BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The 2026-27 Campbell wrestling team opens the season this Sunday, traveling to the Southeast Open hosted by Virginia Tech. The tournament will once again be held at the Cregger Center in Salem, Va., on the campus of Roanoke College. 

Brackets will be made official on Sunday morning after check in and weigh in. Action begins at 9 a.m. and will be streamed live on FloWrestling. In total, 24 Camels are set to compete across the Freshman/Sophomore and Open divisions.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

Campbell's roster features eight returners, highlighted by heavyweight redshirt sophomore Sawyer Van Rider. Van Rider led the Camels with a third-place finish at the 2026 SoCon Championships, going 3-1 in the tournament and battling through the consolation bracket to secure a podium spot. The Camels also return redshirt junior Brant Cracraft at 184 pounds. Cracraft finished fourth at the SoCon Championships.

The Camels welcome in 20 newcomers, including 17 freshmen. The refreshed roster will look to prove itself among the SoCon's best.

PRESEASON TALK

Campbell was picked to finish seventh in the Southern Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Camels enter their second season under head coach TJ Dudley after finishing 1-7 in conference duals in his first season, including a win over Presbyterian. Van Rider led Campbell at the 2026 SoCon Championships with a third-place finish at 285 pounds.

IN THE RANKINGS

Three Camels are ranked in the top 100 of their respective weight classes by WrestleStat:

#41 Colby Crouch (125)
#81 Sawyer Van Rider (HWT)
#99 Brant Cracraft (184)

PROJECTED LINEUP

OPEN DIVISION
125: Jose Trejo
133: Hudson Waldrop, Jesse Gatto, Zander Phaturos
141: Sal Borrometi
149: Anthony Borrometi, Q'veli Quintanilla
157: Brandon Bauer, Jimmy Tildsley
165: Luke Burgar
174: Brant Cracraft
184: Paolo Ciatto, Kaleb McNeil (Unat.)
197: Cael Dunn
HWT: Brycen Arthur, Sawyer Van Rider

FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE DIVISION
125: Denzel Benton
133: Alex Allison, Anthony Andrews Jr.
141: Gabe Smith, Jonathan Brandt
149: Nathan Maslanek
165: Landon McConnell, Malakhi Harrison

STAY TUNED

For coverage of Campbell wrestling, follow the Camels on X, Facebook and Instagram (@GoCamelsWrestle).