Storm picked second in A-R-C Poll, tied for 18th in national rankings

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Simpson College women's wrestling team enters its fourth season of competition with momentum and high expectations, earning the No. 2 spot in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and tying for 18th in the first NWCA Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Simpson returns a talented core from last year's squad that produced nine national qualifiers and a strong showing in the inaugural A-R-C season. Among those returners are Emaline Hicks (103), Ashley Cannon (124), Annelise Obermark (145) and Keeley Kehrli (160), who all achieved top-10 rankings in the NCAA poll released today as well.

The Storm are set to open the season on Nov. 1 at their own Luther Hill Invitational.

2024-25 IN REVIEW

• Simpson qualified a program-record nine wrestlers for the NCWWC Championships, including Gracie Waage (103), Sarah Zimmerman (110), Layla Phillips (110), Ashley Cannon (124), Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (131), Paige Gershmel (138), Annelise Obermark (145), Breanna Wier (160) and Keeley Kehrli (160).
• The Storm tied for 24th at the national meet, placed third at regionals, and earned a runner-up finish at the inaugural American Rivers Conference Championships.
• Simpson finished with an 8-3 dual record and racked up over 460 individual victories, including more than 200 pins and 140 technical falls.
• Zimmerman (110), Obermark (145), and Kehrli (160) were crowned A-R-C Champions, while eight others earned all-conference honors with top-three finishes.

KEY RETURNERS (2024-25 RECORD)

• Keeley Kehrli, Jr., 160 pounds (34-8)
• Paige Gershmel, So, 138 pounds (39-11)
• Annelise Obermark, So., 145 pounds (32-6)
• Ashley Cannon, Jr., 124 pounds (27-7)
• Layla Phillips, So., 117 pounds (26-11)

NWCA PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

• No. 7 Ashley Cannon (124)
• No. 9 Annelise Obermark (145)
• No. 9 Keeley Kehrli (160)
• No. 10 Emaline Hicks (103)

2025-26 ROSTER | 2025-26 SCHEDULE

2025-26 AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE WRESTLING PRESEASON POLL
1. Wartburg (5) - 35 points
2. Simpson (1) - 29 points
3. Dubuque (1) - 27 points
4. Buena Vista - 20 points
5. Central - 16 points
6. Loras - 12 points
7. Luther - 8 points