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Wrestling MSU Athletics Communications

Morgan State’s Yannis Charles Named No. 30 in InterMat Preseason Rankings

BALTIMORE, Md. (Sept. 18, 2026) – Morgan State wrestling standout Yannis Charles has been ranked No. 30 nationally at 157 pounds in the 2026-27 InterMat Preseason Rankings, adding another distinction to a résumé highlighted by a 2026 EIWA Championship runner-up finish and NCAA Championship qualification.

Charles enters his redshirt junior season following a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign that saw him emerge as one of the Bears' top performers against elite collegiate competition.

The Clover, S.C., native advanced to the 2026 EIWA Championship final, finishing as the conference runner-up and earning a berth to the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
 

At the NCAA Championships, Charles was seeded No. 33 in the 157-pound bracket and made Morgan State history by recording the program's first NCAA Tournament victory. Charles defeated No. 32-seeded Jeb Prechtel of Bellarmine in the pigtail bout to advance in the championship bracket.

Charles then faced some of the nation's most accomplished wrestlers. Following his opening-round victory, he battled the No. 1 seed from Penn State before taking on the No. 15 seed from Iowa.

Despite the difficult draw, Charles competed with intensity and resilience throughout the tournament, gaining valuable postseason experience while representing Morgan State on college wrestling's biggest stage.

"Yannis has continued to show that he belongs on the national stage," said Morgan State head wrestling coach Kenny Monday. "His performance at the NCAA Championships was a tremendous experience for him, and getting that first NCAA Tournament win for Morgan State was a significant accomplishment."

"We are continuing to raise the standard for Morgan State wrestling, and Yannis is a big part of that progress," Monday added. "He understands what it takes to compete against the best in the country, and we expect him to build on that experience this season."

The No. 30 InterMat preseason ranking adds to the momentum surrounding Charles as he begins the 2026-27 campaign. His combination of conference success and NCAA postseason experience gives the Bears a proven returning competitor as they prepare for another demanding season.

Charles will look to continue his development, compete for an EIWA championship, and make another push toward the NCAA Championships.


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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate, and certificate programs. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

 
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Players Mentioned

Yannis Charles

Yannis Charles

149 lbs
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Yannis Charles

Yannis Charles

5' 9"
Freshman
149 lbs