MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its 2026–27 NCAA Division II Men's Wrestling Coaches Preseason Rankings on Thursday, Oct. 22, with Gannon appearing in the top five. Head coach Tom Boyd's team will begin the year ranked fifth in Division II after finishing ninth at last year's NCAA Division II National Championships.

The Golden Knights are coming off a record-setting 2025–26 campaign that saw them finish with a 12-1 dual-meet record, setting a program record for victories in a single season and surpassing the previous mark of 11 established in 1996–97. Gannon claimed its third Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship in program history with an 18-12 victory over Pitt-Johnstown. Boyd was also named the NWCA Super Region One Coach of the Year and PSAC Coach of the Year.

Gannon also captured its second NCAA Division II Super Region One championship in three seasons, finishing with 175 points, 46 ahead of runner-up Kutztown. The Golden Knights crowned seven individual regional champions and qualified nine wrestlers for the NCAA Division II National Championships.

The Golden Knights' ninth-place finish at Nationals was highlighted by heavyweight Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) becoming the program's first national champion since Doug Joseph won the 197-pound title in 2001. Gannon produced five All-Americans in Crosby, Joey Lyons (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster), Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School), Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) and Holden Huhn (Loveland, Ohio/La Salle).

Glenville State is the preseason favorite in Division II with 70.0 points, followed by defending national champion Nebraska-Kearney (61.5), Wisconsin-Parkside (58.0) and UMary (57.5). Gannon rounds out the top five with 54.0 points and is the highest-ranked PSAC program. Pitt-Johnstown is ranked 15th, while Millersville is 24th.

The individual rankings feature five Golden Knights, all of whom have previously earned All-America honors. Leading the way is Tanner Halling (Boonsboro, Md./Boonsboro) begins the season ranked second nationally at 133 lbs. A transfer from Frostburg State, Halling finished with a 26-3 record last season, capturing the Mountain East Conference and Super Region One championships before earning All-America honors with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Two returning All-Americans are ranked fourth in their respective weight classes. Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) enters the season ranked fourth at 125 lbs. after finishing with a 24-8 record last season. Sallot captured the Super Region One championship and earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at Nationals. He was also a Second Team All-PSAC selection.

Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) is also ranked fourth at 184 lbs. Jackson finished with a 30-5 record last season, capturing the Super Region One championship and earning All-America honors with an eighth-place finish at Nationals. He was also named First Team All-PSAC.

Jake Niffenegger (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) begins the season ranked seventh at 141 lbs. after finishing with a 25-4 record last season. Niffenegger captured the Super Region One championship and earned First Team All-PSAC honors. A two-time All-American, he placed sixth at Nationals in 2024 and seventh in 2023.

Rounding out the nationally ranked Golden Knights is Holden Huhn (Loveland, Ohio/La Salle), who enters the season ranked seventh at 165 lbs. after moving up from 157 lbs. Huhn joined the Gannon program in January and finished with a 13-2 record, capturing the Super Region One championship and earning All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at Nationals.

Gannon opens the 2026–27 season on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio. The Golden Knights return to the event after capturing the team title at last year's tournament.