MARSHALL, Texas – Getting stronger as a program each year, the East Texas Baptist University men's soccer team has been picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference preseason poll. ETBU's Jacob Wenzel has been chosen as the ASC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
ETBU earned 52 votes and one first-place vote, finishing behind Hardin-Simmons University's 53 votes and Mary Hardin-Baylor's 69 votes. Finishing in fourth is Schreiner University with 28 votes, followed by McMurry University with 27 votes and Howard Payne University with 23 votes.   
 
Wenzel earned the ASC Preseason Player of the Year for Defense, as Dylan Garcia and Josh Daly are on the ASC Players to Watch list. Wenzel helped ETBU to three shutouts last year, was an All-ASC First Team selection, and made the ASC All-Tournament Team. Garcia was also an All-ASC First Team selection at forward, finishing with four goals and a .632 shot-on-goal percentage. Daley made the All-ASC Second Team as a forward, collecting four goals and seven assists for 15 points.
 
ETBU opens the 2026 season on Tuesday, September 1, in Sherman, Texas, against Austin College at 7:00 p.m.