A first-year Division II program isn’t supposed to contend for a national team title, right?

Don’t tell Grand Valley State coach Jake Short that. He’s built a line-up that will push the top-tier NCAA programs.

Knocking off Iowa will be a tall task from now until eternity, but pieces are in place for the Lakers to add their name to the elite women’s programs.

World-class facilities are in place.

Coaches are in place. 

And, most importantly, high-level wrestlers are in place. 

The Big Four — Iowa, King, North Central, and McKendree — could become the Big Five this season. Grand Valley State will make noise with proven transfers and top high school stars. 

Right Place. Right Time.

Accepting the position was serendipitous for Short. He resigned as Augsburg’s head women’s coach when his family moved to Michigan so his wife could be closer to family. 

She picked Allendale, Michigan, since it was dead center between her mom and her sister. It just so happened that a new women’s program was being added to the local university. Short wasn’t interested at first but that changed when he casually visited campus and saw the world-class facilities. 

“It can absolutely be done here,” Short said.

He inquired about the job but it was offered to someone else. That changed when the candidate turned down the position. Two days later, Jake Short was the inaugural head women’s wrestling coach at Grand Valley State University. 

“The facilities are second to none,” Short said. “Obviously, Iowa just got its new wrestling room but if you come to Grand Valley it will take your breath away. The locker room is state of the art and the wrestling room is absolutely huge. I call it a little gold mine. It has everything you need in a wrestling facility.”

A Sage Decision

Grand Valley State created a buzz with Sage Mortimer's commitment. The former King University star finished third and second at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships before entering the transfer portal on September 7, 2023.

Mortimer used her redshirt season to make a run at the 50 kg Olympic spot, finishing first at the US Nationals and third at the Olympic Trials.

“Sage Mortimer lit the fire when she committed early,” Short said. “When people saw that they said, ‘Okay, what’s Grand Valley?’ She was the person to believe in me and believe in the system before I had anything. We didn’t have a team yet and Sage fully committed to who I was as a coach, believed in my ability to develop a high-level athlete, and she jumped on board. 

“That absolutely affected the pace of recruiting. It showed that Grand Valley is the real deal. Then people start coming on campus. They saw the resources. They started to figure out who I am as a coach. It all played a factor but absolutely Sage Mortimer jump-started this program.”

Rowing In The Right Direction

Two national champions from Short's 2023 Augsburg team will play significant roles in the program's future. Katerina Lange will wrestle at 138 for the Lakers while Marlynne Deede was hired as an assistant coach after completing her career as an NCWWC champion for Iowa. 

"I feel nervous about being enough for these women and this program," Deede said. "I am stepping into a role I have never been in before. While I have coached young women before, this is different. I am devoted to helping women reach their goals. I want to do everything I can to be the coach each of these girls needs while pursuing my dreams.

"I feel overwhelming excitement. Grand Valley State has all the resources and support necessary to help this program achieve great goals. I am thrilled to be in a place that supports women's wrestling. We have witnessed the growth of women's wrestling, and I am excited to contribute to the sport's development in a different capacity. This seems to be the right place for me at this time."

Add in All-American transfers Rayana Sahagun (103) and Claire Agostini (160) with top 10 national high school recruits Ana Malovich, Aspen Blasko, Skylar Little Soldier, and Sabrina Nauss and this team is ready to compete. Short will have 22 girls on the team this season, but his ideal number is around 25.

“I think everybody around Grand Valley, and even the state of Michigan, is excited about the first go-round,” Short said. “I think everyone is excited about the team we’ve put together and the recruits. This will, overall, be the most talented room that I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. I’m excited about the transfers we got. We have young, talented athletes who will be able to look up to some leaders. Being able to get the culture in place right away is super important.

“We’re not afraid to develop. We’re not afraid to take bumps and bruises along the way. We are very much ready to compete at a high level and learn from it whether we win or lose.”

2024-25 GVSU Prospective Line-up

Grand Valley State Resurects Wrestling Program

Grand Valley State alumnus John Harris led an effort to start a men's and women's wrestling program at his alma mater. Hear how the two-time NAIA national finalist (1976-77) made it happen.