WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — With three nationally ranked individuals, a second-place selection in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll and a returning group hungry for another postseason run, the West Liberty University wrestling team enters the 2026-27 campaign with its sights set high.

The Hilltoppers are tied for No. 13 in the NCAA Division II Men's Wrestling Coaches Preseason Tournament Power Index, collecting 30 points alongside Belmont Abbey. West Liberty is represented in the individual rankings by three wrestlers: junior Logan Davis is No. 2 at 125 pounds; Parker Bentley is fifth at 285 pounds and redshirt junior Oliver Byerly is ninth at 184 pounds.

The tournament power index is based on individual weight-class rankings and projects NCAA tournament strength rather than dual-meet strength.

West Liberty also received a strong endorsement from conference coaches, earning second place in the 2026-27 MEC preseason poll with 43 points and one first-place vote. Defending conference champion Glenville State was selected as the preseason favorite with 49 points and seven first-place votes. Fairmont State followed in third with 34 points, just one ahead of Frostburg State.

The preseason recognition follows a successful 2025-26 campaign in which West Liberty captured the MEC Championship, its first conference tournament title since 2023. Head coach Danny Irwin was named MEC Co-Coach of the Year after guiding the Hilltoppers to three All-Americans, including a national runner-up, and an 11th-place team finish at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.

Irwin begins his eighth season at the helm with 98 career victories, putting him just two wins shy of the 100-win milestone. He enters the season with a roster that combines returning postseason experience with a large incoming class. The coach said the offseason went well, with the team emphasizing conditioning, weight management and individual skill development. A recent Black and Gold intrasquad match offered another encouraging sign as the Hilltoppers prepared for competition.

"A lot of new faces in our program, a big new class, and then I think some guys that weren't in our starting lineup last year that are going to make a big, big splash this year," Irwin said.

Davis headlines the Hilltoppers at 125 pounds after finishing third at the NCAA Division II Championships last season. The junior from New Cumberland, West Virginia, posted a 19-7 record in 2025-26 and has continued to impress Irwin with his preparation and development as a leader.

"He's a really good-size 125-pounder," Irwin said. "The biggest thing to me has been his maturity and his kind of ascension into some leadership where he knows he's a tone setter. He knows he's a guy that people feed off of."

At 133 pounds, West Liberty has an intriguing competition involving senior Landon Hoffman and freshmen Thomas Lobliner and Zander Samargia. Irwin has been impressed with Lobliner's early work, while Hoffman brings experience and a history of competing against high-level opponents. Samargia adds another option as the three push for opportunities in the lineup.

Redshirt sophomore Blake Reihner is leading the way at 141 pounds after joining the program midway through last season. Irwin expects him to make a strong impact and has been encouraged by the way he has competed in the room.

The 149-pound weight class features a combination of experience and youth. Juniors Tony Wood and sophomore Joey Sentipal return with collegiate experience, while freshman Cooper Smith has made an early impression. Wood is looking to build on a conference championship performance from last season after an injury following the MEC Championship kept him from competing at the regional tournament.

At 157 pounds, junior Jayden Jett returns after a productive redshirt season and previous experience placing at the conference tournament. Freshman Victor Bonus has also shown early promise, while the coaching staff continues to evaluate its options as several wrestlers compete for opportunities.

Sophomore Bodie Morgan is expected to lead the way at 165 pounds after posting a 23-10 record last season. Morgan gained valuable experience against some of the nation's top competition and is working toward a postseason opportunity of his own.

"He's gone toe to toe with the best guys in the country," Irwin said. "He's put the work into make this his weight class."

At 174 pounds, junior Gabe Blissenbach returns after a 25-13 season in which he provided versatility throughout the lineup, competing at weights ranging from 174 to 197 pounds. Irwin believes Blissenbach has taken another step forward following a productive offseason and expects him to be a key presence for the Hilltoppers.

Byerly provides another major postseason threat. The redshirt junior missed much of the first half of last season before putting together a strong finish, including a 12-3 overall record. Now ranked ninth nationally at 184 pounds, Byerly has continued to make progress during the offseason.

"I think last year was the tip of the iceberg," Irwin said. "He has some things that he wants to accomplish, and going 1-2 at nationals is not one of them. He wants to go take it all."

At 197 pounds, freshman Benjamin Bryan is among the wrestlers competing for an opportunity. Irwin also expressed excitement about Mason Christian's potential return to the lineup. Christian has previously earned All-America honors in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at the U23 level. This coming after a round of 12 finish as a true freshman at the National Championships.

The heavyweight division will be anchored by Bentley, who enters the season ranked fifth nationally at 285 pounds. After a 23-12 campaign last season that included a second-place finish at the Regional Championship, Bentley has continued to set the standard in the practice room. Irwin pointed to Bentley's leadership and the challenge provided by a group of younger heavyweights as important pieces of the team's development.

"The best Parker Bentley we've ever seen, I think, is about to hit the mat for us," Irwin said.

West Liberty opens the season Nov. 7 with two events: the Throwdown on the Yorktown III  and the Mount Union Invitational. The Yorktown event offers one of the most distinctive settings in the sport, with competition taking place aboard an aircraft carrier. West Liberty is scheduled to face Lander and Southeastern.

The Hilltoppers then travel to Pitt-Johnstown on Nov. 13 before returning home Nov. 14 for a historic dual against Western Colorado in Kelly Theater on campus.

The schedule continues with Lake Erie on Nov. 20 for Alumni Night, the Baldwin Wallace Invitational on Nov. 21 and the Little State Invitational on Dec. 5. West Liberty will also host the Hilltopper Duals on Dec. 20 before heading into the new year and a busy January slate that includes the NWCA Duals on Jan. 8-9.

Irwin sees the demanding early schedule as an opportunity to measure the team's progress against quality competition.

"The most important thing is that our guys are going to be challenged, month to month," Irwin said. "We're going to compete against the best teams from start to finish this year."

The postseason begins with the MEC Championship on Jan. 30 at Glenville State. This season will also mark the addition of the first MEC Women's Wrestling Championship, giving West Liberty's men's and women's programs an opportunity to compete for conference titles during the same championship weekend.

The Hilltoppers will then compete at the NCAA Division II Super Region III Tournament on Feb. 28, with the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships scheduled for March 12-13.

Irwin knows the early season will bring opportunities for wrestlers to establish themselves, particularly with a few of the program's top competitors potentially unavailable until December. He emphasized that the focus remains on building toward the postseason and having the lineup at its strongest when championships are decided.

"You're going to be remembered more for what the last six weeks look like than maybe what the first six weeks look like," Irwin said. "The relationship we have with our guys and them trusting in the training that we have and how they're going to feel at the end of the year has always landed us in a good spot."

With a nationally ranked core, added depth and a schedule filled with challenging opponents and memorable experiences, the Hilltoppers are ready to begin another season with championship aspirations.

"Our expectations are high," Irwin said. "Nobody's going to have higher expectations for us than us. And at the same token in time, we're going to have fun with it."



West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.