Herrema, King, Phelps selected to 2024 All-MIAA Wrestling Team

Herrema, King, Phelps selected to 2024 All-MIAA Wrestling Team
February 27, 2024

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – Three members of The University of Olivet wrestling team have been selected to the 2024 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Team. The honorees are junior Tyler Herrema, senior Donovan King and senior Dylan Phelps. All-MIAA honors were based on a student-athlete's performance in the four league dual matches.

At 149 pounds, Herrema posted a 4-0 record, scoring bonus points in two of the wins. He won 16-1 over Cael Dempsey from Alma College, 5-1 over Isaac Hawkins from Trine (Ind.) University, 6-4 over Max Honiss from Albion College and 18-6 over Sampson Ross from Adrian College. Herrema is an All-MIAA honoree for a second straight season.

"Dash (Tyler) is so fun to watch," said Olivet head coach Brandon Brissette. "He wrestles freely on his feet, both pressuring scores and scoring on his shot defense. Add that to his higher near fall count and it is no big question he is a second time All-MIAA performer."

At 285 pounds, King also had a 4-0 record, earning bonus points in each of the wins. He pinned Brody Miskimon from Alma in 1:08, Kyler Bills from Trine in 50 seconds and Mason Slocum from Adrian in 21 seconds and won a 12-0 major decision over CJ Krum from Albion. King repeats as an All-MIAA selection.

"Donovan has anchored the spot as the top heavyweight in the league the last two years," stated Brissette. "That is a tough thing and very impressive due to the number of great heavyweights in the MIAA."

At 141 pounds, Phelps recorded a 3-0 record, missing one dual match due to illness. His wins were a 21-5 technical fall over Gabriel Sultzbach from Alma, 5-4 decision over Jett Boots from Trine and 11-8 victory over Tanner Smith from Adrian.

"Dylan worked hard at the end of last year to improve his consistency in his mental approach to matches and offensive pressure," said Brissette. "You could see the improvement in winning the close matches and in racking up scores in his other ones."

Olivet is back in action Friday and Saturday at the 2024 NCAA Division III Central Regional Meet, hosted by Ohio Northern University. The top three wrestlers in the 10 weight classes will advance to the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships March 15-16 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.