FOREST, Va. --- ODAC schools have not competed in men's wrestling under the conference banner since 1980, so it is only fitting that the 2022-23 ODAC Wrestling Preseason Poll is topped by the conference's newest full-time member.

Averett University headlines the conference coaches poll by the narrowest of margins over Washington and Lee University with 31 total points including four first place votes. The Generals sit one point back of the Cougars with 30 tallies powered by three top nods. Roanoke College rounds out the top-three with 27 markers, three points clear of fourth-place Ferrum College.

The rebirth of ODAC wrestling will feature seven strong squads with programs of varying age. Washington and Lee won the 2020 and 2022 Centennial Conference titles, while Averett won last year's Southeast Wrestling Conference Championships (SEWC). Roanoke College quickly made an impact in its first varsity season in 2021-22 with a national qualifier, a feat also enjoyed by four other ODAC squads including AU, W&L, Greensboro College, and Southern Virginia University. Shenandoah University made strides in its second season last year, and Ferrum College knocked on the door of national qualification. The Panthers have the added bonus of hosting the 2023 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the Berglund Center in Roanoke in March.

The following sections outline some of the story lines for the ODAC's squads as they take to the mats starting on November 4 at various locations.

ODAC REGULAR SEASON AND CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2022-23 slate will feature a few championship opportunities. Each squad will compete in six conference-sponsored duals. The team at the top of the league table by the end of the schedule will be crowned the ODAC regular season champion.

The ODAC Wrestling Championships will be hosted by Shenandoah University on Saturday, February 11. The event will feature an individual wrestler-structure at each standard weight class -- 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197, 285. The bracket will include championship and consolation draws with the top-three placings at each weight class earning All-ODAC First, Second, and Third Team recognition, respectively.

The performance of individual wrestlers will result in team points, leading to an ODAC tournament team champion in addition to the 10 weight class champions.

NWCA RANKINGS
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its preseason rankings on October 31. Washington and Lee features in the top-25 listing, tying for 17th with Rhode Island College. For a look at the full poll, click HERE.

PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Several returning standouts feature in the preseason rankings published by d3wrestle.com. The rankings feature the top-10 at each weight class with lists for 10 contenders and 10 honorable mention notations. Below are those athletes listed alphabetically by school with their 2021-22 overall records according to wrestlestat.com.

• Hunter Campbell, AU: Contender at 141 lbs. -- 23-8
• Hai Siu, AU: Contender at 149 lbs. -- 10-3 (transferred to AU from GBRO for the 2022-23 season)
• Levi Englman, FC: Contender at 141 lbs. -- 20-14
• Rayshawn Dixon, FC: Contender at 285 lbs. -- 29-15
• Braden Homsey, FC: Contender at 197 lbs. -- 26-7
• JD McMillin, FC: Honorable Mention at 125 lbs. -- 16-19
• Josh Wilson, GBRO: #4 at 133 lbs. -- 39-5
• Mac Cafurello, RC: Honorable Mention at 125 lbs. -- 29-12
• Sean Hall, RC: Honorable Mention at 133 lbs. -- 16-13
• Mahlic Sallah, RC: #5 at 184 lbs. -- 19-3
• Ryan Luth, W&L: #2 at 157 lbs. -- 32-3
• Riley Parker, W&L: #1 at 125 lbs. -- 33-10

ABOUT THE TEAMS
Let's take a quick look at each squad coming into the season.

• AVERETT UNIVERSITY
  Head coach Blake Roulo enters his fourth season guiding the Cougars. Averett posted a 23-6 record in duals last year and claimed the title at the SEWC before finishing third at the NCAA Southeast Regionals. Four wrestlers qualified for nationals with a pair earning All-American honors. Sam Braswell, Alex Turley, and Brandon Woody have moved on, but Hunter Campbell will push for not only a return to the nationals, but an All-American placement. He finished second at 149 at the NCAA Southeast Regionals and earned a spot on the d3wrestle.com All-Freshman Team, the only wrestler from ODAC schools on that list. Khalil Mitchell and Billy Baldwin also return after placing sixth and seventh at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively. Add in 149-pound national qualifier Hai Siu as a transfer from Greensboro with several members of a strong returning stable of wrestlers, it becomes quickly apparent why much is expected of the Cougars in 2022-23.
   
• FERRUM COLLEGE
  Head coach Logan Meister will for at least one of his wrestlers to qualify for competition at the Berglund Center when Ferrum serves as host for the 2023 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. His best bets may be Braden Homsey at 197 and Rayshawn Dixon at 285. Homsey won the SEWC title at that weight class, while Dixon chimed in second. He along with 141-pounder Levi Englman finished fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regionals.
   
• GREENSBORO COLLEGE
  The Pride welcome local prep coach and former four-time UNC All-American Justin Harty as its new mentor with Greensboro joining the ODAC ranks as an associate member. Greensboro had two national qualifiers a season ago in Joshua Wilson and Hai Siu, although the latter standout will now compete for the Cougars at Averett. Wilson is back in the fold after winning the SEWC title at 133-pounds and placing second in that class at the NCAA Southeast Regionals. Wilson garnered All-American laurels by finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships.
   
• ROANOKE COLLEGE
  Progress has been quick for former Ferrum mentor and inaugural Roanoke head coach Nate Yetzer and his Maroons. In just their first varsity season in 2021-22, Roanoke finished seventh in the NCAA Southeast Regionals and third at SEWC. Mahlic Sallah was stellar at 184-pounds, earning the SEWC Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, winning his class at regionals, and earning All-America distinction with a seventh-place showing at nationals. Roanoke's regional performance was buoyed by several strong outings from Morgan Robinson, Steven Martinos, Josh Noble, and Sean Hall, the latter of whom posted a runner-up placing at 133.
   
• SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY
  Former Marquette University standout Tim McGuire became the first head coach in program history in September 2019 and has guided the Hornets through their first two varsity seasons. Dylan Weaver, who went 27-14 last year, and Colton White finished second at 174 and fifth at 141, respectively, at last season's SEWC. While White has moved on, Weaver returns to the squad after placing fifth at the NCAA Southeast Regionals.
   
• SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
  New leadership is on the scene in Buena Vista with Brigg Hoopes signing on as head coach in August. The former Utah Valley State walk-on turned scholarship standout will have to do without All-American Nico Ramirez following his transfer to Mount Olive, but his squad does feature strength in Eli Blackwell, Jaden Nelson, and Scott Chambers. At the 2022 SEWC, Blackwell finished third at 149, while Nelson and Chambers placed fifth at 125 and 184, respectively.
   
• WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
  Head coach Nathan Shearer enters year 12 at Washington and Lee having won the 2020 and 2022 Centennial Conference titles. His expectation will be to lift trophies in the ODAC with several standouts led by returning All-Americans Ryan Luth and Riley Parker. Luth placed fourth at 157 at the NCAA Championships, while Parker chimed in sixth at 125. Luth's effort came on the heels of him winning his second (2020) region title at 157, while Parker was third at 125. Cameron Blizzard just missed out on an NCAA berth in placing fourth at 174, while John Ryan Sedovy is back after placing fifth at 197.

For more on ODAC wrestling, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.