The Allan P. Kirby Sports Center at LaFayette College is set to host the 2002 National College Wrestling Association (NCWA) National Championships on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 in Easton, Pa. Numerous club programs from colleges all across the nation will converge at LaFayette College for the 5th Annual National Tournament.     Among the attending schools will be last year's team champions, Grand Valley State of Michigan to defend their title. Grand Valley State won the championships with 15 All-Americans totalling 196 points in its first season in the competition.    Southern Colorado will be making their first appearance at the NCWA National Championships. Last year they finished fifth the at Division II National Championships crowning six All-Americans along the way.    Other teams who will be battling against Grand Valley State for medal winners and the team title include last year's second place team, the University of Delaware with 112.5 points. Placing third last year was Pensacola Christian with 109.5 points followed by Southern Virginia with 95.5 points and then Kansas State with 75.5 points. In the sixth spot was Auburn at 61.5 points, Belmont Abbey took seventh (55), followed by West Texas A&M (49.5) and the University of New Mexico (47). Rounding out last year's Top 10 was the Apprentice School of Virginia with 42.5 points.    "Our goal is to repeat as team champions and wrestle with intensity and focus," said co-head coach Dave Mills. "We are taking it one match at a time, however. Many of these kids are returnees from last year. They have a year's worth of more experience."    Last year, Grand Valley boasted five champions and five runners-up. "The kids that were second last year are dedicated to win a gold this year," said Mills.    Grand Valley brings a huge contingent of athletes to the show this year. The NCWA has 11 weight divisions, and each team may have up to two qualifiers for the national championships. This year, of the 25 athletes on the team, Grand Valley boasts 21 national qualifiers, all who will participate this weekend. The team will be led by Mills, co-head coach Tom Krepps and assistant coach Mike Glane.    Mills is a strong proponent for the NCWA, which provides colleges that used to have varsity wrestling teams or those without a wrestling tradition a chance to build a program on their campus. Grand Valley State is a Div. II college that eliminated wrestling a decade ago, but has a strong local wrestling community. The Grand Valley team is supported through extensive fundraising efforts, support from student fees and, just recently, direct support from the university itself. "It's a club in name, but in reality, this is a wrestling program," said Mills.    "What this has done for us, and for 100 other club programs, is that it has allowed us a system to plug into and compete," said Mills. "This national tournament gives the organization national exposure. I believe that this is the way that college wrestling can come back."    For now, Grand Valley has the NCWA national tournament as its immediate concern. "We believe in our guys and in striving for excellence," said Mills. "If we wrestle with intensity, anything is possible." He jokes about the high goals that his team has set for itself. "Gable was always shooting for 10 champions," said Mills. "We're shooting for 11."    There will be an extremely talented field of competitors at this year's tournament. Some key grapplers to look for include Mike Collins, a 174-pounder from the University of Delaware looking to make his mark on the record books by winning this third-straight NCWA title.  Collins will be challenged newcomer Jason Tapia of Southern Colorado, who is a two-time Division II All-American.    At the 125-pound weight class, there may be an intense match up between returning 2001 champion Tony Holt of Bethel College and 2001 runner-up Eric Fervais of Grand Valley State.    Other returning champions from 2001 in search of their next championships crown include Grand Valley State's Eric Smith at 149, Kelly Krepps at 197 and A.J. Cook at 235.      The NCWA is looking forward to having this year's championships in a new locale after hosting the tournament in Dallas, Texas in previous years.      "The Lehigh valley is a hotbed for wrestling," said Jim Giunta. "It adds excitement to have the tournament in a place known for wrestling and with a lot of wrestling fans."      Giunta has dedicated himself to developing an organization that provides wrestoing opportunities for all college campuses. His efforts have brought wrestling back to colleges that have eliminated the sport or never have had wrestling. As teams grow and improve through the NCWA, the goal is for those colleges to consider adding wrestling to their official varsity sports program.     Said Guinta, "We are growing rapidly and competing at a higher level than ever before. The teams of the NCWA are knocking off top ranked teams in the country.  That says a lot about how much we've grown and how much the sport of wrestling has benefitted."    Opening ceremonies are slated to begin Friday morning at 9:20 a.m. and will be immediately followed by the first session at 9:30 a.m. Session two will begin at 7:00 p.m. Friday night to close the day's action. Saturday morning begins with session three bouts at 10:00 a.m.  followed by the championship ceremonies at 4:15 p.m. The championship, third and fifth-place finals are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will run simultaneously on three mats to the conclusion of the meet.