SEASON PREVIEW: Men's Wrestling set to begin 2025-26 campaign in Kentucky

(Rochester Hills, MI) - The Rochester Christian men's wrestling team is set to begin its 2025-26 campaign this weekend with a pair of meets, including a duel against Midway University, before taking the mat on Saturday at the Pepsi Patriot Open. Head Coach Wesley Maskill is in his seventh season leading the Warriors. 

2024-25 SEASON RECAP

Throughout the dual meets last season, RCU would earn a record of 6-5, including a trio of wins over Siena Heights, Cleary, and Lourdes, who were all receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Poll at the time. 

The Warriors would place fifth at the WAHC Championships last season, with Julius Polk placing second in the 174-lb class to earn him a trip to the NAIA Nationals. Other top placers at the WHAC Championships were: Jailen Tatum - 4th - 165-lb, while Mario Orueta, Jager Kwiatkowski, and Kirgin Tanis all earned fifth-place finishes.

Polk would go on to have a 2-2 record at Nationals, as the team would place 37th. 

SCHEDULE OUTLOOK

Following an opening weekend in Kentucky, the Warriors travel to the Trine Invite on November 8, followed by hosting Henry Ford College on the 13th. The final two meets of November see RCU head to the Albion Open on the 16th, followed by the WHAC Super Duels on November 22nd. 

December has the Warriors away for all four matches, traveling to Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida. Starting off in Indiana, the Warriors will compete at the Indiana "Little State" Championships on December 6th. On the way down to Florida, RCU will stop for a pair of duels against Lindsey Wilson (Dec. 15) and Brewton-Parker (Dec. 16) before rounding out 2025 at the Southeastern University "Fire" Duels on the 18th.

January will see RCU compete in three duals against WHAC teams, including Cleary (Jan. 9), at home against Defiance (Jan. 14), and Siena Heights (Jan. 29). The two meets the team will go to will be the Alma Open on January 18 and the Whizzer Open on January 31. 

The Warriors will head down to Kentucky for a tri-match at Georgetown to begin February on the 3rd to prepare for the WHAC Championships. The conference championships will be held at Lourdes on February 14. 

The NAIA National Championships will be held at the Park City Arena in Wichita, Kansas, on March 5-7 to close out the season. 

WHAC OUTLOOK

A pair of conference teams were voted into the NAIA Coaches Poll to begin the season, led by Indiana Tech (4th) and Marian (11th). Also being honored within the conference were Cornerstone, Lourdes, and Cleary, as they all received votes in the preseason poll. 

Three WHAC wrestlers were named in the top-5 individual weight class rankings. Jonathan Kervin led the trio, being the second wrestler in the 165-lb weight class, and he is from Indiana Tech. Anthony Hughes (Marian) and Vinnie Abbey (Indiana Tech) were both the 5th-best wrestlers in their respective weight classes. Hughes is in the 133-lb class, while Abbey is in the 157-lb class. 

ROCHESTER CHRISTIAN PERSONNEL

The Warriors are led by Head Coach Wes Maskill and assisted by Dr. Gregory Czar, Jackson Schenk, Don Maskill, Brandon Rank, Anthony Gonzales, Kenny Snyder, and Dr. Christopher Passalacqua.

On the team this season are 26 student-athletes, with five seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, and eight freshmen.  

2025-26 ROSTER