Three Ranked First in Heart in Latest Polls

Numerous William Penn women’s wrestlers remain major contenders as the NAIA released its third set of rankings this week.

Oskaloosa–Numerous William Penn women’s wrestlers remain major contenders as the NAIA released its third set of rankings this week.

Seven grapplers are currently found in the national standings with 109-pounder Mia Palumbo (Jr., Oak Lawn, Ill., Exercise Science) and 136-pounder Adaugo Nwachukwu (Jr., San Jose, Calif., Exercise Science) both sitting at #1.

WPU has two individuals polled at 130 pounds as Joanna Vanderwood (Jr., Graham, Wash., Nursing) is fifth and Devin Patton (So., Plano, Texas, Business Management) is seventh.

116-pounder Catherine Steinkamp (Jr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) follows next in ninth, while Isabelle Hawley (So., Winchester, Calif., Sociology) is 14th at 143 pounds.

123-pounder Grecia Martinez (So., Horizon City, Texas, Engineering) concludes William Penn’s ranked wrestlers in 18th.

As a team, the Statesmen are eighth with 99 points, while Life (Ga.) tops the country with 199 points. Menlo (Calif.) (183), Grand View (175), Providence (Mont.) (163), and Southern Oregon (154) finish off the top five.

WPU is currently second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with 160.5 points, while Grand View leads the league (219).

Three of the 10 weight classes are topped by William Penn individuals, including Palumbo, Nwachukwu, and Vanderwood.

Hawley is second, while Steinkamp and Patton are both third. Martinez is fourth, as is Naida Abdijanovic (So., St. Louis, Mo., Biology) at 143 pounds, while 170-pounder Ashley Lekas (So., Plano, Texas, Business Management) and 191-pounder Grace Gray (So., Ankeny, Iowa, New Media) are each sixth.

116-pounder Brittany Cotter (Jr., Katy, Texas, Nursing) concludes the navy and gold wrestlers rated in the Heart, holding the #9 spot.