Moving on
Lange joining first-year program at Grand Valley State
Following a year away from collegiate wrestling, Martin County West graduate Katie Lange will continue her career at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich.
This will be the first year of women’s wrestling at GVSU.
Lange will be rejoining Jake Short, who was the coach at Augsburg University for her two seasons with the Auggies. He was named the first coach of the Lakers last fall.
He is the son of Simley High School coach Will Short and the grandson of former Simley coach Jim Short.
Lange was the 143-pound champion at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships as a sophomore with Augsburg in 2023, finishing the season with a 33-6 record with nine pins and 16 technical falls.
In two seasons at Augsburg, Lange had a 51-7 record with 16 pins and 23 technical falls.
She took an Olympic year this past season and trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. At the Olympic Trials in State College, Penn., Lange won her first match and then lost her next two.
Katie, who was a member of the U23 World Team in 2022, is the daughter of Lisa and Kevin Lange of Sherburn. Kevin was the Class A 160-pound state champion for Martin County West in 1989.
She is projected to wrestle at either 143 or 155 for the Lakers.
Lange is part of a group of talented wrestlers with GVSU. Other recent signees announced include a U.S. Open champion, a Pan Am silver medalist and the country’s top-ranked 190-pound high school wrestler.
