Adams State is the favorite heading into the 2022-23 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference wrestling season. The Grizzlies lead the way with six first-place votes and 47 points in preseason voting, while Colorado School of Mines earns the league’s final two first-place votes. The RMAC preseason poll is voted on by the league’s eight head coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their team.
The Grizzlies enter the 2022-23 campaign after enjoying a plethora of success last season where they secured a trio of national championships. Josiah Rider, a 2021-22 first team all-conference selection, returns to the mats for Adams State after earning the NCAA Division II national title in the 157-pound weight class. Reigning RMAC Coach of the Year Jason Ramstetter will have high expectations this season as they enter ranked tied for No. 8 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Preseason Poll.
Mines receives a pair of first-place votes and 40 points to tie for the second-place position in preseason voting. The Orediggers return a trio of all-conference selections from one year ago, led by first-teamers Anderson Salisbury, a 2021-22 All-American, and Grayston DiBlasi. Mines is ranked No. 24 in the NWCA Preseason Poll.
Colorado Mesa also receives 40 points in the preseason voting and will enter the year tied for second place along with the Orediggers. The Mavericks earned a conference-best six wrestlers on the 2021-22 all-conference roster. Following his Freshman of the Year award last season, Dawson Collins enters his sophomore campaign after earning a 26-5 record last year. His undefeated record in conference action led to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships. The Mavs enter the season ranked No. 10 in the NWCA preseason rankings.
Ranked No. 18 in the NWCA Preseason Poll, Western Colorado enters the season in fourth place with 33 points in preseason voting. Chadron State occupies the fifth-place position with 21 points, followed by San Francisco State sits in sixth place with 16 points. Colorado State University Pueblo collects 15 points for seventh place, while New Mexico Highlands rounds out the RMAC preseason poll in eighth place with 12 points.
2022-23 RMAC Wrestling Preseason Poll
Institution (First-Place Votes) Points
- 1. Adams State (6) 47
- T2. Colorado School of Mines (2) 40
- T2. Colorado Mesa 40
- 4. Western Colorado 33
- 5. Chadron State 21
- 6. San Francisco State 16
- 7. CSU Pueblo 15
- 8. New Mexico Highlands 12