INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) announced today the 2025-26 wrestling preseason coaches poll with the Storm landing at 4th.

The Tiffin University Dragons led the poll with 40 points and three first-place votes followed closely by the 2024-25 G-MAC champions Ashland who earned 38 total points and three first-place votes. In third, Findlay earned 34 total points and the remaining first-place vote. Lake Erie was chose fourth for back-to-back years and they were followed by Thomas More (21), Davenport (20), and Kentucky Wesleyan (13).

With first-year head coach John Penfold at the helm, a new era of Storm wrestling has begun in Painesville and excitement is buzzing about what they can accomplish this season.

In 2024-25, Lake Erie sent three wrestlers to the national tournament including returner, Anthony Sagaris, and new assistant coach Jack Haskin. As a team, they were consistently ranked within the top-25 nationally and finished 3rd at the Great Midwest Championships while posting a 5-6 dual record and going 4-2 in G-MAC competition.

Lake Erie will begin their season on Sunday, November 9th at the Bob Del Rosa Ohio Intercollegiate Open at Case Western Reserve University.