When the 53rd annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships get underway today, six wrestlers in a uniform unseen in the first 52 incarnations will hope to make some waves.
The half dozen grapplers are part of Calumet College's first varsity team, and it hasn't taken the program long to make an impact.
Coach Leroy Vega is very excited and proud of his inaugural team.
"We have three freshmen and two sophomores down here," Vega said Wednesday from Oklahoma City. "That bodes very well for the future of this program. We have the opportunity to return next year and continue to build on what we have accomplished."
Locally-raised wrestlers competing for Cal College include senior Dan Bedoy (174 pounds), a Bishop Noll grad and former NCAA qualifier from Purdue at 174 and Crown Point grad Nick Fouts (141).
The Crimson Wave grapplers qualified for the national meet by finishing in the top 25 percent of their respective weight class, either during the regionals or in a previous NCAA-level tournament.
"These guys have been working very hard since last summer," Vega said. "They are very pumped up for this weekend."
The NAIA Championships will be held at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The event will feature three days of action on the mat, capped off with 10 individuals earning national titles on Saturday night, along with the crowning of a team champion.
Preliminary and first round matches begin at 1 p.m. today. The quarterfinals, semifinals and first three rounds of consolation matches are Friday. Place matches start at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the championship finals at 6:30 p.m.
Five-time champ Lidenwood (Mo.) College will try to join Central (Okla.) State as the only other team to four-peat. Central did it from 1984 through 1987.
Calumet College saw Lidenwood during the regional two weeks ago, and Vega knows what to expect.
"We wrestled some of their guys and got to watch a few others," Vega said. "We have a pretty good idea what to expect. We'll be ready for the challenge."
COLLEGE WRESTLING
2010 NAIA National Wrestling Championships
Where: Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City.
When: Today through Saturday.
Calumet College wrestlers competing (hometown, class, weight class): Derek Allen (Knox, Fr., 149), Chad Allen (Knox, So., 133), Nick Fouts (Crown Point, Fr., 141), Dan Bedoy (Whiting, Sr., 174), Artie Grubba (Romeoville, So., Hwt.), Dustin Boyd (Mishawaka, Fr., 184).
