Bellarmine University wrestlers Jeb Prechtel and Grant O’Dell have been named to the 2026-27 Southern Conference (SoCon) Wrestling Preseason All-Conference Team. The announcement places both seniors among the 10 conference athletes recognized for their performance heading into the new season.
2026 SoCon Championship Qualifiers
Prechtel and O’Dell both secured spots on the preseason team following their respective title-winning performances at the 2026 SoCon Wrestling Championships. Prechtel, a native of Jasper, Indiana, competes at 157 pounds and finished last season with a 16-16 overall record. At the 2026 conference tournament, he entered as the 6-seed and defeated the top three seeds to claim the championship, including an 11-10 decision victory over top-seeded Kyrel Leavell of The Citadel in the final.
O’Dell, representing North Liberty, Iowa, at 174 pounds, enters the season following a 25-10 campaign. As the 4-seed during last year’s championships, he secured the title by winning three decisions, including a 4-3 victory over The Citadel’s Jacob Silka in the championship match.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll Rankings
In the 2026-27 SoCon Wrestling Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Bellarmine is projected to finish third in the nine-team league. The Knights received 51 points, trailing only App State, which took the top spot with 64 points, and Chattanooga, which earned 56 points.
The preseason all-conference team reflects the SoCon's competitiveness, as eight of the 10 athletes selected are defending conference champions. Under the direction of Ned Shuck, who was named the 2026 SoCon Coach of the Year, Bellarmine placed third as a team at last season’s conference championships.
2026-27 SoCon Wrestling Preseason All-Conference Team
| Weight Class | Athlete | School |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Gylon Sims | The Citadel |
| 133 | T.K. Davis | Gardner-Webb |
| 141 | Aldo Hernandez | App State |
| 149 | Anderson Heap | Davidson |
| 157 | Jeb Prechtel | Bellarmine |
| 165 | Anthony Conetta | App State |
| 174 | Grant O’Dell | Bellarmine |
| 184 | Tomas Brooker | App State |
| 197 | Kade Rule | Chattanooga |
| 285 | Stephan Monchery | App State |
How Coaches Rank SoCon Teams and Honorees?
How many of the preseason honorees are returning conference champions?
Eight of the 10 athletes named to the preseason team are defending SoCon champions, including both Jeb Prechtel and Grant O’Dell.
How did the coaches rank the conference teams for the upcoming season?
App State leads the preseason poll with 64 points, followed by Chattanooga with 56 points and Bellarmine with 51 points. Gardner-Webb, Davidson, The Citadel, VMI, Campbell, and Presbyterian round out the remaining rankings in the nine-team conference.
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