NAPERVILLE – College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s wrestling coaches gave the maximum possible point total to reigning league champion North Central in their preseason poll on Tuesday, making the Cardinals the favorite to repeat atop the league in 2024-25.

2024-25 CCIW Men's Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll

Team (First-place vote)	Points
1. North Central (9)	81
2. Millikin (1)	72
3. Augustana	57
4. Concordia Wisconsin	53
5. Aurora	45
6. Elmhurst	40
7. Wheaton	33
8. MSOE	31
9. Carthage	27
10. Illinois Wesleyan	12

NCC, which swept another league dual schedule and won its second consecutive CCIW Championship last February, received nine first-place votes and 81 points on the ballots. The Cardinals were ranked sixth nationally on Monday in a preseason poll released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). 
 
Millikin claimed the second position in Tuesday’s announcement with one first-place vote and 72 points. The Big Blue, last season’s runner-up at the CCIW Championships, will aim to win their first league championship since claiming three in a row from 2020 through 2022.
 
The third spot went to Augustana with 57 points, followed by Concordia Wisconsin with 53 points. Aurora, Elmhurst, Wheaton, MSOE, Carthage and Illinois Wesleyan claimed the following slots, respectively.
 
The 2024-25 regular season begins Friday when MSOE visits Millikin in Decatur for a 7 p.m. dual. Seven of the 10 CCIW teams open tournament competition on Saturday. The 2025 CCIW Championships are slated for Saturday, Feb. 15 in Decatur.