Nick Drendel has been named the graduate assistant coach with the Lakeland University men's wrestling program, head coach Ben Rosen has announced.

Drendel is a recent college graduate who comes to Lakeland after having twice been an All-American at the collegiate level. He earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division III level as a freshman at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) in 2014, and later was an NAIA All-American at Williams Baptist (Ark.) University in 2018 as the Eagles finished as NAIA runners up.

Drendel completed his degree in history at Williams Baptist in May. A native of North Aurora, Ill., he also was a successful high school and USA Wrestling Greco-Roman grappler and has more than 20 years of experience in the sport.

Drendel was an Illinois Class 3A state finalist as a junior and as a senior finished third at state with a 43-1 record. He also was a member of a pair of Illinois dual team national championships in 2009 and 2011. Drendel was a Cadet Greco Fargo All-American in 2009 and was captain of the Illinois Junior Greco dual team in 2011 when he also was an All-American.

Drendel also has coaching experience, having served as an assistant coach at Batavia High School in Batavia, Ill., in 2013.

"Lakeland men's wrestling is incredibly lucky to have Nick on staff," said Rosen. "His natural talents, passion for coaching, and connections within the wrestling world are incredible. Nick is going to help jumpstart the new Muskie wrestling tradition."