McKendree University Athletics

McKendree University announced the addition of women's wrestling as its 23^rd sport Tuesday, March 26^th, 2013. Sam Schmitz has been at the helm of the program since its introduction.

“McKendree University is known throughout the country as having a highly competitive wrestling program,” said athletic director Chuck Brueggemann. “The introduction of a women's program was a natural next step for us. Women's wrestling is a rapidly growing sport and we want to be at the forefront of offering young women the opportunity to continue their passion of competition while getting a first-class education. We have every expectation that this team will be highly successful much like our men's team.”

The program competes as a member of the Women's College Wrestling Association (WCWA). The association, formed in 2008, is the current governing body for all collegiate women's wrestling programs at the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA levels.

Before Schmitz joined the staff at McKendree as the head women’s wrestling coach. He served as a graduate assistant coach for the men's wrestling program at his alma mater, Lindenwood University-St. Charles, during the 2010-11 season and helped the Lions to a runner-up finish at the NAIA National Championship. Nine wrestlers earned All-American honors including Chris Chionuma who won a national championship at 174 pounds. He then moved to the sister campus, Lindenwood University –Belleville and served a dual role as head women's wrestling coach and head assistant men's wrestling coach. During his time with the Lady Lynx, Schmitz helped the women's program to an 11^th-place finish at the WCWA National Championship and had eight national qualifiers, including one who earned All-America honors with a fifth-place finish.

In the last three seasons McKendree Women’s Wrestling has burst onto the scene in Women’s College Wrestling and had tremendous success both individually and competing as a dual meet squad. Most Recently, Alexis Porter has become the first Junior World Team member for the squad and will compete in the 2016 Junior World Championships in Macon, France.

Here are some results over the years;

2014 NWCA National Duals- 8th place team
2014 WCWA National Tournament- 11th place
2015 NWCA National Duals- 3rd Place
2015 WCWA National Tournament- 6th Place- 7 All-Americans
2016 NWCA National Duals- 5th Place
2016 WCWA National Tournament – 6th Place- 9 All-Americans
2016 US Olympic Trials – 5 Qualifiers

Coach Schmitz also has served on a number of trips for USA Wrestling, Hosting the 2014 World Team Training camp that played host to America’s top female wrestlers at the Cadet, Junior and Senior level. He has also traveled as a coach for USA Wrestling, once to Kazan, Russia for the University World Games in 2013, and again in 2015 he served as one of the Junior World Team coaches and traveled to the Junior World Championships in Salvador, Brazil.

“Coach Schmitz is highly regarded in the sport of wrestling and achieved a lot of success as a competitor,” said Brueggemann. “We were impressed by his enthusiasm and passion for the sport and we expect that to come through and help him make a big impression on the student-athletes he coaches.”
“We are tremendously excited about the opportunity we have to help our kids grow on and off the mat. We want to make sure they are prepared for life when they leave McKendree.”

Prior to serving his role as a coach, Schmitz posted a 123-41 record as a collegiate wrestler and was a 4x All- American. Placing 3^rd at 149lbs in the NJCAA national tournament as a freshman for Clackamas Community College. After Transferring to Lindenwood University, Schmitz earned three more All-American honors in the NAIA. Placing 8^th as a sophomore, a national finalist as a junior and 6^th in his senior campaign.

While coaching, he also Placed 8^th at the 2011 University Freestyle National Championships in Akron, Ohio.
Schmitz also serves as the assistant for the Men’s wrestling team which has had tremendous success since joining NCAA competition. Most recently placing 8^th as a team, hosting 3 All-Americans, including Darren Wynn who earn McKendree’s first ever NCAA D II national championship in any sport.