Wrestling team to face Buena Vista in first round of the NWCA National Duals

The Olivet College wrestling team will face Buena Vista (Iowa) University in the first round of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Saturday, Jan. 12, at 9 a.m. The University of Northern Iowa is hosting the duals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

The winner of the Olivet vs. No. 8 Buena Vista match will face the winner of the University of Wisc.-Oshkosh vs. No. 1 seed Wartburg (Iowa) College match Saturday at 1 p.m., while the losers of each match will also face one another at 1 p.m.

As a team, the Comets are ranked No. 16 in the latest NWCA Top 25 poll, while three individuals are ranked in their weight class. Juniors Jason Brew (Sparta) and Kyle Vanderhyde (Sparta) are ranked No. 2 at 157 and 174 pounds, respectively. Senior Daron Cruickshank (Inkster/John Glenn) is the No. 7 wrestler at 165 pounds.

Olivet is making its second consecutive trip to the national duals. A year ago, the Comets were the No. 13 seed and finished in eighth-place. Vanderhyde was named the Division III Most Outstanding Wrestler after posting a perfect 5-0 record.