Wrestling team wins NWCA Academic Championship; six Comets earn Scholar All-American honors

OLIVET, Mich. – With a 3.67 grade point average (GPA), the Olivet College wrestling team has won the 2013 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Annual Academic Championship.

Since the inception of the award in 1998, the Comets have placed in the top 10 of the standings 14 times, but this is the first time they have won the award. The previous best was second in 2003 and 2012. The procedure for determining the GPA is the average of the top 10 GPAs on the team, six of whom must have competed at the regional qualifying tournaments and the others must have competed in half the scheduled number of competitions.

In addition, six individuals, Nick Allen (Scotville/Mason County Central), Jake Ceslick (Alpena), Jeff Holm (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), Henry McKeown (Bellvue/Olivet), Logan Renas (Big Rapids) and Kenny Richmond (Brighton), have earned individual NWCA Scholar All-American honors. Renas has received the award for a third straight year, while Richmond is for a second straight year.

To be eligible for this award, a wrestler must have at least a 3.20 GPA, place in the top six at the regional qualifying tournament and have sophomore standing.

2013 TOP FIVE TEAMS

1. Olivet – 3.67 GPA
2. Williams (Mass.) – 3.54 GPA
3. Wabash (Ind.) – 3.53 GPA
4. Alma – 3.52 GPA
5. Johnson & Wales (R.I.) – 3.48 GPA

PAST TEAM TOP 10 OLIVET FINISHES
1998 – 5th – 3.23 GPA
1999 – 2nd – 3.41 GPA
2000 – 4th – 3.28 GPA
2001 – 9th – 3.21 GPA
2002 – 7th – 3.23 GPA
2003 – 2nd – 3.41 GPA
2004 – 10th – 3.23 GPA
2005 – 10th – 3.23 GPA
2006 – 4th – 3.395 GPA
2007 – 4th – 3.345 GPA
2008 – 2nd – 3.497 GPA
2011 – 9th – 3.381 GPA
2012 – 2nd – 3.539 GPA
2013 – 1st – 3.67 GPA