Iowa Western Announces Wrestling Restructure
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Iowa Western Athletic Director Shane Larson has announced restructuring the Reiver Wrestling program.
With the departure of former Director of Wrestling Josh Watts so close to the start of the 2024-25 school year, Iowa Western has decided to split the men's and women's wrestling programs instead of replacing the Director of Wrestling position.
Associate Women's Head Coach Monica Mendoza will be elevated to the Women's Wrestling Head Coach and Korbin Meink will take over as the Men's Wrestling Head Coach.
"Iowa Western Wrestling has been a leader in the nation of community college programs and with the departure of the coaching staff it was the right time to move the women's and men's teams to separate, independent programs," said Iowa Western President, Dr. Dan Kinney. "With Coach Mendoza and Coach Meink, it will allow the programs to run separately as you see in other sports teams across our campus and the country. I am excited to see both the women's and men's programs move forward under the direction of Coach Mendoza as Head Women's Wrestling Coach and Coach Meink as Head Men's Wrestling Coach."
"I am excited about this new direction of our wrestling programs," added Iowa Western Athletic Director, Shane Larson. "Coach Watts has done an amazing job over the years of starting both the men's and women's programs. His departure so close to the start of the school year provided the opportunity for two up-and-coming coaches to step into head coaching roles. I am looking forward to seeing Coach Mendoza and Meink lead their respective programs and working with them as they transition into their new roles."
Mendoza and Meink have been with Iowa Western Wrestling for the past two seasons. During their time in Council Bluffs, they have helped produce six NJCAA national champions and 23 NJCAA All-Americans. Additionally, both programs earned top 5 finishes at nationals in 2023 and 2024.
"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be the Women's Head Wrestling Coach," said Mendoza. "We had such a great season last year, and I look forward to an even better one this year. I'm thankful for Coach Watts and all he's done for this program. It's going to be an exciting season!"
Before her time in Council Bluffs, Mendoza spent two seasons at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa as an assistant coach.
Mendoza competed collegiately at Oklahoma City University for four years, placing at the U23 World Team Trials, US Open Championships, and Senior Nationals.
Monica hails from Des Plaines, Illinois, and Maine West High School where she was an IWCOA women's state champion, two-time Illinois freestyle state champion, and Fargo All-American.
"I am excited to continue the legacy of the wrestling program that Josh Watts has built and created," said Meink. "I am thankful for the opportunity that the Iowa Western administration has given me, and I am excited to continue to give the Council Bluffs and Omaha area something to be proud of."
Before his coaching career at Iowa Western, Meink was a three-time 125 lbs. NCAA National Qualifier at Campbell University, winning a pair of SoCon titles for the Camels as a sophomore and junior. Meink was also named the SoCon Freshman of the Year in 2017-18, earning a record of 23-9, including a 6-0 SoCon mark.
A four-time Nebraska state champion for Omaha Skutt Catholic, Meink compiled a 165-10 career record in high school, and was selected to the 2017 Wrestling USA High School All-American Team.