The Lakeland University men's wrestling program will benefit from an influx of 15 new student-athletes to their roster in the fall of 2023.

Head coach Mike DeRoehn returned in August 2022 with long range goals of rebuilding Lakeland back into a nationally competitive program, but inherited a depleted roster. His top priority then in what he called "year zero" was recruiting prospective student-athletes in quality and quantity.

The 15 newcomers will nearly triple the roster size from a year ago and contains a large contingent of all-state caliber grapplers from Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois along with some potential wild cards from the single class state of California. Seven of the 15 have earned at least one medal at thei respective state championships with three more who qualified and competed at their state championship.
 

"I'm ecstatic about my first recruiting class since coming back to Lakeland," said DeRoehn. "All 15 of them are people we connected with and felt would be a good fit with the direction we want to move the program. I'm sincerely grateful they chose to be part of the vision we have for the future, to become a nationally competitive program again, that produces well-prepared and successful graduates. This group of young men will be cornerstones in building our own house together."

Here is a brief look at each of the incoming Muskies:

    ? Diego Morales; HWT; Cedar Grove-Belgium HS; WI; 4x State Qualifier, 2x State Medalist

    ? Jesse Burg; 133/141 lbs.; Cedar Grove-Belgium HS; WI; 2x State Qualifier

    ? Evan Haferkorn; 157/165; Iron Mountain HS; MI; 4x State Qualifier; 3x State Medalist/Finalist

    ? Logan Kirk; 165/174; Johnsburg HS; IL; State Medalist

    ? Reagan Bowerman; 149; Munising HS; MI; 3x State Qualifier; State Medalist

    ? Eric Jenkins; HWT; Tinley Park HS; IL; Sectional Qualifier

    ? Petyon Fry;174; Reedsburg HS; WI; State Qualifier

    ? Luke St. Peter;184; Denmark HS; WI; Sectional Qualifier

    ? Bryer Christel;141; Reedsville HS; WI; State Qualifier

    ? Dillon Raab; 149; Bark River-Harris HS; MI; 4x State Qualifier; 3x State Finalist

    ? Parker Stroud; 165/174; Iron Mountain HS; MI; 4x State Medalist; MI State Champion

    ? Aaron Martinez;149; John W. North HS; CA; CIF Placer

    ? Bryan Romero; 184/197; John W. North HS; CA; CIF Masters Qualifier

    ? Ellery Smith; 157/165; Charlevoix HS; MI; Regional Qualifier

    ? Wyatt Raab; 157; Alma College/Bark River Harris HS; MI; 2x State Qualifier; State Medalist