BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Wrestling is coming back to the mat at Olivet Nazarene University. Recently announced to the campus community, the Department of Athletics has formalized a commitment to add the sport to Olivet’s 21 other varsity intercollegiate sports. The men and women will compete through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
“Wrestling is an exciting addition to Olivet Nazarene University because it allows us to expand our opportunities for student-athletes while continuing to build on the strong tradition of athletic excellence that exists at ONU,” said Athletic Director, Luke Ward ’09.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will soon be recruiting talented athletes for the inaugural teams, and scholarships will be offered to qualified candidates. Ideally, the fall 2027 team rosters will include 12 men and 12 women athletes.
“At Olivet, we’re looking for student-athletes who understand that their college experience is about more than what happens in competition,” Ward said. “We want young men and women who are driven, coachable, committed to personal growth, and willing to be part of something bigger than themselves. We want student-athletes who will embrace the opportunity to grow in their faith, pursue academic excellence, and represent the University with pride. They don’t have to have everything figured out when they arrive on campus, but they should have a willingness to learn, grow, and invest in the people around them.”
The men’s team will compete in folkstyle wrestling and women will compete in freestyle, per collegiate standards. The NAIA wrestling season for both genders runs from the end October through early February, and is considered a winter sport.
There are currently 69 NAIA programs for men’s wrestling and 43 for women’s wrestling, so competition will be plentiful. In Illinois, there are a multitude of competitive high school programs, and the state consistently produces collegiate-level wrestlers through those channels. As a high-performing athletic program per conference and national ranking, Olivet stands to develop a strong wrestling program.
“I believe what sets Olivet apart is the combination of a strong athletic tradition, quality facilities, dedicated coaches, and a campus culture that genuinely values the student-athlete experience,” Ward said. “We have outstanding people throughout our athletic department who care deeply about developing young people, not just winning games or matches. Our coaches understand the importance of building relationships, creating a positive team culture, and helping student-athletes reach their full potential.”
Olivet previously had a distinguished wrestling program from 1972-1993. In 1987, 1988 and 1989 the University claimed the National Christian College Athletic Association national championships.
The Department of Athletics will begin the search for a head coach this winter and anticipates hiring in early 2027.
For more information about the athletics program, visit ONUtigers.com
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— Republished from ONU Athletics 11/5/2026 —
