BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – West Liberty has been voted the preseason favorite in Mountain East Conference Wrestling following a vote of the league’s seven head coaches prior to the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
 
The Hilltoppers received six first-place votes and the maximum of 36 points during preseason balloting. West Liberty finished sixth at last year’s NCAA National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and return three All-Americans to the mat this season in Ty McGeary, Alec Cook and Vincent Scollo. McGeary is the defending NCAA National Champion at 184 pounds.
 
Under head coach Danny Irwin, West Liberty enters the 2023-24 season ranked No. 2 in the country in the NWCA National Preseason Poll that was released on Monday (Oct. 30) morning by association. The Hilltoppers were joined in the national rankings by Glenville State at No. 21.
 
Under head coach Dylan Cottrell, the Pioneers checked in at No. 2 following MEC preseason voting with one first-place vote and 31 points. The 21^st-ranked Pioneers return All-American and defending 133-pound national champion Gavin Quiocho this season. GSU finished ninth at the 2023 NCAA National Championships with 42 points and a pair of All-Americans.
 
Fairmont State was third in preseason voting with 25 points. The Falcons finished third at last winter’s MEC Championships with four individual wrestlers earning podium finishes at the event.
 
Notre Dame was fourth with 21 points, followed by first-year program Frostburg State (12), Davis & Elkins (11) and Wheeling (11).
 
The MEC wrestling season gets underway on Wednesday (Nov. 1) with four of the conference’s seven teams in action.
 
2023-24 MEC Preseason Wrestling Poll
1. West Liberty (6) – 36
2. Glenville State (1) – 31
3. Fairmont State – 25
4. Notre Dame – 21
5. Frostburg State – 12
T6. Davis & Elkins – 11
T6. Wheeling – 11
 
( ) - First-Place Votes
* Coaches not able to vote for own team