INDIANAPOLIS – Four of the five programs in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference prepping for the 2021-22 wrestling season have been ranked in the traditional NWCA/Intermat Collegiate Rankings posted on Oct. 15.
 
Defending conference team champion Ashland, an associate member in 2020-21, but now a full league member, leads the way with a top 10 ranking at No. 7.
 
Findlay is on the cusp of top 10 territory ranked 11th while this year’s conference championship duals host, Lake Erie, is tied for 14th with two other schools. Tiffin is also in a crowded position tied for 24th with two other programs.
 
The Great Midwest saw one national champion rise to the top of the podium at the 2021 NCAA Championship in St. Louis, Mo., while eight total All-American honors were earned in their respective weight class brackets.
 
Nine of the 10 weight class brackets have at least one Great Midwest grappler in the individual rankings, which goes 16 deep in Division II by NWCA/Intermat. 125 has the most individuals with three from the conference including No. 6 Christian Wellman (Ashland), No. 13 Corey Gamet (Lake Erie) and No. 16 Zachary Collins (Findlay).
 
After conducting a championship bracket style tournament per weight class last season in Owensboro, Ky., the format switches back to duals this year in Painesville, Ohio, on January 21-22 of the new calendar year.
 
Five wrestlers are ranked for Ashland, led by Great Midwest Coach of the Year Colt Sponseller in his second year leading the program. The Eagles have some heavy hitters in the upper middle weights including No. 3 ranked Daniel Beemer and No. 6 Aidan Pasiuk at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Carson Speelman is also ranked fourth at 149 pounds.
 
Wimer retains his top-ranked billing and rightfully so at 157 pounds after he defeated Lindenwood’s Ronald Gamble in the final with a 7-3 decision. Wimer was undefeated with a 14-0 record to earn Great Midwest Wrestler of the Year honors.
 
Coached by Jeff Breese, the Storm of Lake Erie also have five different wrestlers individually ranked. A tough 197 weight class includes his All-American Chris Droege while Corey Gamet and Zane Johnson both emerged as conference champions at 125 and 133 last season.
 
Findlay has three individuals nationally ranked and Tiffin has two going into the new season. For most teams, the season returns to the familiar open tournament style with more duals starting this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 6.
 
 
125 Pounds
No. 6 Christian Wellman (Ashland)
No. 13 Corey Gamet (Lake Erie)
No. 16 Zachary Collins (Findlay)
 
133 Pounds
No. 13 Zane Johnson (Lake Erie)
 
141 Pounds
No. 6 Branson Proudlock (Findlay)
No. 7 Luke Wymer (Ashland)
 
149 Pounds
No. 4 Carson Speelman (Ashland)
No. 12 Sean O’Hearon (Lake Erie)
 
157 Pounds
No. 1 James Wimer (Findlay)
No. 11 Drew Wiechers (Ashland)
 
165 Pounds
No. 9 James Penfold (Lake Erie)
No. 10 Bryan LaVearn (Tiffin)
 
174 Pounds
No. 3 Daniel Beemer (Ashland)
 
184 Pounds
No. 6 Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland)
 
197 Pounds
No. 6 Chris Droege (Lake Erie)
No. 7 Nick Mason (Tiffin)