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Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
Cardenas

Women's Wrestling Savanna Disbrow, Assistant Manager of Athletic Communications

Davenport Welcomes Caitlin Cardenas as Head Women’s Wrestling Coach

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Davenport University Athletics has announced the hiring of Caitlin Cardenas as the next head coach of its women's wrestling program.

"I'm thrilled to begin this new chapter with Davenport University Athletics," said Cardenas. "After connecting with the administrators and staff and experiencing the strong sense of community on campus, I knew this was the right place for me. I'm excited to get started with the team and help build something special with Davenport Women's Wrestling."

Cardenas brings a strong combination of coaching experience and competitive background to Davenport, including over four years of coaching and nine years as a wrestler. Most recently serving as an assistant coach at Frostburg State University, she played a key role in developing nationally competitive student-athletes and building a successful recruiting pipeline.

During her time at Frostburg State, Cardenas helped guide:
  • 17 regional placers and six regional champions/finalists
  • 12 national qualifiers across NCWWC and NCAA competition
  • Multiple UWW Beach Wrestling national and world-level athletes
  • Over eight NWCA Scholar All-Americans
"Caitlin's emphasis on building a strong, positive culture while developing student-athletes both on and off the mat will be imperative to the growth of this program," said Paul Lowden, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "Her experience in recruiting will be instrumental in attracting high-level talent that aligns with our values. Just as important, she prioritizes athletic development, character, and academic excellence. We are confident she will make an immediate impact on our program."

In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Cardenas holds a USA/UWW International Coaching Certification (Bronze Level) and is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with extensive training and competitive experience. She is currently completing her Master's degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology, bringing a unique perspective to student-athlete development both mentally and physically.

Cardenas will look to lead the Panthers into a new era, focusing on culture, recruitment and competitive success as the program continues to grow.


 
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