Graceland Men’s Wrestling Dominates William Penn in Road Dual, 41–9
OSKALOOSA, Iowa — Graceland University men's wrestling turned in a commanding performance on the road Friday night, defeating William Penn University 41–9 at the Penn Activity Center in Oskaloosa. The Yellowjackets earned six wins by fall and one technical fall, demonstrating their depth and momentum as they continue to build a strong campaign in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).
With the victory, Graceland improved its dual record to 7–1 overall and 5-1 in conference competition, while William Penn dropped to 2–3 overall and 0–2 in the HAAC, pending official verification of conference standings.
The Yellowjackets won seven of the 10 contested matches, opening the dual at 149 pounds and finishing with a dominant stretch from 174 through 141 that included six straight victories—five of which came via pin.
William Penn struck first at 149 pounds as Brody Brisker secured a 10–4 decision over Hoakea Salter, giving the Statesmen an early 3–0 lead. Graceland immediately responded at 157 pounds, where Khalil Hampton-Hollins earned a fall over Trent Evans at 6:30, flipping the team score to 6–3 in the Yellowjackets' favor.
After the Statesmen tied the dual 6–6 with a decision win at 165 pounds by Travis Coleman over Stephen Dickerson, Graceland went on a six-match winning streak that would secure the dual victory well before the final whistle.
At 174 pounds, Jeraimiah Nyberg recorded a fall in 2:38 over Kendal Pugh, putting Graceland back in front, 12–6. Chris Wohrley followed with a pin at 184 pounds over Francisco Espinoza in 4:41, and KJ Fry added another fall at 197, sticking LaDainian Gordon at the 6:24 mark. The run continued at heavyweight, where Oran Varela dominated Skyler Young and won by fall in 1:59, the fastest pin of the night.
Graceland's success in the upper weights effectively put the dual out of reach. At 125 pounds, Christian Trujillo-Quintana added yet another fall, pinning Gentry Walston in 3:39. William Penn would get its final win at 133, as Lane Scorpil edged Davion Wilson in a 10–7 decision. The night concluded at 141 pounds, where Caden Lopez delivered a 17–1 technical fall over Jacob Perry, capping the dual and sealing the 41–9 result.
Graceland scored six bonus-point wins, including five pins, which amounted to 30 team points alone. The performance was a showcase of technical discipline and aggressive mat strategy, key traits Head Coach Evan Hansen has emphasized throughout the season.
"We've been working all week on chain wrestling and converting position into points, especially in scramble situations," said Head Coach Evan Hansen. "Tonight, our guys finished strong when it mattered most. We took the initiative in every period, especially in the top position. We want to be the team that controls the tempo of every match—and tonight, we did that."
Hansen also credited the team's recent emphasis on in-match resilience and leadership.
"What I'm proudest of is how this group responds to adversity. After a tough start at 149, we didn't hang our heads. Khalil flipped the momentum, and from there we saw six straight guys step up and do their jobs."
The Yellowjackets' depth and mat awareness were evident in their ability to close out matches late in periods, particularly during their fall-heavy stretch through the upper and lower weights. Trujillo-Quintana, Wohrley, and Fry all secured falls in the second or third periods, a sign of sustained pressure and conditioning.
The win continues what has been a strong start to the 2025–26 season for Graceland. Through four duals, the team has now registered three wins by more than 25 points and is positioning itself as a rising contender within the NAIA landscape.
The Yellowjackets will face one of their toughest challenges of the season in their next appearance. Graceland will travel to Des Moines for a highly anticipated road dual against No. 1-ranked Grand View University on Thursday, Jan. 29. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. CST and will be held at the Viking Event Center.
Grand View is a perennial national powerhouse, and the matchup will offer Graceland a major test as it looks to measure itself against the NAIA's elite.
For more information on Graceland men's wrestling and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.