Holland Reporter

The National Wrestling Coaches Association has published its initial Division II team and individual rankings for 2025. Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has advanced six positions to number six in the team rankings, with six of its wrestlers now ranked individually. The GVSU men's wrestling team achieved a sixth-place finish at the NWCA National Dual Championships, boasting a 3-2 record. Notably, they were the only unseeded team to make it to the podium. This marks their second year as a varsity sport following a 32-year hiatus.

"We continue to reach milestones that we have set within our program, but we are nowhere near reaching the bar that we have set," stated Joey Simcoe, head coach in his second year with the team. He further commented, "We have a room of hard working wrestlers, but as we enter the final third of our season we need to become even intentional in our everyday habits of being a great wrestler."

Junior Chris Donathan leads nationally at 149 pounds after an undefeated performance at the NWCA National Dual Championships. He is currently 4-0 against ranked opponents this season. Junior Carter Blough holds the number three national ranking with a 19-3 record at 285 pounds, including seven wins against ranked competitors. Junior Josh Kenny, last year's national champion at 174 pounds, is ranked fifth with a record of 13-4 this season. Redshirt freshman Brayden Mirjavadi is also ranked fifth nationally at 184 pounds with a record of 17-10. Sophomore Jak Keller ranks tenth at 133 pounds with an identical record of 17-10, while junior Wyatt Miller stands fourteenth at 197 pounds after facing four ranked opponents during the National Duals.

The Lakers' next competition will be on January 30 when they host Davenport University for a dual meet starting at 7 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.