Graceland Wrestling Rolls Past Waldorf in Impressive Season Debut

Forest City, Iowa — Graceland University's men's wrestling team took control on the road Tuesday night, defeating Waldorf University with a commanding 41-9 victory at Hanson Fieldhouse on Denny Jerome Court. The Yellowjackets showcased their depth and strength, capturing wins in eight of the ten weight classes to secure the victory.

The meet opened with a six-point gain for Waldorf at 125 pounds, where Zachary Southern received a forfeit. Graceland quickly evened the score, however, at 133 pounds, as Riley Harger dominated Waldorf's Ikuhaiakalani Akina, pinning him at 1:11 to bring the score to 6-6.

Strong Midweight Performances Propel Yellowjackets' Lead

With the meet tied, Graceland took the lead at 141 pounds, where Caden Lopez delivered a decisive 12-6 decision over Shiwoko Shiwoko, pushing the score to 9-6. Lopez's controlled tactics on the mat kept Shiwoko from gaining any significant advantage.

The Yellowjackets extended their advantage in the 149-pound class, with Ryan Anderson earning a major decision, 10-2, over Noah Avila. Anderson's performance showcased effective offensive maneuvers and defensive holds, giving Graceland a 13-6 lead.

Graceland's Determined Finish

Waldorf closed the gap slightly at 157 pounds with Dalton Thorson edging Colin Sharp in a 7-6 decision. However, Graceland's Juan Lopez answered at 165 pounds with a 15-6 technical fall over Jackson Prescott, bringing the Yellowjackets to an 18-9 lead.

The turning point came at 174 pounds, where Jett Nelson pinned Nehemiah Pemberton in 3:44, securing six more points for Graceland and extending the lead to 24-9. KJ Frye followed with a dominant performance at 184 pounds, achieving a 19-2 technical fall over Ellis Hughes.

Graceland solidified their win in the final two bouts. John Schuttler accepted a forfeit at 197 pounds, adding six more points, and Kazz Hyson closed the meet in resounding fashion, pinning Connor Booty at heavyweight in just 1:15 to conclude the competition with a 41-9 Yellowjacket victory.

Reflecting on the team's performance, Head Coach Zack Mullins stated, "I'm proud of the way this team responded and competed tonight. Their resilience was on display and will be a significant reason this team continues to grow together and continue improving throughout the rest of this season."

Up Next

The Yellowjackets will head to Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, Nov. 2, to compete in the Friends Open at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan.

For more information on Graceland wrestling and all Yellowjacket athletics, visit GUjackets.com.