CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has released its 2026 men’s tennis preseason coaches’ poll, and Luther College has been tabbed as the preseason favorite. The Norse earned 63 points and seven first-place votes, edging out Coe College, which collected 58 points and two first-place nods. Wartburg College (45 points) and Loras College (44 points) followed closely. 
 
The 2026 season officially kicks off Saturday, January 31 with five teams in action. The conference slate begins on Saturday, February 14 with Luther hosting Loras. The conference schedule will run through Saturday, April 25. The top six teams at the conclusion of the conference regular season will advance to the conference tournament and the champion will receive the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. 
 

2026 American Rivers Conference Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Place	Team (First-place votes)	Points
1.	Luther (7)	63
2.	Coe (2)	58
3.	Wartburg	45
4.	Loras	44
5.	Central	38
6.	Nebraska Wesleyan	30
7.	Univ. of Dubuque	23
8.	Buena Vista	15
9.	Simpson	8

 
Defending regular season champion Luther College enters its final season in the A-R-C as the preseason favorite. Head coach Adam Strand returns a strong core led by all-conference selections Joao Benvenutti and Abhay Chhabra, along with Juan Hernandez and Rhys Biro-Moore in the lineup. Despite the loss of some key contributors, the Norse bring championship experience and depth back to the courts. 
 
“We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in the American Rivers Conference one final time this season and look forward to continuing to grow as a team,” added Strand.
 
Coe College returns perhaps the deepest roster in the league after a runner-up finish last year in the regular season standings. Longtime head coach Eric Rodgers welcomes back a veteran lineup featuring six returning all-conference performers: Bryton Short, Jumpei Kasai, Ivan Burt-Smith, Grant Idoux, Daniel Rohlman, and Josh Tiemann. With only one starter departing from last year’s starting group, the Kohawks are positioned as a prime challenger for the league title. 
 
“We are looking forward to the 2026 season,” wrote Rodgers. “We had a great fall training block and are eager to see how our physical, technical, and tactical adjustments fare against conference and non-conference foes.”
 
Wartburg College comes in third after a balanced season during 2025. Head coach Chris Gustas begins his tenth season with a new look in his lineup following the graduation of three long-time staples for the Knights. While no all-conference players return, Gustas believes this group has the depth and hunger to compete in the league race. 
 
“This will be a new look for Wartburg after graduating three players who were staples of our lineup for years,” added Gustas. “And that new look will be good. We’ve got another group that is deep with talent, hungry to compete, coachable, and enjoyable to be around. The A-R-C will provide several tough challenges that we are eager to take on.”
 
Loras College slots just behind Wartburg after finishing sixth in the standings last season. Head coach Cam Long returns an experienced starting five, including all-conference honorable mention Gage Becker, along with Sam Canas, Sean Sonoiki, Andrew Day, and Jackson Craig. The Duhawks boast a young and deep roster that is poised for growth. 
 
“We have an incredibly young and deep team,” said Long. “The first couple months of the spring will be great for our growth and development, and we hope to play our best tennis in April.”
 
Central College finished third in the conference standings last season and enters 2026 with a retooled lineup under head coach Ryun Ferrell. The Dutch return starters Ernest Chedzoy, Alex Slaymaker, and Gavin Jablonski, but replace four starters from last year’s group. Despit no returning all-conference performers, Central’s recent success and depth keep them firmly in the middle of the preseason race. 
 
“We are a completely different looking team,” said Ferrell. “Should be great.”
 
Nebraska Wesleyan University looks to build on a strong season in 202. Sixth-year head coach Lee Steinbrook returns four starters, led by all-conference performer Sam Rademacher, along with Ian Armburst, Glenn McChristian, and Gavin Nichols. With no seniors on the roster and an influx of freshman and transfers, the Prairie Wolves aim to grow quickly and remain a factor in the conference race.
 
“With four returning starters, three freshmen, and two transfers that will contribute, this team with no seniors looks to build on last season's semifinal A-R-C tournament over the next couple of years,” added Steinbrook.
 
In his third season at the helm, University of Dubuque head coach Chad Fenwick brings back a young core that includes returning all-conference selection Gavin Murrie, along with Jake Wallrichs, Andrew Bollis, and Elia Desaro. After a seventh-place finish last season, the Spartans look to take a step forward despite the loss of two starters. 
 
“Excited about our young team and working to be more competitive in the conference,” said Fenwick. 
 
Buena Vista University enters the season with a revamped lineup after finishing eighth in the standings a season ago. Head coach Brett Groen returns starters Tyler Harger, Nick Hiney, Bryson Fredericksen, and Ryan Smith, but replaces four departed starters from last season. 
 
“We will have quite a different look to our team this year, but will probably have the hungriest team in years,” said Groen. “We have already started to work harder and more focused then before, and I think it will pay off big time by the end of the year.  We just need to turn our experience knob up a bit."  
 
Simpson College rounds out the preseason poll. In his tenth season, Storm head coach Matt Price leads a young roster built around freshmen and sophomores, with no returning all-conference players but one senior guiding the group. 
 
“We are off to a strong start to the 2025-26 season with a team built with freshmen and sophomores,” said Price. “Excited to see how this young team grows and adjusts to the college game this year. We have an outstanding senior leader to lead this young group.”