Women’s wrestling lands 10 on Scholar All-American list
MANHEIM, Pa. – Ten members of the Simpson College women's wrestling team were honored as recipients of the 2025 NCAA Women's Scholar All-American Awards on Thursday.
This distinguished award celebrates student-athletes who exemplify excellence both on the mat and in the classroom. To qualify, a wrestler must have placed in the top eight at nationals while maintaining at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, competed in a minimum of 15 matches with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, or qualified for nationals with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.
Lainie Burkhart, Ashley Cannon, Keeley Kehrli, and Lily McMahon are all earning the award for the second consecutive year, while Kendra Bliss, Dionni Garcia-Vasquez, Paige Gershmel, Ella McNamee, Savannah Sistad, and Breanna Wier are all-first time honorees.
Kendra Bliss
Freshman from Washington, Mo.
Major: Marketing communications and business management
Season stats: 11-5, 5 technical falls, 1 pin
Lainie Burkhart
Sophomore from Goddard, Kan.
Major: Marketing communication
Season stats: 17-12, 8 technical falls, 4 pins
Ashley Cannon
Sophomore from Saratoga Springs, Utah
Major: Biochemistry
Season stats: 27-7, national qualifier, 12 technical falls, 7 pins
Dionni Garcia-Vasquez
Freshman from West Liberty, Iowa
Major: Physics and engineering
Season stats: 20-14, national qualifier, 10 technical falls, 4 pins
Paige Gershmel
Freshman from Billings, Mont.
Major: Health & exercise science
Season stats: 39-11, national qualifier, 17 pins, 14 technical falls
Keeley Kehrli
Sophomore from Quasqueton, Iowa
Major: Business management and marketing communications
Season stats: 32-6, national qualifier, 18 pins, 9 technical falls
Lily McMahon
Sophomore from Kalispell, Mont.
Major: Health & exercise science
Season stats: 10-6, 7 pins, 2 technical falls
Ella McNamee
Sophomore from Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Major: English and secondary education
Season stats: 15-13, 4 pins, 4 technical falls
Savannah Sistad
Freshman from Creston, Iowa
Major: Pre-physical therapy
Season stats: 13-13, 10 pins, 1 technical fall
Breanna Wier
Sophomore from Osseo, Wis.
Major: Health & exercise science and psychology
Season stats: 25-11, national qualifier, 18 pins, 3 technical falls
