LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan University will host a pair of wrestling duals on Saturday (Nov. 5) as the sport makes its return to campus for the first time since 1981.  NWU will take on University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 11 am, followed by the conference opening dual against the University of Dubuque at 1:45 pm.  Both duals will take place in Snyder Arena.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan, which announced it would add a wrestling program in July 2015, begins its first season of competition during the 2016-17 school year.  NWU previously offered wrestling from 1962-81, winning three conference championships under Coach Ron Bachman.
 
Current Head Coach Brandon Bradley recruited 25 wrestlers to the program, including two past high school state champions, five state finalists and eight state placers.  NWU will have two home meets during the 2016-17 season, with the second meet on Dec. 7.

The untested Prairie Wolves squad will face IIAC foe Dubuque and out-of-conference challenge of Wisconsin Eau-Claire in their first meet in Lincoln. Coach Bradley in his first season with the freshly resurrected program is biting the bullet to get the season going to see what his team is capable of. This meet will also pit Coach Bradley against Coach Tim Fader of Wisconsin Eau-Claire. Bradley was a grad assistant under Fader before becoming the coach here at NWU.
 
NWU will compete in the very tough Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, known as the one of the top wrestling leagues in NCAA III.  Conference foe Wartburg College has won 12 National Championships, including 10 of the past 13.  At last year's NCAA III Championship meet, the IIAC produced 18 All-Americans, seven finalists, two national champions and the team title winner.  NWU will compete in the end of the year NCAA Central Regional Championships on Feb. 25 in Dubuque, Iowa to determine who earns a spot at nationals. 
 
"There is a lot of excitement not only around campus, but also throughout the state for the Prairie Wolves wrestling program right now," Coach Bradley said.  "We are building the foundation for the program to really take off in the next few years to come."
 
Prior to Saturday's opening dual between NWU and UW-Eau Claire, Nebraska Wesleyan will welcome back all former wrestlers in a brief ceremony at 10:45 am.