A first-year Division II program shouldn’t be competing for a national title, right?
Don’t tell that to Grand Valley State coach Jake Short. He has assembled a team that will advance the top programs in the NCAA.
Beating Iowa will always be a difficult task, but the stage is set for the Vikings to add their name to the elite women’s programs.
World-class facilities are available.
Trainers are on site.
And, most importantly, there are wrestlers of the highest level on site.
The Big Four – Iowa, King, North Central and McKendree – could become the Big Five this season. Grand Valley State will make a splash with proven transfers and top high school stars.
Right place. Right time.
Short’s acceptance of the position was a fortunate coincidence. He resigned from his position as head coach of the Augsburg women’s team when his family moved to Michigan so his wife could be closer to family.
She chose Allendale, Michigan, because it was right between her mother and sister. Coincidentally, a new women’s program was being introduced at the local university. Short wasn’t interested at first, but that changed when he casually visited the campus and saw the world-class facilities.
“It’s absolutely possible 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 first head coach of the women’s wrestling team at Grand Valley State University.
“The facilities are second to none,” Short said. “Obviously, Iowa just got its new wrestling room, but when 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 massive. I call it a little gold mine. It has everything you need in a wrestling facility.”
A wise decision
Grand Valley State made a splash with the signing of Sage Mortimer. The former King University star placed 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 bid for an Olympic spot in the 50 kg class, placing first at the US Nationals and third at the Olympic qualifiers.
“Sage Mortimer lit the fire when she committed early,” Short said. “When people saw that, they said, ‘Okay, what is Grand Valley?’ She was the person who believed in me and the system before I had anything. We didn’t have a team yet and Sage was completely confident in me as a coach, believed in my ability to develop an elite athlete, and she jumped on board.
“It definitely impacted the pace of recruiting. It showed that Grand Valley was the real deal. Then people came to campus. They saw the resources. They started to find out who I am as a coach. All of that played a role, but definitely Sage Mortimer got this program going.”
Rowing in the right direction
Two national champions from Short’s 2023 Augsburg team will play significant roles in the future of the program. Katerina Lange will wrestle for the Vikings in the 138 class, while Marlynne Deede has been hired as an assistant coach after completing her career as an NCWWC champion for Iowa.
“I’m nervous about whether I’ll be enough for these women and this program,” Deede said. “I’m stepping into a role I’ve never had before. While I’ve coached young women before, this is different. I’m committed to helping women achieve their goals. I want to do everything I can to be the coach each of these girls needs while I pursue my dreams.”
“I am overwhelmed with excitement. Grand Valley State has all the resources and support needed to help this program achieve big 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 look forward to contributing to the development of the sport in a different capacity. This seems to be the right place for me right now.”
Add to that All-American transfers Rayana Sahagun (103) and Claire Agostini (160) and top-10 high school recruits Ana Malovich, Aspen Blasko 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 everyone in Grand Valley and even the state of Michigan is excited about the first round,” Short said. “I think everyone is excited about the team we’ve put together and the new additions. Overall, this is going to be the most talented room I’ve ever had the pleasure of working in. I’m excited about the transfers we’ve got. We have young, talented athletes that can look up to some leaders. It’s super important that we can establish the culture right away.”
“We’re not afraid to evolve. We’re not afraid to take bumps and bruises along the way. We’re absolutely ready to compete at a high level and learn from it, win or lose.”
Expected composition of the GVSU 2024-25
Grand Valley State revives wrestling program
Grand Valley State University graduate John Harris helped found a men’s and women’s wrestling program at his alma mater. Learn how the two-time NAIA finalist (1976-77) did it.
