Listen Up, Ottawa University Braves Women’s Wrestling Is Making Noise

August 21, 2022,

It’s a brave new world in Ottawa now that the women’s wrestling program at Ottawa University is making news.

Time for a little history.

On March 5, 2020 The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) officially announced the qualifiers for the 2020 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Invitational.

The Invitational was hosted by University of Jamestown, a school with a rich history of great female grappling.

The Ottawa University women’s wrestling team had six competitors qualify for the NAIA National Invitational. They were Alessia Cokeley (109), Shania Magdaleno (116), Victoria Norris (123), Lyric Gonsalves (143), Randie Scoon (155), and Maranda Dornana (191).

Very impressive for a program only in their second year. Awards are warranted.

On March 9, 2020, the University of Ottawa reported, “The Ottawa University women’s wrestling team played host for the 2019-20 KCAC Women’s Wrestling Championships on Feb. 29. The Braves had five wrestlers compete at the Championships and all five finished in the top five of the tournament. Since Ottawa had a low number of competitors, they finished sixth of six as a team. KCAC Conference awards were given out after the conclusion of the tournament.

Because of their finishes at the KCAC Tournament, the five competitors have earned All-Conference honors. Those five wrestlers are: Alessia Cokeley (Fifth in 109), Shania Magdaleno (Second in 116) , Victoria Norris (Third in 123), Lyric Gonsalves (First in 143), and Randie Scoon (First in 155). Gonsalves was also named Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler. Norris, Gonsalves, and Scoon were also named KCAC Scholar Athletes. Maranda Dornan also earned a conference award, as she was named a KCAC Champion of Character.”

Then, leading the Braves was Coach Mahdi Bigdely.

His outstanding resume is found at ottawabraves.com where they share, “Coach Bigdely is in his third season as head coach of the OU women’s wrestling program.

In his previous three seasons, Bigdely has coached one WCWA All-American, seven NCWA All-Americans, one NCWA National Champion and two NAIA All-Americans.

In 2018-19 OU finished fourth in the KCAC with one KCAC Individual Champion and seven All-KCAC selections. OU had two earn NAIA All-American honors with Victoria Norris finishing sixth in the 123lb weight class and Alessia Cokeley placing eighth in the 109lb weight class.

The 2017-18 Braves finished with a dual record of 7-0, a second place finish at the KCAC Championships, and one WCWA All-American.

Under Bigdely’s leadership, the 2016-17 Braves finished the season with a dual record of 3-4, seven NCWA All-Americans, and one NCWA National Champion. OU excelled in the classroom as well with two Braves being named NCWA Scholar Athletes.”

This clearly is an exciting program in exceptional hands.

Before coming to the Braves, Mr. Bigdely was a graduate assistant coach with the University of Jamestown women’s wrestling program.

So, we see the Jamestown connection. No doubt he contributed to their great success there.

In 2015, he was invited to coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado to help the Women’s Wrestling National Team train for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

We can appreciate his success based upon his strong merit based past.

Coach Bigdely was raised in Tehran, Iran, where he wrestled for the Iranian National Team. He made his first appearance on the national stage as a 16 year-old, and won championships in different national and international tournaments.

Exceptional accomplishments begin with the formation of a dynamic team of leaders who helped shape the identity of Ottawa University.

Today, the team is under the direction of Mr. Dalton Weidl.

Here is his resume, “Coach Weidl is in his first season as head coach of the OU women’s wrestling program.

Before coming to Ottawa University, Weidl was the head boys and girls wrestling coach at Ottawa High School since 2018. While at OHS, he created weekly practice plans, developed in-season and off-season strength and conditioning programs, oversaw both program’s budgets, managed fundraising and booster donations, monitored student-athlete academic progress, was responsible for department communication, and advocated for both the academic and athletic success of all individuals involved in the program.

Weidl was named the 2021 District Coach of the Year, helped OHS to an undefeated 2021 Frontier League Championship, and a 2019 Regional Championship. In the last three years, Weidl has coached 24 state qualifiers and a 2021 Kansas Girls State Champion.”

Very impressive.

We appreciate the school’s leadership has made a commitment to this great sport. We would like a closer look.

First the basics.

fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com, femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com User:Brandonriffel Wikipedia

Ottawa University (OU) is a private Baptist university with its main campus in Ottawa, Kansas, a second residential campus in Surprise, Arizona, and adult campuses in the Kansas City, Phoenix and Milwaukee metropolitan areas.

It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the American Baptist Churches USA.

The residential campus in Ottawa has a student enrollment of more than 850 students, while the OUAZ campus in Surprise boasts more than 900. In total, Ottawa University serves more than 4,000 students across all of its campuses and online.

Ottawa University mission statement explains, “The Braves Athletic Performance program strives to develop the athlete as a whole, not just enhancing athletic ability. We strive to be the most organized and most supervised program possible, while our focus is on building the strongest most durable athletes, while preparing them for life after collegiate competition.”

In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked the school as the 3rd-highest regional private college in Kansas; the site also ranked Ottawa University as 42 out of 150 in a ranking of Midwest Regional Colleges.

The University educates, “From humble beginnings, Ottawa University has grown from a single building into a comprehensive educational institution serving over 4,000 students on six campuses and online. Today, more than 22,000 OU graduates, including 5,000 in the Pacific Rim, have made and continue to make valuable contributions in their communities, corporations, and churches. Born of a special spirit, which permeates the University and its graduates to this day, Ottawa University is blessed by a rich heritage and an unquenchable commitment to educate increasing numbers of students for lifetimes of faith, service, leadership and significance.”

In these challenging times, it is always important to have a clear vision about future goals.

As presented at ottawa.edu, here is their vision, “By 2020, Ottawa University will be positioned as a distinctive and rapidly expanding institution known for its innovative educational models, exceptional value, and special ability to prepare diverse student populations for lifetimes of enlightened faith, exemplary service, inspired leadership, and personal significance.”

Sounds like a nice reputation in virtual motion.

Located in the quaint town of Ottawa, Kansas, the University is one of the region’s major institutions in the region.

The historic community is located on both banks of the Marais des Cygnes River near the center of Franklin County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,649.

Students have the benefit of enjoying a nice quiet small town atmosphere as well as the ability to experience the bright lights and activities of the big city as Kansas City, Missouri, home of the 2020 NFL Super Bowl champions, is only 54 miles away.