GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Glenville State Wrestling will begin the 2025-26 season tomorrow (Nov. 1) at home in the Pioneer Open presented by GoMart. The 14-team, all-day wrestling event will take place inside the Waco Center and start at 9 a.m.
 
PIONEER OPEN INFORMATION
Saturday, November 1 | 9 a.m. | Waco Center
No Live Stream will be available
Live Stats
 
THE TEAMS
The Pioneers will welcome Ashland, Belmont Abbey, Davis & Elkins, Emmanuel (Ga.), Emory & Henry, Fairmont State, Findlay, Frostburg State, Kentucky Wesleyan, Millersville, Salem, Indianapolis and UNC Pembroke.
 
THE PIONEERS
GLENVILLE STATE
2024-25 Season
The Pioneers had their best season in program history in 2024-25, going (19-6) overall and (4-0) in the MEC while capturing their second-straight MEC Championship and the program's first-ever NCAA DII Super Region 3 Championship. Glenville State had seven Pioneers qualify for Nationals, with four earning All-American status, the most in a single season in GSU history. Nick Johnson (197 lbs) and Hayden Pummel (174 lbs) also won Super Region 3 championships as individuals.
 
Head Coach
Dylan Cottrell is in his sixth season leading the Glenville State Wrestling program as he led the Pioneers in their first season since rejuvenating the program in 2020. In his first five seasons at the helm, Cottrell has coached an individual national champion, one individual national runner-up, seven individual regional champions, seven All-Americans and two MEC team championships as well as one Super Region 3 championship.
 
Look at The Pioneers in 2025-26
The Pioneers bolster a 39-man roster this season, being made up of 18 returners and 21 newcomers. Of the 21 newcomers, 11 are transfers and 10 reign from the high school ranks. Three All-Americans are back for coach Cottrell in Colton Drousias (125 lbs), Gabe Onorato (149 lbs) and Nick Johnson (197 lbs). Hayden Pummel, who transferred in from Northern Illinois last season, was No. 1 in the country at 174 lbs heading into Nationals, where he suffered a season-ending injury.
 
The Open Mat ranks the Pioneers 5^th in all of Division II going into the new season while the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) tabbed the Pioneers as the No. 8 team in the country. In addition, six Pioneers were nationally ranked by The Open Mat with the NWCA ranking four Pioneers in their preseason rankings.
 
Five of the six grapplers in the The Open Mat's initial rankings of 2025-26 are in the top 10 while Colby Whitehill slipped in at No. 19 at heavyweight. Returners Colton Drousias (125 lbs, No. 6), Gabe Onorato (149 lbs, No. 3), Hayden Pummel (174 lbs, No. 8) and Nick Johnson (197 lbs, No. 3) are accompanied by newcomer and Division III All-American Max Borton (184 lbs, No. 7). The NWCA ranked Drousias, Onorato, Pummel and Johnson in their rankings as well.
 
MEDIA
Fans can follow Glenville State Wrestling on Instagram @GSU_WRESTLING for news and updates plus many more all season long. 
 
Subscribe to 'Glenville State Athletics' on YouTube to keep up with the Pioneer Coaches Show and all GSU Athletics content.