2026 Preseason: A Look at South Dakota State

With just over two months until the college regular season starts, we’ll turn most of our focus to the collegiate wrestling world. There will be lots of previews and content to get fans ready for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Today, we’ll focus on a South Dakota State team that will enjoy a change of scenery during the season. This will be the first year that the Jackrabbits will compete in the Pac-12 Conference. Holdovers Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, Little Rock, and Oregon State will welcome SDSU, Air Force, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, and Northern Illinois to the league. The move likely allows South Dakota State to challenge for a conference title on a regular basis.

This year’s Jackrabbit team has plenty of experience. They have four wrestlers with NCAA experience and a handful of others that have seen extended mat time throughout their collegiate career. Some of their veterans have battle injuries over the years; however, if healthy, they could have multiple wrestlers pushing for a spot on the podium.

South Dakota State is coming off a 12-5 campaign and is led by Damion Hahn, who is entering his ninth year at the helm for the Jackrabbits. In 2025-26, South Dakota State notched a huge win over Hahn’s alma mater, Minnesota, the program’s first win over their neighbors since 1951. In their final year in the Big 12, SDSU finished sixth at the conference tournament and pushed six wrestlers through to nationals.

Here’s a look at a projected lineup for South Dakota State along with additional information needed for the 2026-27 season.

125 lbs - Brady Roark

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