Jake Kadel, who has led the Iowa Wesleyan Men’s and
Women’s Wrestling Teams for the majority of the 2021-2022 season, has officially been named
the new Head Coach of both programs.
Kadel, a New London, Iowa native, led the Iowa Wesleyan Women’s Wrestling Team to a 13th
place finish at the NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Invitational, which took place in
Jamestown, North Dakota, on March 11-12, 2022. Adaugo Nwachukwu became Iowa
Wesleyan’s first NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Champion when she defeated her opponent
13-3 in the 136-pound championship match. Mia Palumbo also saw success by securing the
National Runner-Up spot in the 109-pound weight class. Both Palumbo and Nwachukwu now
garner the title of NAIA All-American.
“I am excited to get the opportunity to lead this program going forward,” said coach Kadel. “I
cannot say enough about the current student-athletes of this program. They are committed to the
success of this program and extremely passionate about Iowa Wesleyan University. I would like
to thank President Plunkett, Derek Zander, and the administration for supporting me through this
transition. I look forward to developing young men and women who will be successful on the
mat and in the classroom.”
Kadel was the assistant coach for Iowa Wesleyan’s Wrestling programs for the inaugural season
of the women’s program and the return season of men’s wrestling since the 1970s. Five Tigers
qualified for the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships during this season.
Alaina Sunlin and Daisy Scholz walked away with fifth and sixth-place finishes, respectively,
along with the title of All-Americans.
Before Iowa Wesleyan, Kadel spent one year as the Assistant Wrestling Coach at St. John’s
Jesuit High School and Academy in Toledo, Ohio. Prior to that, he was a wrestling instructor for
the Hard Drive Performance Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While Coach Kadel was a member of
the University of Iowa Men’s Wrestling Team, he served as a camp counselor at the University
of Iowa Sports Camps in Iowa City, Iowa.