WPU Moves Up to #2 in Heart Rankings

Oskaloosa--The Statesmen women's wrestling team continues its rise as the NAIA released its fourth set of polls this week.

William Penn remains #5 in the NAIA, increasing its point total to 139, just seven points behind third place.  Life (Ga.) is first with 224 points, while Grand View (207), Cumberlands (Ky.) (146), and Providence (Mont.) (144) round out the top five.

A total of 11 WPU wrestlers are in the national polls.  The duo of 117-pounder Zao Estrada (Fr., Bluffton, S.C., Sociology) and 124-pounder Joanna Vanderwood (Sr., Graham, Wash., Nursing) lead the navy and gold as both are ranked third. 

Devin Patton (Jr., Plano, Texas, Business Management) and Kendall Bostelman (Jr., Napoleon, Ohio, Exercise Science) are right behind them in fourth place at 131 pounds and 138 pounds, respectively.

Mid-season transfer America Lopez enters the ratings in sixth at 180 pounds.  She was an All-American two years ago at Iowa Wesleyan.

Isabelle Hawley (Jr., Winchester, Calif., Sociology) is also in the top 10 at 138 pounds, sitting in 10th place.

Lily Zapata (Fr., Lewisville, Texas, Sociology) leads the remaining crew in 13th at 103, while 145-pounder Naida Abdijanovic (Jr., St. Louis, Mo., Biology) and 180-pounder Grace Gray (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa, New Media) are both 14th.  Alexa Wolf (Fr., Rogers, Ark., Business Management) is ranked 15th at 160 pounds, while Grecia Martinez (So., Horizon City, Texas, Industrial Engineering) wraps up the list of nationally-ranked Statesmen in 17th at 131.

William Penn has improved its team ranking in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, moving up to second with 178 points.  Grand View continues to lead the league with 222 points.

Bostelman remains first at her weight, while the trio of Estrada, Vanderwood, and Patton are all second.  Hawley, Wolf, and Lopez claim the bronze positions as well.

Zapata and Abdijanovic are now fourth in the Heart with Gray in fifth.  Martinez is sixth, and Catherine Steinkamp (Sr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) is seventh at 124 pounds.

To view the complete polls, click HERE