Nine Ranked in Heart as Statesmen Enter New Year

Oskaloosa–Nine Statesmen women’s wrestlers are ranked at the conference level as the NAIA released its preseason conference and national rankings this week.

Nationally, William Penn is tied for 32nd with 14 points.

Two navy and gold wrestlers are included in the national polls as 103-pounder Olivia Atkins (Sr., St. Peters, Mo., Nursing) is 14th and 138-pounder Ana Vilar (So., Palm Coast, Fla., Secondary Education) is 16th.

Grand View leads the country with 187 points, while Indiana Tech (159), Ottawa Kan.) (152), Life (Ga.) (149), and Cumberlands (Ky.) and Wayland Baptist (Texas) (both at 138) finish the top five.

Within the Heart of America Athletic Conference, WPU is fifth out of 12 teams with 83 points. GVU heads the league with 207 points.

Atkins is third to pace her squad, while 180-pounder Bella Harris (Jr., Charleston, Tenn., Sociology) is next in fourth place.

Vilar and 124-pounder Silvia Garcia-Vasquez (So., West Liberty, Iowa, Nursing) are each fifth at their respective weights, while Lily Zapata (Jr., Lewisville, Texas, Psychology) is seventh at 103 pounds.

The duo of 145-pounder Jaliyah Gardner (So., Keokuk, Iowa, Business Management) and 160-pounder Alexa Wolf (Jr., Rogers, Ark., Kinesiology) are eighth, while Joey Ives (So., Bellevue, Wash., Undecided) is ninth at 160 pounds.

Sydney Andrews (So., Beloit, Wis., Business Management) wraps up William Penn’s rated wrestlers, sitting 10th at 131 pounds.