2024 Fall Semester Underway: Rolling with Momentum
2024 Fall Semester Underway: Rolling with Momentum
Published on November 28th, 2024 by Associate Head Men's Wrestling Coach, Pankil Chander
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(Six decades of alumni from the 1960's to 2024 return to campus for fellowship)
It's been a busy and productive fall semester and start to the collegiate wrestling season here at Wilkes University, and we have plenty to be grateful for!
Between witnessing our team grow closer and tougher together by progressing on and off the mat each week, the legacy of Wilkes Wrestling remaining relevant with our accomplished alumni, and the excitement that many great commitments are bringing for our incoming class for our men's program AND inaugural women's program can only leave one conclusion...It's a GREAT time to be a part of the Colonel Wrestling Family!
We are immensely grateful for all of the wonderful people in our community that are involved in the progression of the Wilkes Wrestling program. Enjoy taking a look at several of the meaningful developments that have unfolded here in the last few months!
Wilkes Wrestling Hosts Impactful Alumni Reunion: Six Decades of Colonels Return to Campus
On October 26th, we had an incredible turnout of Colonel Wrestling alumni across six decades return to their old stomping grounds here at Wilkes University to gather for fellowship for our Alumni Reunion and Intrasquad Dual!
A tradition that began over 30 years ago by legendary Coach John Reese, Wilkes Wrestling has hosted alumni reunions every few years to bring alumni of every era together to celebrate and honor history as we continue to uphold our storied tradition. Wrestling alone does not change lives, the people and relationships within it do, and the people within Wilkes Wrestling are special!
Coach Reese, Alan Zellner and Jon Laudenslager have made a transformational impact on many which keep our incredible alumni engaged with our program. Carrying the lessons they have learned on River Street, these Colonels are now experiencing tremendous success as engineers, business owners, lawyers, educators, accountants, medical professionals, journalists, military officers, and much more.
Relationships that start in the Colonel Wrestling program last forever!
(Wilkes Wrestling following a fourth place team finish at the 2024 Ned McGinley Invitational)
Colonels Garner Attention in Team and Individual National Rankings
In the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Poll on Friday, November 22nd, 2024, the Wilkes University Colonels land at No. 19 in the Tournament Team category.
The Colonels are getting attention from three different national publications. The NWCA tabbed the Colonels in the National Top 20 at No. 19, while The Open Mat placed Wilkes in the National Top 25 at No. 22 in the dual team rankings. Additionally, a few of our wrestlers earned a spot in the d3wrestle.com national rankings.
Butka, Burkhart, and Hartranft lead the way individually for the Colonels by capturing a nod in each of the three national platforms.
National Wrestling Coaches Association Poll
Tournament Team: No. 19
Jaryn Hartranft, No. 11 at 157lbs
Cam Butka, No. 2 at 197lbs
Caleb Burkhart, No. 8 at 285lbs
The Open Mat National Rankings
Dual Team: No. 22
Jaryn Hartranft, No. 18 at 157lbs
Cam Butka, No. 6 at 197lbs
Caleb Burkhart, No. 10 at 285lbs
D3wrestle.com National Rankings
Jaryn Hartranft, Contender at 157lbs
Cam Butka, No. 3 at 197lbs
Caleb Burkhart, Honorable Mention at 285lbs
Returning NCAA All-American, Senior Cam Butka earns 100th Win
Senior Cam Butka reaches the 100 Win Milestone after winning the Championship at the 2024 Ned McGinley Invitational on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024
On the recruiting trail for future Colonels - Men AND Women!
It's been many hours spent on the road and hosting top notch prospective student-athletes on campus for our storied men's program and our inaugural women's wrestling program set to take the mats in the fall of 2025!
Our staff attended many national events this preseason and continue to enjoy the many positive interactions and excitement on the road about the tremendous value of the Wilkes University education and the transformational opportunity that exists within our wrestling program. Some of these events attended include: Waterway Duals, Ultimate Club Duals, Columbus Day Duals, Tyrant Nationals, Journeymen Fall Classic, Journeymen Wrestling Combine, and more.
With less than four months in to the announcement of our new structure within our coaching staff and addition of women's wrestling as our 24th NCAA varsity sport at Wilkes University Athletics (click here to read it in case you missed it), we are proud to already have several impactful commitments from recruits for both the men's and women's programs. It'll be fun to continue adding to this already strong incoming class and looking forward to how it shapes out by the spring!
Check out pics from a few clinics from the late summer and early fall:
(Wilkes Wrestling hosts the second of two Fall Prospect Days in October for a great turnout for men's and women's prospects)
(Coach Laudenslager and Coach Chander run a clinic at Iron Horse Wrestling Club in Newton, New Jersey)
(Coach Laudenslager and Coach Chander run a clinic at Buffalo Valley Wrestling Club in Muncy, Pennsylvania)
(Coach Laudenslager and Coach Chander run an all girls wrestling clinic at Cordoba Trained Wrestling in Fairfield, New Jersey)
Click below for more developments on Wilkes University Wrestling:
Butka, Burkhart, and Hartranft win individual titles at Colonels earn team runner-up finish
Colonels Win over Elizabethtown
Thankful for our wrestlers putting in the disciplined efforts to excel on and off the mat, and for the incredible family, alumni, and campus community we have surrounding us here at Wilkes Wrestling. It's a great time to be a Colonel!
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