LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington and Lee wrestling team opens the 2026-27 season ranked No. 8 nationally, marking the program’s first preseason top-10 ranking. The Generals return three nationally ranked NCAA qualifiers and four All-ODAC performers.

The Generals begin competition Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Hokie Open in Salem, Va., following a season that featured a program-record five NCAA qualifiers and five ODAC individual champions.

Junior Liam Flanagan, the reigning ODAC Wrestler of the Year and an All-American, leads W&L’s nationally ranked returners at No. 2 at 157 pounds. Senior Skyler Hickman ranks third at 141, while junior Carter Stack stands eighth at heavyweight.

NWCA Preseason Rankings Release | ODAC Preview Release

2026-27 ODAC Preseason Poll and Individual Rankings

Washington and Lee was picked second in the ODAC wrestling preseason coaches’ poll with 43 points and one first-place vote. Roanoke topped the eight-team poll with 49 points and seven first-place votes, while Averett placed third with 37 points.

Eight Generals earned top-three spots in the conference’s individual preseason rankings, also voted on by ODAC coaches. Skyler Hickman (141), Giosue Hickman (149), Liam Flanagan (157) and Carter Stack (285) led their respective weight classes. Jacob Wright (184) and Kweku Arthur-Mensah (197) ranked second, while Tony Urso (125) and Noah Danforth (165) were third.

1. Roanoke College (7) — 49 points
2. Washington and Lee University (1) — 43 points
3. Averett University — 37 points
4. Shenandoah University — 28 points
5. Greensboro College — 20 points (tie)
6. University of Lynchburg — 20 points (tie)
7. Randolph College — 14 points
8. Southern Virginia University — 13 points
    

First-place votes in parentheses.

Key Returners and Preseason Rankings

Washington and Lee’s returning lineup features three nationally ranked wrestlers, led by Flanagan, Hickman and Stack. Senior Jacob Wright adds postseason experience as he moves to 184 pounds.

141 | Sr. Skyler Hickman — No. 1 Region, No. 3 National

Hickman returns after capturing the ODAC title and earning his first NCAA Championships berth with a runner-up finish at the NCAA Region IV Championships. He enters his senior season as the region’s top-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds and third nationally.

157 | Jr. Liam Flanagan — No. 1 Region, No. 2 National

Flanagan begins his junior campaign after finishing 30-3, placing sixth at nationals and earning ODAC Wrestler of the Year honors. The ninth All-American in program history, he won conference and regional titles and advanced to the national semifinals during his sophomore season.

184 | Sr. Jacob Wright — No. 4 Region

Wright moves to 184 pounds after earning Second Team All-ODAC honors and finishing fourth at the NCAA Region IV Championships at 174 last season. The senior opens the year ranked fourth regionally and will look to secure his first NCAA Championships berth.

285 | Jr. Carter Stack — No. 2 Region, No. 8 National

A two-time defending ODAC heavyweight champion, Stack returns after winning the NCAA Region IV title and qualifying for nationals for the first time. He enters his junior season ranked second regionally and eighth nationally.

National and Regional Rankings Overview

Washington and Lee enters the season ranked eighth nationally, with three wrestlers among the top eight in their weight classes. Flanagan holds the highest individual position at No. 2 at 157 pounds, followed by Hickman at No. 3 at 141 and Stack at No. 8 at heavyweight.

Five Generals appear in the supplied Region IV rankings. Hickman leads the 141-pound field, while Stack ranks second at heavyweight. Wright stands fourth at 184, Kweku Arthur-Mensah is fifth at 197 and Calvin Wiedemer ranks sixth at 133.

