Wrestling team receives NWCA Scholar Team Award

The Olivet College wrestling team has received the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar Team Award. Olivet’s team grade point average (GPA) of 3.395 ranked fourth-best among 97 Division III schools. This is an improvement on last year’s 3.230 GPA and 10th-place finish. Since its inception in 1998, Olivet has placed in the Top 10 each year.

To qualify for the award, at least six of the 10 team members had to compete in the national qualifying tournament. The remaining four members were required to compete in at least half of the team’s competitions during the 2005-06 season.

In addition, senior Ryan Newberry (Grand Junction/South Haven) and junior Jeff Wright (Escanaba) were honored as NWCA Scholar All-Americans. To be elgible for this award, a wrestler must have at least a 3.2 GPA and place in the top six at his respective regional tournament. Newberry and Wright each mantain a 3.4 GPA and were crowned champions at the 2006 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional meet. Newberry finished the season with a team-high 28 wins, while Wright had a 25-9 record.