Alex Waitsman and the Rise of William Jewell Women's Wrestling

There’s something real building at William Jewell, and Alex Waitsman is right in the center of it.

Originally from Woodland Hills, California, Waitsman took a chance on Missouri , and in a short time, made it home. Now finishing her junior year, she’s become more than just a name in the lineup. She’s been a steady piece in what Coach Dez Ramos is putting together, and you can feel her impact in that room.

On the mat, she’s tough in a way that doesn’t need much explanation. She competes with intent, stays in positions others panic in, and finds ways to win. Her resume backs it up. A 2025 All-American, a qualifier for the inaugural NCAA Women’s Tournament, and back-to-back NCWWC National qualifications in 2024 and 2025.

Go back to her freshman year and you can see where it started to click. A title at the Soldier Salute at 123 pounds, then finishing the year as a national qualifier. Her impact was real, and it was immediate. With a new emerging program, this kind of success was pivitol for growth.

But she didn’t stay there.

Her sophomore year, she raised the bar; not just for herself, but for the program. A 7th place finish at nationals at 117 pounds, earning the first All-American honors in William Jewell women’s wrestling history. That’s not just a milestone, that’s a foundation piece. Something a new program needs to show grit, and depth.

And it’s not just at the college level.

Last year, Waitsman earned her way onto the Pan Am stage.

She didn’t just show up, she took over. Waitsman dominated at the national level only giving up a single push out point in her run to Pan-Am gold. That kind of performance tells you everything you need to know about where she’s at right now.

But what makes Alex different isn’t just what she does in competition.

She gives back. A lot.

You’ll see her at youth and high school freestyle tournaments, officiating, helping, talking with kids, making herself available. She’s involved with Jewell’s new RTC and is already pouring into the next wave of wrestlers coming up behind her. That matters. Programs grow because of people like that.

William Jewell isn’t just building a roster, they’re building a culture. And Alex Waitsman is a big reason why.

This is what it looks like when someone buys in, puts in the work, and brings others with them. Be on the look out for big things coming to Jewell in the 2026-27 season.