In the preseason poll conducted by the head wrestling coaches in the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Blue Streaks were picked to finish fourth in both the conference tournament and regular season in the seven-team league.

Click here for the complete poll

Heidelberg, a team that won has won four consecutive conference tournaments, was again predicted to finish first. The 'Berg received six of the seven first-place votes, with coaches' not being allowed to vote for their own team.

The only difference in the poll was Ohio Northern and Mount Union flip-flopping positions. Ohio Northern was picked second in the regular season and third in the tournament, while the Purple Raiders were tabbed as the third best team in the regular season and predicted as tournament runner-up.

The Blue Streaks took fourth behind those three programs, edging out Baldwin-Wallace, Muskingum and Wilmington, respectively.

John Carroll will return Ben Adams, a national qualifier from a season ago. Dan Mizener, who was the only other JCU wrestler to qualify nationally, is now a graduate assistant with the program. Three other Blue Streaks finished second last year in their respective weight classes, but none of those three (Elie Naoum, Adam Kriwinsky or Matt Harmon) will be wrestling this season.