Women’s wrestling staff earns Coach of the Year ESPY

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The trio behind one of Simpson's fastest-rising programs has been named the 2024-25 SC ESPY Coaching Staff of the Year.

Head coach Jeff McGinness, associate head coach Emma Cochran, and assistant coach Jason Padilla led the women's wrestling program to unprecedented heights in 2024-25, guiding the Storm to team success and individual milestones on the regional and national stage.

Under their leadership, Simpson qualified a program-record nine wrestlers for the NCWWC Championships and tied for 24th nationally. The Storm also placed third at regionals and earned a runner-up finish at the inaugural American Rivers Conference Championships.

The team finished with an 8-3 dual record, crowned three individual A-R-C champions, and had 11 wrestlers earn all-conference honors. In just their third year of competition, the Storm racked up over 460 individual victories, including more than 200 pins and 140 technical falls.

Academically, McGinness' 2024-25 squad finished seventh nationally on the NWCA Scholar All-America team list. Ten student-athletes earned NWCA Individual Scholar All-America recognition, and eight were named to the A-R-C All-Academic Team.

2024-25 SC ESPYS
J Jensen III - Male Record-Breaking Performer of the Year
Haley Rasmussen - Female Record-Breaking Performer of the Year
Noah Cracraft - Male Newcomer of the Year
Paige Gershmel - Female Newcomer of the Year
Women's Wrestling - Coaching Staff of the Year