SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Just over a week out from the launch of the 2025-26 campaign, the Southern Conference announced three The Citadel cadet- and student-athletes as a SoCon Preseason All-Conference selections, recognizing the Bulldogs' trio of reigning league individual champions in redshirt juniors Carson DesRosier and Thomas Snipes at 149 lbs and 165 lbs, respectively, along with redshirt sophomore Gylon Sims at 125 lbs for the distinguished 11-man squad.

Additionally, the league released the 2025-26 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, positioning The Citadel as second overall behind 56 total points along with three first-place votes, a best for the program since the 2014-15 campaign. The annual poll is voted on by the SoCon's nine head coaches.

Perennial SoCon powerhouse Chattanooga narrowly topped the poll with 58 points behind three first-place votes while defending conference champion Appalachian State slid in at third with 53 points and two first-place votes of their own, creating a three-program bubble vying for first place separated by just five total points. Bellarmine picked up fourth, receiving 42 points, while Gardner-Webb and Campbell captured fifth and sixth, respectively, off 37 and 32 points apiece. VMI (20 points), Davidson (18 points) and Presbyterian (8 points) logged seventh, eighth and ninth in sequence to round out the poll.

Hailing from Helena, Mont., DesRosier evolved quickly into a lethal weapon for the Bulldogs at 149 lbs, taking over the starting role for the first time last season before proceeding to rack up a dominant 26-7 overall record, including a 7-1 mark in league play, en route to the No. 1 overall seed at the SoCon Championship and the Bulldogs' lone All-Conference distinction. The redshirt junior took advantage of his strong position, sweeping through to the finals before securing the league 149 lbs individual title behind a dramatic sudden victory takedown, punching his ticket to the NCAA Wrestling Championships in the process.

Meanwhile, Snipes slotted in to the No. 2 seed at the conference championship after compiling a similarly impressive 28-8 overall record, notably registering an upset victory over SoCon Wrestler of the Year Will Miller in the 165 lb title bout en route to Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. In lockstep with DesRosier, the Simpsonville, S.C., native powered his way to the second day of competition at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, closing out his run with a 1-2 mark on the national stage.

Finally, Sims served as a pleasant surprise for The Citadel after recovering from a preseason injury ahead of his true freshman year, battling through a number of close scrapes during the campaign to log a 16-7 overall mark with a 7-1 record in conference play. A SoCon All-Freshman team selection, the Joilet, Ill., product utilized his No. 2 position in the bracket effectively, cruising through the quarter- and semifinals before locking up the 125 lbs league title behind a tight 7-6 decision in the championship.
   
Next up, The Citadel launches the 2025-26 campaign on Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Southeast Open individual tournament before later shifting focus to SoCon competition on Sunday, Jan. 18 at Campbell. The Bulldogs conclude the season at the Southern Conference Championship, a two-day individual competition slated for Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 in Asheville, N.C.


 

2025-26 SoCon Wrestling Preseason Poll

Rank	School (First-Place Votes)	Points
1	Chattanooga (3)	58
2	The Citadel (3)	56
3	Appalachian State (2)	53
4	Bellarmine	42
5	Gardner-Webb (1)	37
6	Campbell	32
7	VMI	20
8	Davidson	18
9	Presbyterian	8

 

2025-26 SoCon Wrestling Preseason All-Conference Team 

125 -- Gylon Sims, The Citadel*
133 -- TK Davis, Gardner-Webb*
141 -- AJ Rallo, Bellarmine
149 -- Carson DesRosier, The Citadel*
157 -- Cody Chittum, Chattanooga
165 -- Thomas Snipes, The Citadel**
174 -- Kamdyn Munro, Chattanooga
184 -- Braxton Lewis, VMI
197 -- Josh McCutchen, Gardner-Webb / Toby Schoffstall, VMI
285 -- Stephan Monchery, Appalachian State*

* = 2025 SoCon Champion
** = 2025 SoCon Most Outstanding Wrestler