Head Coach, Angelo Crinzi, enters his 6th year at the helm of the Grand View Women's Wrestling program. Crinzi, a 2014 Grand View graduate, was part of the first three NAIA National Championships and NWCA NAIA National Duals Championships under current Head Men’s Coach, Nick Mitchell.
Crinzi graduated from Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Arizona but grew up in El Paso, Texas. Prior to returning to GV, Crinzi was the Head Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Coach at Lindenwood University-Belleville for four seasons. Each year, he qualified athletes to the NAIA Men’s National Championship and WCWA National Championship and has had an All-American each season. Including, a past women’s wrestler who was a WCWA undefeated National Champion in 2018 (4x All-American taking 7th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st), USA World Team Member, and 2016 Olympic Trial Qualifier.
The program launched its first ever season in 2019-20. Unfortunately, due to COVID-2019 the season was cut short; however, the program did receive honors. There were six athletes that earned NWCA Scholar All-American honors, six NAIA Invitational National qualifier, and six NWCA All-American honors.
In the 2020-21 season, the women’s wrestling program won the first-ever Heart of America Conference Team Championship with five conference champions, two Runner-Ups, and one four-place finish. At the NAIA Invitational, the program made history with #TheFirst four NAIA All-Americans. Along, with one UWW Junior National Champion, three UWW Junior All-Americans, one U23 Runner-Up, three U23 All-Americans, one Senior National Runner-Up, four Senior National All-Americans, and three Senior World Team Trials qualifiers.
In the 2021-22 season, the women's wrestling program won their second-consecutive Heart of America Conference Championship where they had five conference champions, four Runner-Ups, and one third place finish. At the conclusion, Angelo Crinzi was named 2021-22 Heart of America Head Coach of the Year. Two Vikings were named Outstanding Wrestler of the Year and Freshman of the Year. At the National Invitational, six Vikings earned All-American status and the team finishing 6th place. At the Annual NWCA Multi-Divisional National Dual, the team finished strong with a 4th place finish which was the program first year appearance. At the Senior level, one athlete was crowned Bill Farrell International Champion. At Senior Nationals, four Vikings earned All-American status and qualified for the Senior World Team Trials. At Senior World Team Trials, athlete, Andrea Schlabach, finished strong with a fourth-place finish which was one spot away from making the USA National Team. Grand View was ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history.
In the 2022-23 season, the program won their third-consecutive Heart of America Conference Championship with four conference champions, one Runner-Up, five third-place finish, one fourth-place finish, and one sixth-place finish. One Viking was named Freshmen of the Year. At the NAIA National Championship, eight Vikings earned All-American statue with the team finishing 3rd place. At the NWCA NAIA National Duals, the program finishes strong as National Duals Runner-Up and that being the second appearance. At the Senior level, one athlete competed in NYC at the Bill Farrell International and was crowned champion for the second time.
In the 2023-24 season, the program won their fourth-consecutive Heart of America Conference Championship with three conference champions, four runners-up, three third-place finishes, and one fourth place finish. At the NAIA National Championships, seven Vikings earned All-Amerincan statue with the team finishing 5th place. Two Vikings, Maya Davis and Abby McIntyre, reached the NAIA National finals. A few milestones were broken as Viking, Andrea Schlabach, became the program #TheFirst 4x All-American and reaching 100 career wins. At the NWCA NAIA National Duals, the program finished 6th placed. One athlete competed at the US Open/Olympic Trial Qualifier and placed 8th which earned All-American statue. At the U20 WTT, two athletes finished strong with All-American statues.
Wrestling is Coach Crinzi's passion. "I am excited about this position at my alma mater," stated Crinzi. "I am at the stage in my career where I have developed an understanding that my mission is to be the best possible coach for my student-athletes so they can achieve things they might not have thought possible. Joining a reputable and growing academic institution, like Grand View, is an amazing opportunity."
