LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern wrestling will face the defending NAIA National Champions for the second time in program history.
It will be the first time the Fire have hosted such a match. In 2017, the Fire dropped a 32-9 dual against No. 1 Grand View during the Desert Duals in Las Vegas after the Vikings won the 2017 NAIA title.
Friday night's dual between second-ranked Life University and the third-ranked Fire begins at 7 p.m. at The Fire Pit.
The Fire come in with four straight dual victories and have won eight-straight matches at The Fire Pit. Southeastern is in search of its first win against Life having dropped last year's match 37-6 in Marietta, Ga. In 2020, Southeastern tied the Running Eagles with each team winning five decisions, but LifeU took the match on Criteria C of most individual match points at 40-37.
Life comes in with a 14-3 record in dual matches with the losses to No. 5 Reinhardt, No. 1 Grand View, and the University of North Carolina. The Running Eagles have 11 wrestlers ranked in the Top 20 with seven of those in the Top 5.
The Running Eagles lineup could feature a defending national champion and two defending runners-up. Brandon Orum is the defending 125-pound champion and is currently ranked second nationally.
For tickets, visit
fire.seu.edu/tickets.
