Nick Drendel is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach with the Lakeland University men's wrestling program.
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.
