Two Ranked Nationally, Four in Heart in Final Regular-Season Poll
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen wrestling team will enter next weekend’s qualifying tournament with several grapplers in prime position to make nationals as the NAIA’s final regular-season poll was released this week.
WPU has four individuals ranked in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and two in the national rating.
Max Lewis (So., Duchesne, Utah, Biology) is pacing the squad as he sits third in the Heart at 285 pounds. The sophomore is joined at heavyweight by Will Wan (So., Des Moines, Iowa, Sociology) who is sixth.
John Altieri (Jr., Warwick, R.I., Sports Management) is also fourth at 125 pounds, while Jay Fresh (Grad., Knoxville, Iowa, MBL) is fifth at 184 pounds.
The quartet has helped the navy and gold rank seventh in the conference with 51 points; Grand View is first with 219 points.
Nationally, Lewis is ranked for the first time in his career at #7, while Altieri is currently #19 in the NAIA. WPU is now 35th with 16 points.
Grand View is first in the country with 197 points, while Missouri Valley (157), Williams Baptist (Ark.) (132), Cumberlands (Ky.) (126), and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (104) round out the top five.
