CHARLOTTE ROCKWELL
PHOTOGRAPHER
KAITRISS DEGROFT
STAFF WRITER
10/20/2025
Katlyn Pizzo was named the first head women’s wrestling coach in Alma College’s history, beginning in the summer of 2022, and quickly became a driving force behind the development of women’s wrestling on campus.
Following her recent departure, Alma College began the search for a new head coach, ultimately welcoming Derick DuVall, who aims to build upon the program’s early success.
As Alma College begins a new chapter in women’s wrestling, DuVall shared his thoughts on the transition into this role.
“I was welcomed with open arms. The other coaches at Alma have been extremely supportive, and the team went out of their way to make me feel at home. The athletes even decorated my office, which meant a lot and showed how energetic and welcoming they are as a group,” said DuVall.
DuVall joins Alma College after two years as a recruiting specialist at Adrian College and as a wrestling coach in Port Charlotte, Florida. Previously, he recruited student-athletes from more than 20 states and coached multiple state qualifiers in the sport.
With a background in coaching and a passion for the sport, he found himself drawn to Alma College for reasons that shaped his approach to leading the women’s wrestling program.
“What drew me to the women’s wrestling program is the opportunity to help these athletes grow in every aspect of their journey. Women’s wrestling is rapidly expanding, and these women are paving the way for future generations,” said DuVall.
His path to Alma College was influenced by a combination of professional experience, personal values, and the unique opportunities presented by the women’s wrestling program.
Attention now turns to the upcoming season, highlighting the aspects of the program that generate the most enthusiasm and anticipation for DuVall.
“I’m most looking forward to the growth of this team. We’re very young, which makes this the perfect time to focus on the fundamentals, learn, and improve every day. I want them to love this sport and make great memories,” said DuVall.
Alongside the new coach’s perspective, current team members also offer insight into the program.
Chloe Colton (‘27) shares her thoughts on the opportunity for growth in the season ahead.
“I think that it will be amazing to watch the program grow with Coach DuVall. He has big goals for us and the program. I think that having a first-year coach is an interesting experience because they are still learning too, so the team gets to grow with the coach,” said Colton.
The transition to a new head coach presented its own set of challenges for the team, resulting in a loss of teammates within the program.
“The upperclassmen on the team lost multiple teammates, so it is a very new team again,” said Colton.
Despite the transition period, the team remains enthusiastic about the upcoming season.
“We knew that Nick and Kiana would hire the best option for us and not settle just to have a coach for the season, so when they told us that they were hiring Coach DuVall, we were excited that a great coach was going to take over instead of having an interim coach for the year and going through the process again,” said Colton.
While navigating the search process posed challenges, the athletes are energized by the opportunities ahead and eager to welcome a new head coach to the growing program.
The team hopes to see a great upcoming season and is eager to start this new journey with Coach DuVall.
The Almanian: News 
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