ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Catawba College men's lacrosse team was picked to make another playoff appearance in 2026, being voted fifth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches' poll announced Friday morning.

Catawba is on the heels of its first winning campaign since 2019, going 9-7 (4-6 SAC) with a sixth-place finish in the league. The blue and white came out steaming hot with six consecutive wins to start the year, awarding them a spot in the USILA national poll for three weeks while receiving votes from Feb. 10 to season's end.

Defending conference champion Wingate is the SAC favorite, garnering 104 points and seven top nods with Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne in tow; all three programs are separated by eight points with the latter two being one point apart.

The Catawba Indians are represented by six players to watch: Owen Conway, Steven Hernandez, Kier McKnight, Garrett Simi, Tanner Stout and Peyton Turner.

SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wingate (104, 7 first-place votes)
2. Anderson (97, 2 FPV)
3. Lenoir-Rhyne (96, 1 FPV)
4. Newberry (87)
5. Catawba (76)
6. Coker (65)
7. Mars Hill (59)
8. Lincoln Memorial (56)
9. Tusculum (44)
10. Emory & Henry (36)