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SACC Preseason Wrestlers to Watch

Wolves Top Preseason Poll while Evans, Gant, and Spears named Wrestlers to Watch

| By: Turner Kirby, Athletic Communications Assistant

Newberry Looks to Claim Seventh Straight Conference Title

Greenville, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference Carolinas (SACC) released their 2021-22 Wrestling Preseason Poll on Tuesday Afternoon with the Newberry Wolves selected as the favorite to win their seventh consecutive conference title by the coaches in the conference. Newberry earned 96 points along with 6/11 first place votes. The Wolves are coming off a historic 2020-21 season which saw them have the first perfect season in school history, claim their sixth conference title in a row, win their eighth super regional title in school history, and have Isiah Royal claim the program's fourth individual national title. 

Newcomer to the conference, UNC Pembroke, was voted a close second behind the Wolves with 95 points as well as earning the other five first-place votes. This isn't the first time that the Wolves and Braves have battled each other in the same conference as they were both members of the ECAC until 2018 when Newberry left for the SACC and UNC Pembroke became independent. 

Rounding out the poll were Belmont Abbey with 68 points, Lander and Limestone with 67 points,  King with 64 points, Coker with 41 points, Mount Olive with 38 points, Queens with 34 points, first year program Lincoln Memorial with 18 points, and Emmanuel with 17 points. 

In addition to the preseason poll, the SACC released their "Wrestlers to Watch" for this upcoming season which included three Wolves: ZeBrandon Gant, Will Evans, and Caleb Spears. Gant is coming off a 2020-21 season which saw him claim a Super Region II title and National Qualifier spot as well as being named to the All-SACC first team. Evans was runner-up at the Super Region II meet, wrestled at NCAA Nationals in St. Louis, and was named All-American alongside Isiah Royal at the meet. Spears was also a Super Region II champion and National Qualifier as well. 

The Wolves open their first season under new head coach, Deral Brown, on Wednesday, November 10th in Eleazer Arena against Belmont Abbey.
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