Grand Valley State women's wrestling has shown that an upstart program can quickly become a national powerhouse. The Lakers started from scratch during the 2024-25 season under former Augsburg coach Jake Short, finishing fourth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.
The team earned five All-American honors during its inaugural season, including three finalists and two champions.
Short’s encore performance was a fourth-place finish at the inaugural 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships, with seven All-Americans, three finalists, and the first NCAA women’s wrestling champion ever: Katie Lange at 138.
Grand Valley State is no longer the new kid on the block. This is a proven team garnering deserved national attention.
Short has a rebuild in season three, losing All-Americans Sage Mortimer (3rd-2nd-1st-2nd), Katie Lange (1st-1st-1st), and Rayana Sahagun (7th-2nd) to graduation. The team also lost assistant coach and two-time national champion Marylnne Deede, who is pursuing other interests.
That means the Lakers will rely on a stellar recruiting haul to fill the gaps. Short went to work in the offseason, securing top high school talent.
Two-time national finalist Sabrina Nauss is the foundation of a team seeking a third straight team trophy (top four). Despite finishing second at the 2026 NCAA Championships, Nauss scored the most team points (21) for Grand Valley State. She secured three straight falls in under two minutes before an 11-0 setback against McKendree’s Tristan Kelly in the 207-pound finals.
Grand Valley State will likely need at least 100 points for another top four finish, so Short’s task is to find another 80.
Aspen Blasko is a good start. She has finished fifth at nationals in back-to-back years against the nation's best 124-pounders. The Forest Lake, Minnesota, native is 57-20 over the past two seasons, facing top competition multiple times. That will serve her well in season three.
Short has a long jam at 160, with three returning All-Americans expected to compete for one spot. Maggie Buurma (7th), Elleni Johnson (5th), and Noelle Gaffney (8th) have reached the podium, so it’s anyone’s guess who takes that spot, and it likely won’t get resolved early.
Grand Valley State will rely on transfers and incoming freshmen for the remaining spots.
Katey Valdez transferred from McKendree and can win the 103-pound title. Her huge gas tank and drive to dominate will provide a spark every time she competes. She secured a fall over Sahagun last season, offering a benchmark of her ceiling.
Valdez will compete with incoming freshman Julia Horger for the starting spot. Horger is a Junior National champion who creates offense from an overhook, leading to exciting wins.
Eva Zimmerman, Ana Malovich, and Kiely Tabaldo will battle for the 110-pound spot held by Mortimer for the last two seasons. Malovich was 11-4 last season, reaching the Round of 12 at 117 during the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. Tabaldo was a national qualifier at 117 last season. Zimmerman enters with a stellar high school career, including four Utah state championships.
Libby Roberts (117) was 16-3 last season, but a 110-pounder could move up to challenge her. Incoming freshmen Naima Ghaffar (131) and Alexis Lazar (138) will be challenged by returning 2025 national qualifiers Emily Medford and Claire Agostini.
Jordyn Fouse (145) missed last season with an injury, but was a high school star who made the 2025 U20 World team over two-time All-American Zoey Lints in the best-of-three finals.
Alyssa Favara is a Lock Haven transfer with a big ceiling. She should fill in ably at 180 pounds after earning the five-seed at 207 pounds during the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. Favara lost by injury default in her quarterfinal match, but is an All-American threat.
Grand Valley State is this season’s mystery team. At their best, the Lakers could have a program-high finish at nationals. However, limited college results from the incoming freshmen class make predictions difficult.
It’s impossible to ignore the team’s ability to peak at the right time. Of Grand Valley State’s seven All-Americans last season, they all matched or exceeded their seeds.
McKendree, Iowa, North Central, Presbyterian, Lehigh, King, and Colorado Mesa will have their say on where the Lakers land.
Anchors up or anchors down for Grand Valley State? A talented freshman class and key transfers will answer that season-long question.
Short On The Upcoming Season
“We’re incredibly excited for this season. We’re a young team, but we’re also very talented, and I think our best wrestling is still ahead of us. This group has bought into the work; they’re hungry to improve, and they have a lot of confidence in each other. We know being young means there will be lessons along the way, but we believe this team can do something special. We’re ready to get the season started and see just how good this group can become.”
2026-27 Grand Valley State University Overview
Head coach: Jake Short (third season)
Assistants: Brian Gibbs, JJ Johnson, Rayana Sahagun, Katie Lange
2026 NCAA tournament finish: 4th
2026 NCAA tournament record: 24-12
2026 NCAA tournament points: 110.5
2026 dual record: 12-3
Returning All-Americans: 5 (Aspen Blasko, Maggie Buurma, Noelle Gaffney, Elleni Johnson, Sabrina Nauss)
Returning NCAA qualifiers: 5 (Kiely Tabaldo, Aspen Blasko, Maggie Buurma, Noelle Gaffney, Sabrina Nauss)
Last NCAA champion: Katie Lange (2026)
Highest NCAA tournament finish: 4th (2026)
Highest NCAA tournament finish under Short: 4th (2026)
Most national placers in a season under Short: 7 (2026)
Lineup Options
103: Katey Valdez, Julia Horger
110: Eva Zimmerman, Ana Malovich, Kiely Tabaldo
117: Libby Roberts
124: Aspen Blasko (5th, 5th), Madi Peach
131: Naima Ghaffar, Emily Medford
138: Alexis Lazar, Claire Agostini
145: Jordyn Fouse
160: Maggie Buurma (7th), Elleni Johnson (5th), Noelle Gaffney (8th)
180: Alyssa Favara, Rihana Venegas, Madi Ward
207: Sabrina Nauss (2nd-2nd), Aaliyah Grandberry