Nine Olivet College wrestlers to compete at 2021 NWCA Division III Championships

OLIVET, Mich. – Nine Olivet College wrestlers will compete at the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Championships March 12-13 at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Representing the Comets will be senior Cameron Mahlich (125 pounds), junior Reese Wallis (133 pounds), freshman Dylan Phelps (141 pounds), junior Hunter Murphy (149 pounds), freshman Gabe Guerrero (157 pounds), junior Dylan Briggs (165 pounds), sophomore Zach Wells (174 pounds), senior Devlen Kuschel (197 pounds) and junior Dominick Wilson (285 pounds).

The 32-man brackets for the championships have been released. The top 12 wrestlers were seeded, with the remaining wrestlers placed randomly on the bracket. Six of the nine Olivet wrestlers have been seeded, with Wilson earning the highest seed at No. 2. The other seeded wrestlers are Mahlich at No. 9, Wallis at No. 9, Murphy at No. 10 and Briggs at No. 9.

This season, Mahlich has a 9-1 record, with his only loss coming against Central Michigan's Drew Hildebrandt at the season-opening dual match. Wallis is 6-3, with three major decision wins and two technical falls. Murphy has a 7-2 record, scoring bonus points in each of his seven wins (four pins, two technical falls and one major decision).

Phelps has a 7-3 record, with two technical falls and one pin. Guerrero has won four matches, including three pins. Briggs is 4-2, with two major decisions and a pin. Wells has a 6-2 record, with four pins. Wilson is 8-1, with his only loss to Central Michigan's Cade Dallwitz. In the eight wins, Wilson has only allowed two escape points.

NOTES: On February 3, the NCAA announced the cancellation of the Division III winter sports championships for wrestling as well as men's and women's basketball, indoor track & field, swimming & diving, and ice honey. Following the announcement, the NWCA Division III leadership group began working to provide a championship experience for student-athletes who had their championship tournament canceled for the second year in a row. From that work, the NWCA Division III Championships was put together, with assistance from USA Wrestling as well as numerous corporate sponsors, including ARMS Software, FloWrestling and Reese's.

The championships will place the top eight wrestlers, and each will earn NWCA All-America honors. No team points will be kept and no team awards will be given. In order to compete, the wrestler must be on his school's official roster and entered into the OPC, the NCAA's weight management program.

Portions of the story reprinted from the NWCAonline.com story about the championships.