Eight Ranked Nationally Entering Postseason Action

Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s wrestling team has numerous individuals in position to make noise in the postseason as the NAIA released its final top-20 poll Wednesday.

As a team, the Statesmen are eighth in the country with 115 points, while Menlo (Calif.) retains the top spot with 207 points. Life (Ga.) is close behind with 196 points, while Grand View (165), Southern Oregon (157), and Providence (Mont.) (146) finish off the top five.

The trio of 109-pounder Mia Palumbo (Jr., Oak Lawn, Ill., Exercise Science), 136-pounder Adaugo Nwachukwu (Jr., San Jose, Calif., Exercise Science), and 170-pounder Ashley Lekas (So., Plano, Texas, Business Management) are all #1 in their respective weight classes.

Devin Patton (So., Plano, Texas, Business Management) is the next highest-ranked Statesmen grappler, sitting in seventh at 130 pounds, while 123-pounder Joanna Vanderwood (Jr., Graham, Wash., Nursing) is ninth.

Isabelle Hawley (So., Winchester, Calif., Sociology) is next in 11th at 143, while 101-pounder Teya Garner (Fr., San Antonio, Texas, Biology) (14th) and 116-pounder Catherine Steinkamp (Jr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) (17th) also find themselves rated amongst the best 20 wrestlers at their weights.

The navy and gold continue to be ranked second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with 173 points; Grand View is first with 203 points.

Palumbo, Patton, Nwachukwu, and Lekas all headline their league groupings, while Garner is second. Steinkamp, Vanderwood, and Hawley all finish the regular season in third, while 123-pounder Grecia Martinez (So., Horizon City, Texas, Engineering) and 143-pounder Naida Abdijanovic (So., St. Louis, Mo., Biology) are both sixth.

Mya Turnmire (Sr., Machesney Park, Ill., Sports Management) is also eighth at 109 pounds to cap the list of ranked Statesmen.