BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Glenville State’s Nick Johnson headlines the 2026 MEC Wrestling honors as he was named the MEC Wrestler of the Year, announced by the league office.
 
While Frostburg State’s Tanner Halling has been named the MEC Freshman of the Year, and Glenville State’s Dylan Cottrell and West Liberty’s Danny Irwin were named the MEC Co-Coaches of the Year.
 
Johnson, who competed at 197 is a red-shirt junior from Parkersburg, West Virginia, went 30-2 this season. He was an MEC Champion, a Regional Champion, a Midwest Champion, and the NCAA DII Runner-up at 197. Johnson earned his second All-American honor as a Pioneer. He also helped the Pioneers finish 2^nd at the MEC Wrestling Championship.
 
Halling, who competes at 133 and is from Rohrersville, Maryland, went 26-3 this season. He was an MEC Champion, a Regional Champion, Super Region 1 Rookie of the Year, and finished 6^th at the NCAA DII Championships while earning All-American honors.
 
Cottrell, who is in his sixth year at the helm at GSU, captured his fourth consecutive MEC Co-Coach of the Year award. Cottrell helped the Pioneers finish runner-up at the MEC Wrestling Championship while also claiming their second consecutive NCAA DII Super Region III title. He also helped GSU send six individuals to the NCAA DII National Championships.
 
Irwin, who just finished his seventh season at West Liberty, captured the MEC Co-Coach of the Year after leading the Hilltoppers to the MEC Wrestling Championship. This is the third time Irwin has been named the MEC Coach of the Year (2021, 2022, and 2026). He also helped lead the Hilltoppers to 4^th overall at the NCAA DII Super Region III, qualifying six wrestlers for the NCAA DII National Championships.
 
MEC Wrestler of the Year
2026 – Nick Johnson, Glenville State
2025 — Ty McGeary, West Liberty
2024 — Ty McGeary, West Liberty
2023 — Ty McGeary, West Liberty
2022 — Cole Laya, West Liberty
2021 — Cole Laya, West Liberty
2020 — Hunter Bray, Notre Dame College
 
MEC Freshman of the Year
2026 – Tanner Halling, Frostburg State
2025 — James Armstrong Jr., West Liberty
2024 — Nico Taddy, West Liberty
2023 — Khyvon Grace, West Liberty
2022 — Wiley Houser, Davis & Elkins
2021 — Ty McGeary, West Liberty & Matthew Kaufmann, Notre Dame College
2020 — Jared Campbell, Notre Dame College
 
MEC Coach of the Year
2026 – Dylan Cottrell, Glenville State & Danny Irwin, West Liberty
2025 — Dylan Cottrell, Glenville State
2024 — Dylan Cottrell, Glenville State
2023 — Gennaro Bonaventura, Fairmont State & Dylan Cottrell, Glenville State
2022 — Danny Irwin, West Liberty
2021 — Danny Irwin, West Liberty
2020 — Sonny Marchette, Notre Dame College & O.T. Johnson, UNC Pembroke