#WomensWednesday: What women are head coaches for college women’s wrestling programs?
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
On left: Shauna Isbell-Kemp with her Beach World Games bronze medal. Photo by Theo Lowenstein, UWW
On right: Shawn Isbell-Kemp poses with her Jamestown University women’s wrestling team, after the Jimmie’s finished third at the 2019 NAIA National Invitational. Photo courtesy of Jamestown University Athletics.
A pair of college women’s wrestling head coaches were in the news this week, Shauna Isbell-Kemp of Jamestown University and Ashley Sword of Life University competed for the United States at the first-ever World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar.
Isbell-Kemp won a bronze medal at 60 kg, the only U.S. wrestler to claim a medal at this historic event. Sword placed eighth at 70 kg at competition. Both qualified for the World Beach Games by winning their weight classes at the U.S. Women’s Beach World Games Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in April.
This begs this question. Besides Isbell-Kemp and Sword, what other women are currently serving as head coaches of college women’s wrestling varsity programs across the United States?
We did a quick review of the websites of the current varsity women’s wrestling teams, including those which have started their program and named a coach but have not started competition. We have identified 11 women who are leading women’s college teams.
This group includes a number of past members of the U.S. Women’s Senior National Team as athletes. Also included in the group is an Olympian and World champion, as well as a Junior World champion.
Here is the list of women serving as head coaches for women’s college wrestling teams:
Dany DeAnda - Presbyterian College, NCAA Div. I
Christen Dierken – Gannon University, NCAA Div. II
Kate Fox - Lackawanna College, NJCAA
Brittney Gadd - Brewton Parker College, NAIA
Brandy Green – Limestone College, NCAA Div. II
Shauna Isbell-Kemp - University of Jamestown, NAIA
Breonnah Neal – Ferrum College, NCAA Div. III
Elena Pirozhkova - New Jersey City University, NCAA Div. III
Carlene Sluberski - University of Providence, NAIA
Ashley Sword - Life University, NAIA
Nicole Tyson - Oklahoma City University, NAIA
Notes:
* Elena Pirozkhova of New Jersey City is one of the most decorated women wrestlers of all-time, a 2012 World champion who won four career World medals and competed on two U.S. Olympic Teams.
* Nicole Tyson of Oklahoma City, competing under her maiden name Nicole Woody, won a 2006 Junior World title.
* Dany DeAnda of Presbyterian College won two Junior World medals, competing under her maiden name Dany Hedin.
* Others who competed on Junior World Teams were Christen Dierken of Gannon, Brandy Green of Limestone and Carlene Sluberski of the University of Providence. Dierken was competing under her maiden name Paysse, while Green wrestled under her maiden name Rosenbrock.
* Green was the second winner of the ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, back in 2002 out of Michigan.
* Past WCWA college national champions who are currently head coaches include Tyson, Shauna Isbell-Kemp of Jamestown and Breonnah Neal of Ferrum,.
On right: Shawn Isbell-Kemp poses with her Jamestown University women’s wrestling team, after the Jimmie’s finished third at the 2019 NAIA National Invitational. Photo courtesy of Jamestown University Athletics.
A pair of college women’s wrestling head coaches were in the news this week, Shauna Isbell-Kemp of Jamestown University and Ashley Sword of Life University competed for the United States at the first-ever World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar.
Isbell-Kemp won a bronze medal at 60 kg, the only U.S. wrestler to claim a medal at this historic event. Sword placed eighth at 70 kg at competition. Both qualified for the World Beach Games by winning their weight classes at the U.S. Women’s Beach World Games Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in April.
This begs this question. Besides Isbell-Kemp and Sword, what other women are currently serving as head coaches of college women’s wrestling varsity programs across the United States?
We did a quick review of the websites of the current varsity women’s wrestling teams, including those which have started their program and named a coach but have not started competition. We have identified 11 women who are leading women’s college teams.
This group includes a number of past members of the U.S. Women’s Senior National Team as athletes. Also included in the group is an Olympian and World champion, as well as a Junior World champion.
Here is the list of women serving as head coaches for women’s college wrestling teams:
Dany DeAnda - Presbyterian College, NCAA Div. I
Christen Dierken – Gannon University, NCAA Div. II
Kate Fox - Lackawanna College, NJCAA
Brittney Gadd - Brewton Parker College, NAIA
Brandy Green – Limestone College, NCAA Div. II
Shauna Isbell-Kemp - University of Jamestown, NAIA
Breonnah Neal – Ferrum College, NCAA Div. III
Elena Pirozhkova - New Jersey City University, NCAA Div. III
Carlene Sluberski - University of Providence, NAIA
Ashley Sword - Life University, NAIA
Nicole Tyson - Oklahoma City University, NAIA
Notes:
* Elena Pirozkhova of New Jersey City is one of the most decorated women wrestlers of all-time, a 2012 World champion who won four career World medals and competed on two U.S. Olympic Teams.
* Nicole Tyson of Oklahoma City, competing under her maiden name Nicole Woody, won a 2006 Junior World title.
* Dany DeAnda of Presbyterian College won two Junior World medals, competing under her maiden name Dany Hedin.
* Others who competed on Junior World Teams were Christen Dierken of Gannon, Brandy Green of Limestone and Carlene Sluberski of the University of Providence. Dierken was competing under her maiden name Paysse, while Green wrestled under her maiden name Rosenbrock.
* Green was the second winner of the ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, back in 2002 out of Michigan.
* Past WCWA college national champions who are currently head coaches include Tyson, Shauna Isbell-Kemp of Jamestown and Breonnah Neal of Ferrum,.
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