Watson-Powell to lead Iowa Wesleyan men and women

Robert Watson-Powell has been named head coach for the Iowa Wesleyan men’s and women’s teams, the Mount Pleasant, Iowa, school of around 600 students announced yesterday. Powell comes to Iowa Wesleyan after a stint as the graduate assistant coach at New England College. He also has coaching experience at Kenston and Willard High Schools in Ohio. Watson-Powell wrestled for Muskingum where he graduated in 2014.

Iowa Wesleyan will become the 4th SLIAC school with wrestling along with MacMurray, Westminster, and Fontbonne. The school nearly closed late in 2018 due to financial trouble, but they managed to raise the needed funds to keep the doors open, and the school has been able to increase enrollment since then while adding sports. Iowa Wesleyan is in the process of completing a merger with Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Florida, that will enable the school to remain in operation in southeast Iowa.

Iowa Wesleyan Announces Head Wrestling Coach

Robert Watson-Powell Named Head Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Coach

Mount Pleasant, IA: August 21, 2019 – Iowa Wesleyan University announces that Robert Watson-Powell will serve as the men’s and women’s wrestling coach for the Tigers beginning on September 2, 2019. Coach Powell will relaunch the wrestling program and serve as the first NCAA Division III wrestling coach at Iowa Wesleyan, which recently added both men’s and women’s wrestling teams. The women’s program is the first NCAA Division III women’s program in the state of Iowa. The IW wrestling teams will begin competition during the 2020-2021 academic year.

“We are excited to bring Coach Powell to the Iowa Wesleyan Community,” said Director of Athletics, Derek Zander. “Coach Powell’s vision for this program aligns with the mission and vision of Iowa Wesleyan University. He will bring a wide variety of experience in both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling to assist in recruiting high-quality student-athletes to compete for Iowa Wesleyan.” Click for more…