Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's wrestling team has been ranked sixth in the latest Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association (NCWCA) poll. This ranking comes as GVSU concludes its regular season, marking just the second year since the program's return after a 32-year hiatus. The team ended with a 10-6 dual meet record and secured eighth place at the Midwest Classic and sixth at the NCWCA National Duals.

Five individuals from GVSU have earned national rankings, with four athletes placing in the top five of their respective weight classes. Junior Chris Donathan remains undefeated this season with an 8-0 record and holds the number one spot nationally at 149 pounds. He previously advanced to the NCAA Championships as a sophomore in 2024, finishing with a 1-2 record.

Josh Kenny, ranked third at 174 pounds, boasts a 15-4 record this season. Kenny is also the defending National Champion, having achieved a 32-5 record on his way to securing that title. Another notable athlete is junior Carter Blough, who transferred from Michigan State and ranks third at 285 pounds with a current record of 22-4.

Redshirt freshman Brayden Mirjavadi has achieved an 18-10 record and ranks fifth at 184 pounds. Meanwhile, sophomore Jak Keller holds a ranking of twelfth at 133 pounds with a season record of 21-11.

The Lakers are set to compete next at the NCAA DII Super Region Three meet on March 1st at Tiffin University’s Heminger Center. The event begins at 9 a.m., where wrestlers placing in the top three will advance to the NCAA DII Wrestling National Championships scheduled for March 14th and 15th in Indianapolis, Indiana.