season, Gamez emerged as a powerhouse for the Grizzlies, compiling an impressive 19-3 record on the mat. Competing in the 125-pound weight class, he closed out the 2024–25 campaign ranked No. 7 nationally in NCAA Division II, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Behind Gamez, Adams State finished last season with a 3-6 overall record.

Bowman returns to the ThunderWolves after a standout freshman campaign in the RMAC. The 133-pounder made an immediate impact, guiding CSU Pueblo to a 3-4 conference record and a 9-7 overall mark. Bowman went undefeated in RMAC duals, notching five wins by decision and one by technical fall

The RMAC’s seven men’s wrestling teams are looking to finish 2025-26 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the host of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Wrestling Championships. The championship is set for March 13-14. Ticket information for the national championship will be available at NCAA.com at a later date.   

All RMAC men’s wrestling matches broadcast by its seven men’s wrestling sponsoring institutions will only be available for purchase via a single-day pass or a monthly or annual subscription. Revenue generated by the network will be redistributed to the league’s membership to enhance their programs.

A discounted annual subscription price will be available to students, faculty, and staff of each member institution throughout the year. Purchasing options and pricing for individual RMAC Championships will be announced closer to each event.