Dominic Bell
Nov 8, 2024
Wilkes Wrestling is gearing up for a big season this year, lets look at the projections for the 2024-2025 season
Wilkes Wrestling Opens Season with High Expectations
The Wilkes University wrestling team is set to kick off its 2024-25 campaign at the Ned McGinley Invitational on Saturday, November 2, hosted by King’s College. With a deep roster of talent and strong returning leadership, the Colonels enter the season ranked 20th in the NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll and look to build on last year’s success.
Building on Last Year’s Momentum
Head coach Jon Laudenslager ’99 enters his 22nd season leading Wilkes, coming off a 2023-24 season where the Colonels finished 8-7 in duals and placed 8th at the Southeast Regional. The program saw three NCAA qualifiers last season:
Jaryn Hartranft (157 lbs) – 30-11 record, Southeast Regional runner-up, ranked No. 11 nationally
Caleb Burkhart (285 lbs) – 32-11 record, 22 wins by pin, NCAA qualifier
Cameron Butka (197 lbs) – All-American (4th place at NCAAs), Southeast Regional champion, 39-4 record, ranked No. 2 nationally
The goal this season? More NCAA qualifiers and higher podium finishes at nationals.
“We want to keep building,” said Laudenslager. “We want to get Butka higher on the podium, we want to get Burkhart and Hartranft on the podium, and we want to get more guys to the national tournament.”
Roster Depth and Incoming Talent
Wilkes enters the season with 40 wrestlers, including a mix of veteran leaders and promising newcomers. The team features six seniors, five juniors, 13 sophomores, and 16 first-years, with 33 set to compete at the Ned McGinley Invitational.
Weight-class highlights include:
125: Senior Caden Kucek (15-14 last year) leads a competitive group, including sophomore Conner Kerwin (20-16).
141: Michael Richardson (19-15) moves up a weight after placing in multiple tournaments last season.
149: Ryan Santiago (16-7) and Colton Thorpe (19-15) add firepower to a young but talented weight class.
157: Hartranft leads the charge, but first-years will battle for lineup spots.
174: Chris Nuss (18-5, Southeast Regional 6th) and Lucas Miller (21-18) head a deep group.
197: Butka is the anchor of the lineup as a returning All-American and the No. 2-ranked 197-pounder in the country.
285: Burkhart looks to return to nationals, with junior Trevor Gitski adding depth.
“We got some great young guys… a lot of guys trying to make that one big step and advance to the national tournament,” Laudenslager added.
Challenging Schedule Ahead
Wilkes’ schedule features a mix of six standalone duals, five dual match tournaments, and five invitational tournaments, leading up to the NCAA Southeast Regional on February 28-March 1, 2025.
The season opens this Saturday at the Ned McGinley Invitational, where 33 Colonels will hit the mats looking to set the tone for a big year.