By: @n_jcamp
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles wrestling program comes into the first week of the 2023 portion of the season with a change in schedule as they head to the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Kentucky on January 6-7. The event is invite only and CU received an invitation forcing a postponement of their home dual vs. Rio Grande on January 5. Cornerstone will compete in the 16 team NAIA pool for dual meet competition. CU is guaranteed at least four matches with the chance for more throughout the weekend.
NWCA NATIONAL DUALS PAGE
First Dual: Life
Cornerstone earned an opening draw of (2) Life out of Georgia on Friday, January 6 at 2 p.m. The match will open with a rematch of two of the best 125lbs in the country as (6) ranked
Trevor Marsman will take on (2) Brandon Orum. Marsman has a chance at redemption after falling to Orum 11-0 in major decision at the NAIA National Championships a season ago. Cornerstone will have a tough task to follow the 125lb match, as the Life Eagles have one or more top 10 athletes in every weight class at the NAIA level in the latest individual poll.
Schedule of Events to Follow
After the first dual with Life, Cornerstone will have at least one more dual match guaranteed on Friday, followed by a minimum of two more guaranteed on Saturday. To view the full bracket for the NWCA National Duals visit the link
HERE.
Being Invited
When talking to Head Coach
Chris Williamson about being invited to the NWCA National Duals he stated, "It means a lot for us to be invited. It has been a goal of ours to get invited to that event by year four or five of our program, so to be there in year two is encouraging for the direction of our program.
He added later that this event is a huge opportunity and really the only event to see how you stack up against the rest of the country within a dual meet setting. With the goal being to continue to improve as a team at the NAIA National Championships, this event allows CU to see the best of the best and compete as a unit to see where we place as a program.
Entering the Second Half
Like many winter sports, Cornerstone is now entering the second half of their season and the real "meat" of the schedule after just over a month off. The Golden Eagles used the time to get some much-needed rest and health restored to the roster in hopes to come back refreshed for final preparations going into the WHAC Tournament and NAIA National Championships. The team returned to practice just over a week ago with two-a-days to knock off some rust and get back into wrestling condition for the upcoming schedule.
What to Watch
Cornerstone is excited to unleash freshman big man
Sterling McLaughlin at the NWCA National Duals this weekend. McLaughlin is freshman who was unable to compete in the first semester and will compete in his first collegiate meet on Friday. As the Golden Eagles continue to build the program, Head Coach
Chris Williamson is excited to see what the freshman New Hampshire native can do in his first collegiate competition at the NWCA National Duals.
Contact: Jesse Campbell |
nathan-jesse.campbell@cornerstone.edu | 616-222-1505
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