Region 4 includes the following 21 schools:

• Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC): Averett University, Greensboro College, Randolph College, Roanoke College,  and Southern Virginia University
• Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC): Baldwin Wallace University, Heidelberg University, Hiram College, Muskingum University, Ohio Northern University, Otterbein University, Mount Union, and Wilmington College
• President’s Athletic Conference (PAC): Saint Vincent College, Thiel College, Washington & Jefferson College, and Waynesburg University
• University Athletic Association (UAA): University of Chicago

2026-27 Schedule Preview

Washington and Lee opens the 2026-27 season this Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Hokie Open in Salem, Va., before beginning its home schedule against Randolph on Nov. 13. The Generals will host six dual meets and the Jim Crytzer Invitational, with tournament trips to Messiah and York and appearances at the Marine Duals and Budd Whitehill Duals rounding out the regular-season slate.

Duals

• Nov. 13 – Randolph College | Lexington, Va. | Doremus Gymnasium | 6 p.m. (ODAC)
• Nov. 21 – Marine Duals (Roanoke College) | Salem, Va. | 10 a.m.
• Jan. 1 – Marymount University | Lexington, Va. | Holekamp Gym | 3 p.m.
• Jan. 8–9 – Budd Whitehill Duals (Lycoming College) | Williamsport, Pa. | 9 a.m. each day
• Jan. 14 – University of Lynchburg | Lexington, Va. | Doremus Gymnasium | 6 p.m. (ODAC)
• Jan. 21 – Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista, Va. | 7 p.m. (ODAC)
• Jan. 23 – Averett University | Lexington, Va. | Doremus Gymnasium | 6 p.m. (ODAC)
• Jan. 28 – Shenandoah University | Lexington, Va. | Doremus Gymnasium | 6 p.m. (ODAC)
• Feb. 4 – Greensboro College | Greensboro, N.C. | 6 p.m. (ODAC)
• Feb. 6 – Roanoke College | Lexington, Va. | Doremus Gymnasium | 6 p.m. (ODAC)

Tournaments

• Nov. 1 – Hokie Open (hosted at Roanoke College) | Salem, Va. | 9 a.m.
• Nov. 7 – Messiah Invitational | Mechanicsburg, Pa. | 9 a.m.
• Dec. 5–6 – New Standard Invitational (York College) | York, Pa. | Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. / Dec. 6 at 10 a.m.
• Jan. 2 – Jim Crytzer Invitational (Washington and Lee University) | Lexington, Va. | Holekamp Gym | 9 a.m.

Postseason

• Feb. 13 – ODAC Individual Championships (Averett University) | Danville, Va. | 11 a.m.
• Feb. 26–27 – NCAA Region IV Championships | Location TBD
• March 12–13 – NCAA Division III Championships | La Crosse, Wis.

2025-26 Season Recap

Washington and Lee compiled a 9-5 overall record and a 5-1 mark in ODAC duals, finishing second at the ODAC Individual Championships with 131.5 points. The Generals crowned five conference champions and earned eight All-ODAC selections.

W&L placed fourth at the NCAA Region IV Championships with 153.5 points and qualified a program-record five wrestlers for nationals. Liam Flanagan (157) and Carter Stack (285) captured regional titles, while Vincent Ziccardi (133) and Skyler Hickman (141) finished second and Evan Lindner (149) placed third.

Flanagan led the Generals at nationals with a sixth-place finish, becoming the ninth All-American in program history. The sophomore finished 30-3 and earned ODAC Wrestler of the Year honors after winning conference and regional titles.

Lindner concluded his career as W&L’s all-time wins leader with 103 victories and a three-time NCAA qualifier. He reached the ODAC championship bout in all four seasons, winning titles in each of his final three years.

The Generals also posted their highest finish in the NWCA Team Scholar All-America standings, placing third nationally with a 3.7859 GPA. Ten W&L wrestlers earned individual NWCA Scholar All-America recognition.

2025-26 All-ODAC Selections

First Team: Vincent Ziccardi (133), Skyler Hickman (141), Evan Lindner (149), Liam Flanagan (157), Carter Stack (285)

Second Team: Mark Troni (165), Jacob Wright (174), John Santowski (197)