New London No. 7 in preseason wrestling poll

With as much talent as the New London wrestling team will be bringing back this season, it’s no surprise that there’s going to be some hype for one of the most talented squads in the area. IAWrestle’s preseason team rankings added to that hype when they were released last week.

The website ranked eight teams for each class in the preseason, with 24 schools being represented.

New London is ranked No. 7 in the Class 1A team rankings. The Tigers were the only Union Area team to find themselves in the poll.

New London brings back a heap of talent in the 2021-22 season. Included in that is four returning state qualifiers, including three state placewinners.

The Tigers, of course, return three-time state champion Marcel Lopez, who at 120 pounds last season. The senior will be going for a historic four-peat this winter and is perhaps the most decorated wrestler currently going in the state of Iowa.

New London also gets back a pair of place-winning juniors; Dominic Lopez, who finished third at 135 pounds, and Josh Glendening, who finished seventh at 152 pounds.

The Tigers’ only other returning state qualifier from 2020-21 is junior Boden Pickle, who went 0-2 in the 170-pound bracket last season.

Wrestling powerhouse Don Bosco occupies the No. 1 spot in Class 1A. West Delaware is the favorite in Class 2A, and Waverly Shell-Rock is the top-ranked team in Class 3A.

CLASS 1A RANKINGS

1. Don Bosco

2. West Sioux, Hawarden

3. Lisbon

4. Underwood

5. Logan-Magnolia

6. Nashua-Plainfield

7. New London

8. Central Springs

CLASS 2A RANKINGS

1. West Delaware

2. Osage

3. Independence

4. Notre Dame-West Burlington

5. Davenport Assumption

6. Greene COunty

7. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

8. Winterset

CLASS 3A RANKINGS

1. Waverly-Shell Rock

2. Waukee Northwest

3. Southeast Polk

4. Dowling Catholic

5. Iowa City West

6. North Scott

7. Linn-Mar

8. Bettendorf