Wrestling team receives NWCA Scholar Team Award, follow Comets at NCAA DIII National Championships
The success for Olivet College wrestling team on the mat has carried over to the classroom. The Comets have finished second in the annual academic championship in collegiate wrestling, which is sponsored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Olivet’s team grade point average (GPA) was 3.539.
OLIVET, Mich. -- The success for Olivet College wrestling team on the mat has carried over to the classroom. The Comets have finished second in the annual academic championship in collegiate wrestling, which is sponsored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Olivet's team grade point average (GPA) was 3.539.
This is the 13th time since the inception of the award in 1998 that the Comets have placed in the top 10 of the standings. The GPA is also the highest Olivet has had in the history of the program and the second-place finish ties for the best in school history.
The procedure for determining the GPA is the average of top 10 GPAs on the team, six of whom must have competed at the regional qualifying tournament and others must have competed in half the scheduled number of competitions.
In addition, sophomore Robbie Bidlingmaier (Chesterfield Twp./Anchor Bay), junior Kenny Richmond (Brighton), junior Josh Crawford (Birch Run), junior Logan Renas (Big Rapids) and senior Trevor Tyler (Roscommon) were named to the individual NWCA Scholar All-American team. Renas is earning the honor for a second straight year, while Tyler is for a third straight year.
To be eligible for this award, a wrestler must have at least a 3.2 GPA, place in the top six at his respective regional tournament and have sophomore standing.
Bidlingmaier, Renas and Tyler along with senior Justin Leonard (Webberville) and junior James Myers (Indian Creek, Ohio/Monroe) are competing today and tomorrow at 2012 NCAA Division III National Championships. You can follow the Comets via http://www.ncaa.com/championships/wrestling/d3. Action begins today at 11 a.m. CT. Live video and live results will be posted throughout the day. Also, check out the Olivet College Athletics Facebook page for updates.
PAST TEAM TOP 10 FINISHES
1998 -- 5th -- 3.23 GPA
1999 -- 2nd -- 3.41 GPA
2000 -- 4th -- 3.28 GPA
2001 -- 9th -- 3.21 GPA
2002 -- 7th -- 3.23 GPA
2003 -- 2nd -- 3.41 GPA
2004 -- 10th -- 3.23 GPA
2005 -- 10th -- 3.23 GPA
2006 -- 4th -- 3.395 GPA
2007 -- 4th -- 3.345 GPA
2008 -- 2nd -- 3.497 GPA
2011 -- 9th -- 3.381 GPA
2012 -- 2nd -- 3.539 GPA