2024-2025 Men’s Wrestling Season Preview
2023-2024 Heart finish: 7th of 10 teams
Notable returners:
Cameron Hargrove Sr., Bolingbrook, Ill.
(National qualifier, 30-11 record, 10 falls)
Branson Bottorff, Sr., Mackinaw, Ill.
(Letterwinner, 16-12 record, 2 falls)
Lane Scorpil, Jr., Columbus Junction, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 19-16 record, 4 falls)
Notable losses:
Kael Bunce
(National qualifier)
Makail Stanley
(National qualifier)
Notable newcomers:
Gentry Walston, So., New Sharon, Iowa
Jacob Perry, Fr., Salisbury, N.C.
Skylar Young, So., Eddyville, Iowa
Although leaner in numbers, the Statesmen men's wrestling team is hoping to again be a contender as it enters the 2024-2025 campaign.
Over the summer, Drew Sams took the reins of a program that was seventh at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship a year ago and had two NAIA national qualifiers.
Cameron Hargrove (Sr., Bolingbrook, Ill., Sports Management), who won a pair of matches at last year's nationals, is back and is ranked nationally, while Lane Scorpil (Jr., Columbus Junction, Iowa, Business Management) and Branson Bottorff (Sr., Mackinaw, Ill., Industrial Technology) are ranked in the NAIA as well.
125
Jeffery Myers (Jr., Yelm, Wash., Secondary Education) heads WPU at the sport's smallest weight class after going 6-8 with four falls last season.
Gentry Walston (So., New Sharon, Iowa, Undecided) will add depth after joining the squad midway through the year in 2023-2024 and winning three matches (one pin).
133
Scorpil, who was 19-16 with four falls a year, is seeking to return to nationals after qualifying two seasons ago.
141
Carson Jensen (Jr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Exercise Science) has the inside track at the starting job at 141; he was 4-6 with two falls in 2023-2024.
Freshman Jacob Perry (Salisbury, N.C., Undecided) will vie for the starting nod as well.
149
Returners Hector Diaz (So., Miami, Fla., Human Services) (two wins a year ago) and Trey Miller (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sports Management) are battling for the start at 149 pounds.
157
A pair of returners will also vie to be the top grappler at 157 as Trent Evans (So., Houston, Texas, Mechanical Engineering) and Braden Peglow (Jr., Vail, Ariz., Business Management) have both impressed the coaching staff in preseason workouts. Evans was 5-12 with three falls last year, while Peglow owned a 4-8 record (1 fall) last winter.
165
Hargrove had one of the more successful individual campaigns in recent WPU history, going 30-11 with 10 falls. Of his wins, 22 were bonus point triumphs, including 10 falls.
174
Ryan Van Donselaar (Sr., Otley, Iowa, Exercise Science), with a 7-10 record (1 fall) from 2023-2024, and Kendal Pugh (So., Letts, Iowa, Business Management), with a 9-8 mark (6 falls), are both in the running to earn the spot at 174 pounds.
184
Bottorff, who like Scorpil, qualified for nationals two years ago, will be looking to return after going 16-12 last season with two falls.
197
Jesse Schwery (Jr., Panama, Iowa, History) claimed a pin in six of his seven wins last year and will once again guide WPU at 197 pounds.
285
Nikolas Ortega (Jr., Holland, Mich., Industrial Technology) and newcomer Skylar Young (So., Eddyville, Iowa, Secondary Education) are expected to represent the Statesmen at heavyweight. Young is currently competing for the William Penn football team.
Schedule/Conference
The Statesmen open the season Thursday at home with a Heart dual against St. Ambrose. WPU be in Penn Gymnasium four times this winter.
William Penn also will again host the Heart Championship on February 21-22.
