FREELAND, Mich. -- 29 wrestlers from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) will conclude their season at the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Championship at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on March 12-13. Eight of those participants earned All-MIAA honors this season.
Following the cancellation of the NCAA Division III winter championships on February 3rd, the NWCA DIII Leadership Group worked quickly to create a season-ending event for the wrestlers.
According to the NWCA's release, the top eight wrestlers will be placed and will each earn NWCA All-America accolades. No team points will be kept and no team awards will be given.
The 2021 MIAA Most Valuable Wrestler, Olivet junior Hunter Murphy, will compete at the NWCA Championship along with seven other 2021 All-MIAA wrestlers.
Wrestling in the 125-pound weight class is two-time All-MIAA Olivet senior Cameron Mahlich who earned the ninth seed, along with No. 11 Chase Beecher of Alma. Adrian junior Robert Andrews will also compete in the 125-pound competition.
Three-time All-MIAA junior Reese Wallis of Olivet was seeded ninth at 133 pounds, while Alma's Austin Wieczorek earned the 10th seed. Adrian sophomore Tanner Smith will also battle for the 133-pound title.
Olivet freshman and 2021 All-MIAA wrestler Dylan Phelps, Adrian freshman La'Ron Ruffin, and Alma sophomore Matt Tomsett will compete in the 141-pound weight class.
2021 Most Valuable Wrestler Hunter Murphy of Olivet will compete as the No. 10 seed at 149 pounds, along with 11th-seeded senior Bulldog Noah Nieman and Alma's Mason Priest.
In the 157-pound weight class, seventh-seeded Jayce Kuehnlein of Alma and Gabe Guerrero of Olivet will go head-to-head in the round of 32. Kuehnlein earned All-MIAA accolades for 2021. Senior Ethan Garcia will represent Adrian in the 157-pound championship.
Comet junior Dylan Briggs was seeded ninth at 165 pounds. Two-time All-MIAA junior Derick Duvall of Adrian and junior Alexander Henry of Alma will also compete in the 165-pound weight class.
Adrian junior Zach Altman, Alma senior Joe Vondrasek, and Olivet sophomore Zach Wells will represent the MIAA at 174 pounds.
Bulldog senior Michael Jacobs, who was seeded No. 12 and previously earned All-MIAA honors for 2021, has a bye in the first round of 184lb competition. Senior Erik Arnegard will compete for the Scots in the 184-pound weight class.
At 197 pounds, senior Donald Moses III of Adrian was ranked No. 9 in his weight class. Olivet senior Devlen Kuschel and Alma junior Dillon Stevenson will also participate in the 197lb competition.
2021 All-MIAA junior Dominick Wilson of Olivet is the highest-seeded wrestler in the conference, ranking No. 2 at 285 pounds, and will compete in the weight class along with fifth-seeded junior Isaiah Espinoza of Adrian and Alma junior Jacob Ransom.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: March 12-13
Starting Times: Friday – 12:00 p.m. (EST) | Saturday – 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: Coralville, IA
Venue: Xtream Arena
Tickets: $41 All Sessions | $24 Single Day – Link
How to Watch: FloWrestling – Link
Presenting Sponsors: ARMS Software, FloWrestling, and Reese’s
Event Sponsors: USA Wrestling, Defense Soap, AAU Wrestling, and Resilite
This event will be conducted following the requirements of the state and local health authorities. The local organizing committee is in regular communication with its partners at Johnson County public health and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Masks are required to be worn at all times throughout this event and guests are asked to please adhere to all health and safety guidelines while inside Xtream Arena.
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
