The 2026-27 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Division II preseason rankings have been released, and Ashland University is in the No. 12 spot as a team, while six Eagles are in the top 15 at their respective weight classes:

• Senior Peyton Lemon is the No. 6-ranked grappler at 197 pounds. He was a D-II national qualifier last season who sported a 28-8 record with two pins, six technical falls and five major decisions.
• Junior Brock Durbin is slotted at No. 7 at 149 pounds. He was 4-4 with two tech falls and a major decision a season ago.
• Senior Hayden Kuhn is ranked No. 8 at 157 pounds. Another returning D-II nationals qualifier, he was 30-6 and collected seven pins, 11 tech falls and three major decisions last winter.
• Junior Lance Overmyer is at No. 8 at 174 pounds, after going 8-2 with two pins in 2025-26.
• Junior Fletcher Rose, another returning D-II national qualifier, is ranked No. 10 at 184 pounds. A year ago, he was 31-12 with four pins, two tech falls and eight major decisions.
• Junior Rylen Campbell is in the No. 10 spot in the 133-pound class. In 2025-26, he was 16-17 with two pins, a tech fall and five major decisions.

"It's a good starting point to have six guys ranked to open the year," said first-year Ashland head coach Marcus Gordon. "Our season is very long and our main focus is getting better every day to prepare for March. We will be able to use these rankings and our first tournament at Glenville as a measuring tool, as most of our guys will have multiple ranked opponents in their brackets."
 
In 2025-26, Ashland finished tied for 29^th at D-II nationals, and won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship for a third straight year and the fifth time in the last six seasons.
 
The Eagles will open the new season on Nov. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Glenville State Invite.
 
2026-27 NWCA DIVISION II ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WRESTLING NATIONAL RANKINGS: No. 12 (preseason).