WPU Opens Season at #5 in NAIA, 11 Grapplers Ranked Nationally
Oskaloosa--The Statesmen women's wrestling team begins the 2024-2025 season right in the thick of the title hunt as the NAIA released its preseason top-20 rating Thursday.
With 11 individuals ranked in their respective top 20, William Penn is #5 in the rating with 137 points. Life (Ga.) tops the standings with 201 points, while Grand View (200), Cumberlands (Ky.) (177), and Providence (Mont.) (155) round out the top five.
The Statesmen have grapplers ranked at eight of the 11 weight classes. In addition to slightly upping the weight for each class, collegiate women's wrestling also added another weight class (207 pounds).
Mia Palumbo (Sr., Oak Lawn, Ill., Exercise Science) leads the navy and gold as she is #1 in the NAIA at 110 pounds.
124-pounder Joanna Vanderwood (Sr., Graham, Wash., Nursing) and 131-pounder Devin Patton (Jr., Plano, Texas, Business Management) are both third, while Kendall Bostelman (Jr., Napoleon, Ohio, Exercise Science) comes in at fifth at 138 pounds.
Isabelle Hawley (Jr., Winchester, Calif., Sociology) is also in an 'All-America' position in eighth at 145 pounds.
103-pounders Teya Garner (So., San Antonio, Texas, Biology) and Olivia Atkins (So., St. Peters, Mo., Nursing) are 10th and 16th, respectively. Zao Estrada (Fr., Bluffton, S.C., Sociology) opens at ninth at 117 pounds, while Catherine Steinkamp (Sr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) is 16th at that same weight class.
Naida Abdijanovic (Jr., St. Louis, Mo., Biology) joins Hawley by also being ranked (15th) at 145 pounds, while Grace Gray (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa, New Media) is 19th at 180 pounds.
WPU is second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings with 181 points, sitting behind only Grand View (214 points).
The trio of Palumbo (110), Patton (131), and Bostelman (138) are all first in the conference at their weights, while Vanderwood is second.
Estrada (117) and Hawley (145) are both third, while Garner (103), Steinkamp (117), and Abdijanovic (145) are fourth.
The duo of Atkins (103) and Gray (180) are both fifth, and Alexis Montes (So., El Paso, Texas, Exercise Science) starts the campaign in seventh at 124 pounds.
WPU begins the 2024-2025 season on November 7 by traveling to Baldwin City, Kan. to face Baker in a Heart dual meet at 4:30 p.m.
NAIA Women's Wrestling Preseason Rating -- October 24, 2024
Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Life (Ga.)
2. Grand View
3. Cumberlands (Ky.)
4. Providence (Mont.)
5. William Penn
6. Campbellsville (Ky.)
7. Indiana Tech
8. Missouri Valley
9. Texas Wesleyan
10. Southern Oregon
11. Hastings (Neb.)
12. Doane (Neb.)
13. Baker (Kan.)
14. Oklahoma City
15. Eastern Oregon
15. Ottawa (Kan.)
17. Missouri Baptist
18. Central Methodist (Mo.)
19. Midland (Neb.)
20. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Receiving votes: Wayland Baptist (Texas) 41, Saint Mary (Kan.) 40, Evergreen State (Wash.) 38, Friends (Kan.) 26, Lourdes (Ohio) 25, Dickinson State (N.D.) 24, Avila (Mo.) 21, Waldorf 21, Jarvis Christian (Texas) 16, Morningside 13, Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 8, Siena Heights (Mich.) 7, Jamestown (N.D.) 7, Westcliff (Calif.) 5, William Woods (Mo.) 3.
To view the complete polls, click HERE
