The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its first Division II team and individual rankings for 2025 and Grand Valley State moved up six spots to number six in the team rankings, while six Lakers are now ranked individually. GVSU finished sixth at the NWCA National Dual Championships with a 3-2 record and was the only unseeded team to reach the podium. GVSU is in its second year as a varsity sport after a 32-year hiatus. 

"We continue to reach milestones that we have set within our program, but we are nowhere near reaching the bar that we have set," said second-year head coach Joey Simcoe. "We have a room of hard working wrestlers, but as we enter the final third of our season we need to become even intentional in our everyday habits of being a great wrestler," added Simcoe. 

Junior Chris Donathan (6-0) moved into the top spot nationally at 149 after a 4-0 performance at the NWCA National Dual Championships. Donathan is 4-0 this season versus ranked wrestlers. Junior Carter Blough, number three nationally, is 19-3 at 285, including a 7-1 mark against ranked opponents. Junior Josh Kenny, the defending 174-pound National Champion, is 13-4 on the year and ranked number five, while redshirt freshman Brayden Mirjavadi has moved up to number five nationally, sporting a 17-10 record at 184. Sophomore Jak Keller is number 10 at 133 with a 17-10 record and junior Wyatt Miller is ranked number 14 at 197 after a 2-2 mark at the National Duals where he faced four ranked opponents. 

The Lakers will next be in action on January 30 when they host West Michigan rival Davenport in a dual meet scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.