Wheaton College IL Men's Wrestling

Jim Gruenwald enters his 17th year as the head coach of the Thunder wrestling team in 2025-26. He is also the head Strength & Conditioning coach for Wheaton Athletics. Gruenwald has twice been recognized as the CCIW Coach of the Year, and in 2015, he led the Thunder to the program's seventh conference title and first since 1981. He has coached nine All-American wrestlers in his time at Wheaton, including two-time honorees, Ethan Harsted and Dan Olsen. Gruenwald's 2017-18 squad featured two All-Americans, with Frank Aiello finishing fourth at 157 pounds and Carlos Fuentez placing second at 125 pounds. Fuentez won the 125-pound class at the 2018 Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational, becoming Wheaton's first PWWI champion since 2003. Harsted would later become Wheaton's newest PWWI champion with his title win in the 141-pound bracket in 2023. Gruenwald, a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic Greco Roman wrestling team, came to Wheaton after serving as an assistant coach for U.S. Greco Roman wrestling team at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Michigan from 2005-09. Gruenwald finished sixth at 60 kg in the Greco Roman competition at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was 10th at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. A three-time U.S. Champion, Gruenwald completed his competitive career in 2008 as a National Champion. He also won titles in 2003 and 2004. Gruenwald is a 1994 graduate of Maranatha Baptist Bible College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Math Education in 1994. He compiled a four-year record of 154-19 on the mat in his career at Maranatha. Gruenwald was a three-time National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champion, earning MVP honors in 1989 and 1991. A former Wheaton Invitational Champion, Gruenwald is a member of Northwestern University’s Midlands Championships 20-Win Club, with 22 career victories at the prestigious tournament. Additionally, Gruenwald has a number of certifications as a strength coach. He is a USA Weightlifting Certified Coach; he was trained for 12 years by the Strength & Conditioning staff at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center (1993 – 2005); and he developed the S & C program for wrestling at the United States Olympic Education Center (2005 – 2009). Jim and his wife, Rachel, have seven children: son Adin and six daughters - Arwyn, Ava, Autumn, Aleyse, Ashley, and Amber. 

Terrazas began his tenure with the Thunder football program as defensive assistant, working specifically with the outside linebackers in 2012. In 2013 he served as Wheaton's tight ends coach and in 2014 entered a role as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. The 2016 season will be his first season as the quarterbacks coach. A graduate of nearby Wheaton North High School, Terrazas competed in both football and wrestling for the Falcons. He was a two-time All-Conference selection on the gridiron and earned First Team All-Area recognition as a junior. In wrestling, he took third in Illinois in both his junior and senior seasons, also twice earning high school All-American recognition on the mat. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he wrestled four seasons for the Fighting Illini. Aldrin, Josh "Buzz" Ancona, Tim Anthony, Brad Ayers, Meghan Baker, Tonya Black, Chaz Bradley, Scott Bullington, Bryan Buyse, Emily Cardle, Tom Clark, JJ Clousing, Jim Cuthbert, Katie Davis, Julie DeClute, Jake Demchak, Mark Deter, Tricia Dickey, Benjamin Dittman, Kira East, Katie Ellingsen, Tim Fedyski, Emily Felske, Pete Fisher, Ben Frahler, Trey Gibson, Cedric Gimre, Dr. Matthew Gomez, Cesar Graham, Kelsey Graham, Taylor Gruenwald, Jim Guidera, Sarah Harris, Ron Hodge, John Holwerda, Don Hountras, Stacy Hovee, Maris Huffman, Rick Husted, Matt Ittersagen, Pete Kasiguran, Kellen Keck, Kyle Langs, Jordan Lederhouse, Jon Lindsey, Rusty Madsen, Kent Malmquist, Laine Marhanka, Brett Martin, Trey Mayerik, Jennifer McKinley, Rick Nelson, Erika Nelson, Jane Nelson, Parker Novosad, Kaitlyn Number, Athletics Fax Olsen, Dan Olsen, Dan Olson, Karly Panner, Jon Parker, Erin Parrish, Joel Peltz, Jeff Peters, Leah Petricca, Paul Phone Number, Athletics Pihl, Brad Prasil, Allan Roberts, Jordan Savenok, Mark Schauer, Mike Scott, Jesse Seager, Ryan Selby, Dr. Scott Settecase, Parker Simmons, Beth Smith, Brittany Souders, Ben Souders, Ben Southworth, Therese Stukes, Bill Swider, Mike Terrazas, Eric Theisen, Michelle Thornton, Megan Torppey, Scott Walford, David Waterman, Jake Watt, Dr. David Westrate, Sydney  Full Staff  expand

Gruenwald enters his eighth year as the head coach for the Thunder wrestling team in 2016-17. He is also the Head Strength Coach for Wheaton Athletics. Gruenwald, a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic Greco Roman wrestling team, came to Wheaton after serving as an assistant coach for U.S. Greco Roman wrestling team at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Michigan from 2005-09. Gruenwald finished sixth at 60 kg in the Greco Roman competition at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was 10th at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. A three-time U.S. Champion, Gruenwald completed his competitive career in 2008 as a National Champion. He also won titles in 2003 and 2004. Gruenwald is a 1994 graduate of Maranatha Baptist Bible College, earning a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Math Education in 1994. He compiled a four-year record of 154-19 on the mat in his career at Maranatha. Gruenwald was a three-time National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champion, earning MVP honors in 1989 and 1991. A former Wheaton Invitational Champion, Gruenwald is a member of Northwestern Universitys Midlands Championships 20-Win Club, with 22 career victories at the prestigious tournament. Additionally, Gruenwald has a number of certifications as a strength coach. He is a USA Weightlifting Certified Coach; he was trained for 12 years by the Strength & Conditioning staff at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center (1993 2005); and he developed the S & C program for wrestling at the United States Olympic Education Center (2005 2009). Jim and his wife Rachel have six children: son Adin and five daughters, Arwyn, Ava, Autumn, Aleyse and Ashley.  Jim Gruenwald Head Wrestling Coach/Strength Coach Jim Gruenwald enters his eighth year as the head coach for the Thunder wrestling team in 2016-17. He is also the Head Strength Coach for Wheaton Athletics. Gruenwald, a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic Greco Roman wrestling team, came to Wheaton after serving as an assistant coach for U.S. Greco Roman wrestling team at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Michigan from 2005-09. Gruenwald finished sixth at 60 kg in the Greco Roman competition at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was 10th at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. A three-time U.S. Champion, Gruenwald completed his competitive career in 2008 as a National Champion. He also won titles in 2003 and 2004. Gruenwald is a 1994 graduate of Maranatha Baptist Bible College, earning a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Math Education in 1994. He compiled a four-year record of 154-19 on the mat in his career at Maranatha. Gruenwald was a three-time National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champion, earning MVP honors in 1989 and 1991. A former Wheaton Invitational Champion, Gruenwald is a member of Northwestern Universitys Midlands Championships 20-Win Club, with 22 career victories at the prestigious tournament. Additionally, Gruenwald has a number of certifications as a strength coach. He is a USA Weightlifting Certified Coach; he was trained for 12 years by the Strength & Conditioning staff at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center (1993 2005); and he developed the S & C program for wrestling at the United States Olympic Education Center (2005 2009). Jim and his wife Rachel have six children: son Adin and five daughters, Arwyn, Ava, Autumn, Aleyse and Ashley.