Five Ranked in Qualifying Group
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Five members of the William Penn wrestling team will open the 2013-2014 campaign with some recognition to build upon as the NAIA released its preseason poll Wednesday.
Last year’s national qualifiers Joao Vicente (So., East Providence, R.I., Secondary Education) and Kyle Soderblom (Jr., Newton, Iowa, Biology) pace the Statesmen as each are rated nationally. Soderblom, who was an All-American last winter, is fifth at 197 pounds, while Vicente is seventh at 133 pounds.
As a team, William Penn is unofficially 21st with 20 points.
Two-time defending national champion Grand View is the preseason #1 with 143 points (12 rated wrestlers). Montana State-Northern is second with 123.5 points, while Missouri Valley (96), Campbellsville (Ky.) (72), and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (67) round out the top five.
In the Central Qualifying Group rating, William Penn will start the season in fifth place with 68 points. Grand View is first with 206 points, while Missouri Valley is a close second with 193 points.
Vicente heads a list of five navy and gold grapplers who are ranked. The sophomore holds the #2 spot at 133 pounds. Soderblom is next in third at 197 pounds, while 165-pounder Ishmael Rempson (Jr., Olympia Fields, Ill., Industrial Technology) and 184-pounder Nick Wise (So., Phoenix, Ariz., Biology) are both fifth. Nathan Veverka (Sr., Montezuma, Iowa, Industrial Technology) wraps up the group in sixth place at 285 pounds.
