Posted: Jul 10, 2023

Women’s wrestling announces incoming class for year two

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Looking to continue the rapid rise of the program, Simpson College head women's wrestling coach Jeff McGinness officially announced the incoming members of the 2023-24 team.

In addition to several returners, including standout freshman and national qualifier Jenna Joseph, the team added 30 newcomers from 14 different states to compete on the 2023-24 roster. Amongst the signees are eight women who have been nationally ranked by USA Wrestling in the last year, 25 state placewinners, 18 total state championships, and one world team member. The class also includes three Tricia Saunders Award winners, an award that recognizes and celebrates the nation's most outstanding high school senior female wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.

"We've brought in a group of high achieving student-athletes who really fit the profile of what this program will be built around," McGinness said. "These young women all have incredibly high standards for their academic pursuits, their lifestyle choices, and they've all shown an intense dedication to the sport of wrestling."

Emme Hicks - 101
Ypsilanti, Mich. | Saline High School

USA National Girls High School Rankings #20 (February 2023)
Michigan Tricia Saunders Award Winner
3x State Champion
2x All American
4x All-State
2023 Michigan Outstanding Female Wrestler
2021 World Team Trials (5th)
2022 World Team Trials (5th)

Emma Wissman - 101
Sallisaw, Okla. | Sallisaw High School

2x State Folkstyle Placewinner (3rd, 4th)
2x State Freestyle Placewinner (1st, 2nd)

Sarah Zimmerman - 109
Hays, Kan. | Hays High School

USA National Girls High School Rankings #126 (July 2023)
4x State Folkstyle Placewinner (6th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st)
2x State Freestyle Champion
2023 Kansas 5/6A Female Wrestler of the Year

Gracie Waage - 109
Minburn, Iowa | Dallas Center Grimes High School

2022-23 Record: 30-5
2022 State Qualifier

DD Toyomura - 109
Petersburg, Ark. | Petersburg High School

2023 State Championships (3rd)
2022 State Championships (5th)

Ella McNamee - 109
Mount Pleasant, Iowa | Mount Pleasant High School

2023 State Qualifier
2022 State Qualifier

Devyn Moore - 109/117
Dyer, Ind. | Lowell High School

2023 113 IHSGW (3rd)
2020 106 IHSGW (2nd)

Lanie Burkhart - 109/117
Goddard, Kan. | Eisenhower High School

3x State Placewinner (4th, 4th, 3rd)
Marine Corps Distinguished Female Athlete Award Winner

Sophia Miller - 109/117
Saint Charles, Mo. | Francis Howell Central High School

2x State Placewinner (5th, 5th)
USA Wrestling All-American

Jalynn Goodale - 117
Osage, Iowa | Osage Community High School

USA National Girls High School Rankings #16 (January 2023)
4x State Folkstyle Placewinner (7th, 5nd, 2nd, 4th)
3x State Freestyle Placewinner (2nd, 1st, 2nd)
USA All-American

Ashley Cannon - 117/123
Saratoga Springs, Utah | Westlake High School

USA National Girls High School Rankings #25 (February 2023)
Utah Tricia Saunders Award Winner
2x State Champion
2x State Freestyle Champion
6A Outstanding Wrestler

Kaitlnn Schuler - 117/123
Pocahontas, Iowa | Pocahontas Area Community School

2022 State Placewinner

Hailey Kagle - 123
Orland, Calif. | Orland High School

2023 CIF Masters Champion
2023 State Placewinner
2022 Northern Section Champion
2022 State Qualifier

Lily McMahon - 123/130
Kalispell, Mont. | Flathead High School

2x State Placewinner (3rd, 3rd)
2022 State Freestyle Champion
2023 State Freestyle Runner-up
2022 Western Regionals Freestyle (3rd)
2022 Western Regionals Greco Roman Champion

Brooklyn Garza - 123/130
Mission, Texas | Juarez-Lincoln High School

2023 State Folkstyle (4th)
2023 Record: 40-2

Vanessa Elexpuru - 123/130
Grantsville, Utah | Grantsville High

2x State Folkstyle Placewinner (2nd, 3rd)
Western States Preseason Championships (4th)
Academic All-State

Ally Baker - 123/130
Huxley, Iowa | Ballard High School

2023 State Qualifier
2023 Iowa State Freestyle (3rd)

Vada Burton - 130
Excelsior Springs, Mo. | Excelsior Springs High School

2023 State Championships (6th)
2022 State Qualifier
2022 USA State Freestyle (3rd)
2021 State Qualifier

Josephine Wearmoth - 130
Saint Charles, Iowa | Chadron State College (T)

2x State Folkstyle Placewinner
2022 State Freestyle Champion
2022 USA Beach World Team Member
2022 UWW Beach Wrestling World Championships (9th)
2023 USA Beach World Team Member
USA Wrestling All-American

Paige Trainor - 130
Waverly, Iowa | University of Northern Iowa (T)

2022 State Qualifier
2021 State Qualifier

Adelle Patterson - 130/136
Richmond, Texas | Foster High School

2023 UIL Texas Districts (4th)
2023 Texas USA State Championships (3rd)

Mika Anderson - 136/144
Garden City, Utah | Rich High School

2023 Utah 1A/2A/3A State Runner-up
2022 Utah 1A/2A/3A State (4th)
2021 Utah 1A/2A/4A State (3rd)

April Archibuque - 136/144
Farmington, N.M. | Farmington High School

2023 State Runner-up
2022-23 All-Academic 5A

Moorea Brown - 144
Center Point, Iowa | Center Point-Urbana High School

USA National Girls High School Rankings #17 (January 2023)
4x State Placewinner (7th, 4th, 3rd, 4th)
2023 State Freestyle Runner-up
4x Iowa High School Academic All-State

Noa Arnold – 144
West Sacramento, Calif. | River City High School

2023 CIF Masters Champion

Kiara Dixon - 144
Meridian, Ind. | Meridian High School

3x State Placewinner

Keeley Kehrli - 155
Winthrop, Iowa | East Buchanan Community High School

USA National Girls High School Rankings #21 (February 2023)
4x State Folkstyle Placewinner (5th, 2nd, 6th, 3rd)
Career Record: 116-23
IWCOA Girls Academic All-State 1st Team
National Wrestling Coaches Association / US Marine Corp Character and Leadership All-American Award

Breanna Wier - 155
Osseo, Wis. | Osseo Fairchild High School