GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa women's wrestling coach Travis Mercado announced the hiring of assistant coach Grace Kristoff on Wednesday (Aug. 6) afternoon.
 
"I feel so lucky to have connected with a program like CMU," Kristoff said. "Travis and the team are so great, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for CMU Women's Wrestling."
 
Grace spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater of Southern Oregon. There, she helped the Raiders to a pair of top-8 team finishes at the NAIA National Championships and helped coach two individual national champions along with 12 total NAIA All-Americans.
 
As a collegiate wrestler, Grace spent three seasons at McKendree where she was a two-time All-American and helped the Bearcats to three NCWWC National Championships and NWCA National Duals titles. She then transferred to Southern Oregon where she won the NAIA National Championship at 191 pounds and helped the Raiders win both the NWCA National Duals and NAIA Team National Championship.
 
"I am ecstatic to have Grace joining the program," head coach Travis Mercado said. "Her experience as a competitor winning a national championship, being an All-American, and winning 3 team titles is going to be a huge impact in our program as we head into the inaugural season of the NCAA Championships."
 
Grace began her tenure at Colorado Mesa on Monday, August 6.