EDINBORO, Pa- Fighting Scots senior Jon Spaulding and redshirt-junior Jacob Oliver punched their ticket to the NCAA Wrestling Championships later this March. It is the second time of Spaulding's career that he has qualified, but this will be his first opportunity to wrestle after COVID-19 derailed his opportunity to compete last school year. Oliver, too, missed out on his chance at a title in 2019-2020 (his second time qualifying) due to COVID-19.

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At 174, Jacob Oliver has been regarded as one of the top wrestlers at that weight all season long. He has been ranked in the country all season long and comes into the NCAA Championships with an 11-4 mark. Oliver will face Bernie Traux, the number 12 overall seed. Traux is 9-1 on the season and represents California Polytechnic State University.
 
In the NCAA final coaches' rankings at 174 pounds, Jacob Oliver was the No. 20 ranked wrestler. Jon Spaulding was voted the No. 27 ranked 285-pound grappler.
 
At 285, Jon Spaulding is seeded 29 overall and comes into action with an 11-4 mark. Spaulding will face Arizona State University's Cohlton Shultz who is 12-0 on the campaign.
 
Heading into the NCAA Championships, Jon Spaulding has a career 71 wins over four collegiate seasons. He led the team in wins as a junior with 27, including 16 victories in dual matches. His teammate, Jacob Oliver, is a three-time NCAA qualifier after qualifying for the third straight season. He enters with 74 total victories in his time with the Fighting Scots.
 
The Fighting Scots finished fifth out of 14 teams at the Mid-American Conference Championships in Trenton, N.J. Oliver and Spaulding each finished with third-place.  
 
Spaulding and Oliver will be looking to be the first Fighting Scot to place in the nation in wrestling since Sean Russell placed seventh in the 2016-17 season. The 2021 NCAA Championships will be held March 18-20 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, with the first matches slated to begin on March 18 at 11 a.m.